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Chamber News |
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Welcome New Members |
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CCCBI Participates in Sold-Out Multi-Chamber Speed Networking BBQ |
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Yesterday's Multi-Chamber Speed Networking BBQ with the eight Chambers of Commerce in Chester County was a huge success!
"It was fun and fast connecting with business professionals of all sectors!" said CCCBI's Director of Membership, Laura Ellis. "This unique opportunity gave everyone a chance to meet new people, gather cards and set in motion future meetings! It's always fun to learn about different businesses and this was a cool way to get a lot of different people in the room. Not only did we spark some business, but we also collected much-needed food and personal necessities for the Chester County Food Bank. Special shout out to Penn Oaks for the accommodations and lovely staff!"
It was such a pleasure to participate in this event that has SOLD OUT for three years in a row and collect 271 pounds of food for the Chester County Food Bank. |
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Meet the Intern |
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Meet Dominic DiLuzio!
Dominic is a rising Junior at Gettysburg College, studying Political Science and Public Policy. He is a member of the Division 3 Cross Country and Track and Field teams, a 4-time Dean's List student, and serves as an elected member of the Student Senate.
After graduation, Dominic hopes to pursue a career in politics or government affairs.
"Interning with the Chamber has given me unparalleled insight into the business environment in Chester County and has allowed me to develop practical advocacy skills that cannot be taught in a classroom. I have enjoyed learning more about the relationship between business and government and am grateful for the opportunity to play a part in promoting pro-growth policies."
Please join us in commending Dominic on a stellar work week at the Chamber! |
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Legislative Update |
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Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan Attends CCCBI Town Hall Meeting |
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Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6) joined Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry (CCCBI) on Tuesday for a town hall meeting for CCCBI Members.
Moderated by Charles Boruchowitz from Bentley Systems and Chair of CCCBI’s Government Affairs Committee, Congresswoman Houlahan spoke about the current political atmosphere in Washington DC and it’s effects on Chester County. Per questions submitted by attendees, Representative Houlahan also discussed other topics, such as local infrastructure, economic development, energy production, foreign policy, threats to national security, and partisan gridlock in Washington. |
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Congresswoman Houlahan emphasized the role of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in improving infrastructure for Chester County and nationally. IIJA funding contributes to improvements in roads and bridges, Amtrak modernization and maintenance, upgrades in energy transmission capabilities, and investment in public transit, including SEPTA.
She additionally emphasized the recent award of two hydrogen hubs to Pennsylvania, the only state to receive more than one. To that extent, Houlahan spoke about the need for an “all of the above” energy plan, utilizing all energy sources and acknowledging both climate change and the need for energy independence. In her opinion, there is strong bipartisan support for nuclear energy initiatives and reform of the permitting process. When asked if there was federal support for an electric vehicle tax similar to one passed by the State legislature, Houlahan responded that there is no appetite for any new taxes, regardless of the hole in gas tax revenue left by EVs.
Houlahan spoke from her perspective on foreign policy as a member of both the House Armed Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee. She argued that Ukraine is an “existential threat to the continuance of democracy” and that a failure to support Ukraine will lead to a direct confrontation with Russia. She emphasized that Pennsylvania National Guardsmen are stationed in Lithuania, the State’s partner country, and would be on the front lines should Russia incur onto NATO territory. Houlahan also argued that China is connected in all current global conflicts and will use the United States’ actions now as a determinant of what a potential Taiwan conflict may look like.
Discussing internal and external threats, Houlahan agreed that there are critical issues at the border, assessing migration as a serious national security threat. While acknowledging that Congress has a bipartisan responsibility to reform immigration and border control, Houlahan focused on the need for legal ways to increase our workforce, citing low unemployment rates and high demand for labor. Chester County relies heavily on immigrants in the workforce and has a sub-3% unemployment rate. She believes that an immigration package would pass the House of Representatives if introduced but that the topic has been unnecessarily politicized.
In wrapping up the discussion, Congresswoman Houlahan launched a Q&A session to address any final concerns from the CCCBI Membership. Business leaders in our community continue to recognize the need for permitting reform, tax reform, and childcare funding. In response, Houlahan assured attendees that bipartisanship still exists away from the cameras but has unnecessarily been encumbered by partisan politics.
This Legislative Update was provided by Dominic DiLuzio. |
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Upcoming Events |
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We’d love to hear from and highlight your business! We are seeking member spotlight stories to include in our weekly newsletter! Email your news to abby@chescochamber.org |
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