Advocacy Information

Throughout the year, the Jefferson Chamber meets regularly with its local, state and federal legislators. In preparation for these meetings, the Chamber surveys its membership to help identify and prioritize legislative issues on the horizon that will affect Jefferson Parish and holds a series of planning meetings with its government committee to define its legislative agenda. The resulting document outlines the issues that are important to the business community in Jefferson Parish. Our legislative agenda is shared with elected officials and the public.

Our Legislative agenda is very simple – to promote and protect a pro-business environment in Jefferson Parish.

LOCAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

• Education
  • Advocate for parish funds to be allocated to Early Childhood Development
  • Continued support of the Jefferson Parish Public School Board and Superintendent in the adoption of their strategic plan, “2024: The Future Our Kids Deserve.” The plan’s priorities include upgrading infrastructure, investing in, and retaining quality educators, using a robust curriculum, prioritizing access, equity and opportunity for all students, and partnering with community stakeholders.
• Quality of Life      
  • Support redevelopment and improvements in Jefferson Parish, including ongoing projects in Avondale, Bucktown, Elmwood, Fat City, Kenner’s Laketown, Old Jefferson, and the West Bank of Jefferson Parish
  • Support health and wellness promoting indoor smoke-free policies in all workplaces including bars and gaming facilities             
  • Support the Keep Louisiana Beautiful program for litter abatement in Jefferson Parish
• Pro-Business Environment
  • Advocate for smart industrial growth on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish
  • Encourage a more regional approach to policy and branding

STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

• Economic Development & Pro-Business Environment
  • Support $94 million in funding for quality early childhood care and education
  • Embrace and Promote the State Superintendent’s “Fast Forward” plan which creates Associate Degree paths for high school students.
  • Advocate for measures that advance standards, accountability, assessments, and transparency in the K-12 public school system
  • Address workforce shortages across all sectors of the economy
  • Encourage partnerships between K-12 schools, higher education, employers and relevant government agencies and boards to combat Louisiana’s unemployment crisis
  • Support ex-offender re-entry programs that enhance workforce development efforts
  • Support recommendations to define the role, scope, and mission of each higher education institution
• Transportation Infrastructure
  • Support critical infrastructure projects which will benefit our communities and create economic opportunity across Louisiana
  • Explore financial options and available federal funding to fix Louisiana’s crumbling roads and bridges
  • Support the integrity, adequacy, and solvency of the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF)
• Healthcare
  • Oppose efforts that would increase employers’ health care costs and restrict choice in the type of coverage needed
  • Support efforts to strengthen accountability for improving health, outcomes, and cost
• Budget Reform
  • Support efforts in state and local government to increase fiscal transparency and to operate in a more efficient, cost-effective, and fiscally responsible manner
• Constitutional Convention
  • Support the calling of a constitutional convention with independently elected delegates, including representation for the business community
  • Subject matter should be limited in scope to the extent possible
  • The constitutional convention should engage the public in both the process and deliberations
• Coastal Program
  • Support the Governor’s 2^nd term Coastal Plan to maximize impacts of the state’s coastal program
  • Use funds aggressively to restore and protect Louisiana’s coast

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

• Flood Insurance
  • Support the Coalition for Sustainable & Affordable Flood Insurance (CSFI)
  • Advocate for long-term reauthorization of the flood program
  • As Risk Rating 2.0 is implemented, support stronger limits on how much premiums can rise each year
  • Advocate for greater transparency in advance of Risk Rating (RR) 2.0’s full implementation on April 1, 2022
• Costal Restoration
  • Support policies that would expedite and provide additional funding for coastal restoration
• Healthcare
  • Support a cost-effective, competitive health care market as an incentive to economic growth and development while assuring consumers in Louisiana continue to receive high quality, accessible and affordable health care

Each year, Chamber members travel to Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C. to promote and discuss the Chamber’s legislative agenda. During these visits, Chamber members meet directly with elected officials and key staff members to share their feedback and make recommendations for improvements in Jefferson Parish.

The Chamber’s Evening at the Legislature is held in the Spring during the legislative session. The day includes a legislative briefing and lunch with the legislative delegation and an opportunity to learn about the legislative process and receive information on the status of key legislation critical to Jefferson Parish and the business community.

Our Washington D.C. Fly-In, which takes place in the Fall, hosts business leaders and local elected officials in the nation’s capital for meetings with the Louisiana Congressional Delegation, key departmental staff and representatives of the U.S. Chamber to discuss and promote the Chamber’s federal legislative agenda.

The Jefferson Chamber encourages its members to contact their local legislator on issues affecting their community.

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