TUCSON METRO CHAMBER ADVANCES AGENDA AT NATION'S CAPITAL
Pima Community College Chancellor Lee Lambert discusses the need for reauthorization of the Higher Education Act with Senator Kyrsten Sinema
In a partnership with the Southern Arizona Defense Alliance and the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, the Tucson Metro Chamber led an extensive 72-hour trip to our nation’s capital last week. Advocacy efforts included meetings at the White House, Pentagon, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Labor, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, and Business Leaders United.
The following list of attendees represented a broad cross-section of private business, as well as leaders in workforce development and education, and military installation support groups.

Aaron Ball, Center for the Future of Arizona
Jenell Biggs, University of Arizona
Dr. Bryan Foulk, DM50 and SADA
Dr. Rufus Glasper, League for Innovation in the Community College
Michael Guymon, Tucson Metro Chamber
Jennings Imel, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Chancellor Lee Lambert, Pima Community College
Mike Levin, Port of Tucson
Kelle Maslyn, Arizona State University
Ted Maxwell, Southern Arizona Leadership Council and SADA
Ian McDowell, Sundt Construction
Robert Medler, Tucson Metro Chamber and SADA
Peter Minot, Southwest Solutions and the 162nd Air Guardians
Linda Morales, DM50
Dr. Ian Roark, Pima Community College
Amber Smith, Tucson Metro Chamber and SADA
Julia Smith, University of Arizona
Tim Stilb, DM50
Rick Stilgenbauer, Yuma 50 and SADA
Shelley Watson, Southern Arizona Leadership Council
We thank each of these participants for their investment in making this trip a success.
SOUTHERN ARIZONA PRIORITIES
Discussing Southern Arizona priorities with Senator Martha McSally during dinner
U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives Meetings
The group met with both Senators, and all 9 members of the Arizona delegation. The No. 1 policy priority for the trip was advocating for the passage of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). With Mexico already passing the agreement, we strongly believe it is time for the United States to do the same, and we urged members of the Arizona Congressional delegation to sign on in support of this critical legislation. We also discussed workforce efforts in Southern Arizona; re-authorization of the Higher Education Act and necessary appropriations for both DMAFB and MANGB. 
Pictured from left to right: Robert Medler, Aaron Ball, Peter Minot, Amber Smith, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, Linda Morales, Jenelle Biggs, Ted Maxwell, and Bryan Foulk.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
White House Meeting
Our contingent met White House representatives from the Offices of Budget and Management and Economic Initiatives as well as Special Advisors to the President in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The group updated the officials on the workforce collaboratives taking place between industry and education. In fact, one official asked why Tucson and Arizona are ahead of the game in working together so well. The collaborative model is one recently established at the national level with a 25-member Workforce Policy Board created by the White House. We are working to identify a Southern Arizona leader to serve on a subcommittee to this group. Additionally, officials stated their interest in visiting our community to learn more about our initiatives.
U.S. Department of Commerce
Our group met with four officials from the US Department of Commerce in the Secretary’s Conference Room. Like the White House meeting, our business and education partners presented the partnerships being developed to ensure talent supply meets industry demand. We will be following up with this group and Commerce Department local representatives to partner on their 2020 campaign targeting 16- to 24-year-olds and mid-level career individuals to build the pipeline of career opportunities specific to the industry needs of Arizona.
We discussed partnerships being developed to ensure talent supply meets industry demand.
National Association of Manufactures (NAM)
The group presented the collaboration before the largest manufacturing association illustrating the collaboration occurring in Arizona in support of job seekers and veterans in placing them in high demand positions- especially manufacturing. The Chamber held a hiring event with 66% success rate in placing individuals into this industry. NAM and the group agreed that their program, Heroes MAKE America would be ideally located in Southern Arizona and we look forward to furthering this partnership.
DEFENSE ASSETS
Acting Secretary of the Air Force, Mr. Matthew Donovan
Discussing USMCA with Rep. Andy Biggs
Pentagon Meetings
The group met with Mr. Matthew Donovan, Acting Secretary of the Air Force; Mr. John Henderson, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy; Major General Kevin Bradley, Deputy Director of the Air National Guard; and with the Air Staff office for Operations, Plans and Requirements. Our group advocated strongly for monies for infrastructure improvements to gates at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Morris Air National Guard Base. Both installations have substantial projects underway and will need appropriations in the coming years. We were also able to discuss the strong and impactful relationship between our community and military members stationed here, with programs to improve their quality of life on and off base. The specific programs referenced were well received and reflect our community’s leadership on important issues to the Department of Defense. The meetings also offered an opportunity to discuss upcoming public hearings for F-35 beddown at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, expanded missions at the 162 nd Wing, and the expansion of airspace to the east of our region that offers one-of-a-kind ability to train.
ASSOCIATION HEALTH CARE PLANS
U.S. Department of Labor
Members of the group met with Dean Heyl, Director of Public Liaison, to discuss the status of Association Health Plan (AHP) rule making and legislation. The Tucson Metro Chamber is the manager of the Southern Arizona Chamber Association’s AHP, which has been placed on hold due to a court case, and appeal, on the initial rule making conducted by the Administration in June 2018. Mr. Heyl, while not able to provide insight on future options with a pending legal matter, heard clearly that Southern Arizona businesses want to have this option available and are looking to the administration to find an alternative pathway forward if the appeal is not favorable. We discussed the success of the AHP in Southern Arizona and received feedback from the administration on potential changes moving forward.
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