Federal Policy Priorities
The Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce serves as a powerful advocate for the business community in South Central Kansas, promoting Federal Policy Priorities that strengthen the economy, support innovation and enhance our community's overall well-being. The Chamber believes in the power of collaboration between businesses and federal policymakers to create a legislative environment that promotes growth, opportunity and prosperity for all.
Each year, the Chamber's Government Relations Department develops a list of Federal Policy Priorities on issues important to the business community in South Central Kansas. Federal policies play a crucial role in shaping the business environment, influencing everything from tax regulations to infrastructure investments. The Chamber is committed to advocating for policies that create an environment conducive to entrepreneurship, job creation and sustained economic development.
2025-24 Federal Policy Priorities
Business/Regulatory Environment & Economic Development
- The Chamber believes in a fair and equitable system of taxation that promotes private sector growth and makes the United States more competitive (e.g., extending R&D immediate expensing, making permanent the tax cuts created in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and opposing business tax increases). Congress is urged to support measures that ensure permanency of the tax policy in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that are set to expire.
- The Chamber supports policies that foster a competitive cost structure for businesses related to healthcare, utilities, and income and payroll taxes, as well as professional and business licensing fees. From the farmer’s field to the shop floor and everywhere in between, the Chamber supports a regulatory environment that is fair and globally competitive where government lowers the barriers to entry for business owners and entrepreneurs. Government should assist and encourage business growth and start-ups by ensuring licensing and regulations are not restrictive and onerous. This includes opposing federal mandates that would add costs or cause lost income related to environmental or social governance compliance and reporting.
- The Chamber is opposed to regulations that restrict business activities. The Chamber supports economic development and programs that result in jobs and investment, including innovative research and investment in target industry sectors located in South Central Kansas.
Free Trade
- The Chamber strongly supports free trade agreements that help companies compete in the global marketplace. Free trade grows our economy, opens new markets, and provides access to quality products and services from other countries. Businesses in industries ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to energy and services depend on free trade to import and export. To enhance the Wichita region's status as a hub for our state's export activity, the federal government should advance free trade agreements, streamline compliance requirements, reduce financial barriers, promote intellectual property protections, and expand market access for U.S. supply chains.
Transportation & Infrastructure
- The Chamber believes that proper investment in transportation systems and infrastructure is a crucial component of a thriving economy. The Wichita region depends on proper investments in roads, bridges, rail, transit, and airports, as well as water, utility, and military installation infrastructure (McConnell Air Force Base). The federal government should equitably tax and distribute funding to address these critical infrastructure needs, including for regionally significant projects identified by the South Central Kansas Transportation Coalition.
Healthcare
- The Chamber urges congress to make necessary changes to the Affordable Healthcare Act so businesses, especially small businesses, may afford to offer health insurance to their employees. The federal government should allow small businesses to enter into Associated Health Plans to offer better coverage at lower costs.
Workforce Development & Education
- The Chamber supports a strong workforce pipeline and policies that seek to attract, engage, and retain diverse talent. The federal government should promote, not discourage, participation in the labor force. Appropriate investments in job training, workforce development and childcare programs that encourage employment are critical to economic growth in the United States and the Wichita region. The Chamber supports Kansas’ status as a right-to-work state to improve our workforce competitiveness and protect workers against being fired if they decline to pay union dues. The Chamber supports policies that provide opportunities for veterans, transitioning service members, and military dependents to quickly transition into the workforce. The Chamber supports criminal justice reform and programs that help recipients of government assistance obtain employment. The federal government should encourage and fund education and training programs to enhance systems of diverse and inclusive educational options tailored to individual students as they enter the workforce.
