 PNWER CEO, Matt Morrison, recently represented PNWER in Washington, D.C. at the 111th Annual Winter Meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA) as well as in meetings with Congressional leaders and agencies. Key issues to the PNWER region like USMCA, tariffs, and aquatic invasive species were discussed. Keep reading below for an overview of PNWER’s meetings.  NGA Chair, Governor Steve Bullock of Montana, at the 111th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Canadian Premiers for Removal |
 Ambassador David MacNaughton at the 2019 NGA Annual Meeting |  Washington Governor Jay Inslee at the 2019 NGA Annual Meeting |
The USMCA and tariff discussion will be a featured issue during the 2019 PNWER Annual Summit in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, this July 21-25. Hear from policy experts, legislators, and others during keynotes, panels, and sessions that highlight this important cross-border issue. Join us in Saskatoon in July. More details HERE
Congressional Outreach for USMCA & Tariffs
Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR) and Representative Richard Neal (MA), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee PNWER prepared and delivered letters to all of the region’s congressional delegation strongly urging them to ratify USMCA and to encourage the Trump administration to remove the steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico. These letters reiterated the importance of free, fair, and open trade for the mutual benefit of the three economies. They also mentioned the resolutions that are being introduced in the five Northwest state legislatures calling for the same. Resolutions from the Northwest states are being considered in the legislatures in the coming weeks.
Two of the key congressmen for the USMCA ratification process are in our region. They are Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Trade. Both have an important role in trade policy for Congress.
PNWER met with key staff in Senator Crapo’s office to discuss the importance of USMCA ratification and the repeal of Section 232 tariffs. Senator Crapo’s staff expressed interest in establishing an ongoing relationship with PNWER. He would like to be kept apprised of the state joint resolutions mentioned above and also any data on impacts in the Pacific Northwest of tariffs, whether from Canada and Mexico or from China.
Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer's office also met with PNWER to speak about USMCA ratification and Section 232 tariffs. It was a wonderful opportunity for PNWER to provide input to the congressional staff on the Pacific Northwest's regional concerns with the continued instability on North American trade. PNWER is looking forward to working with the Representative's office as USMCA ratification comes up in the coming weeks.
Two of the key congressmen for the USMCA ratification process are in our region. They are Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Trade. Both have an important role in trade policy for Congress.
PNWER met with key staff in Senator Crapo’s office to discuss the importance of USMCA ratification and the repeal of Section 232 tariffs. Senator Crapo’s staff expressed interest in establishing an ongoing relationship with PNWER. He would like to be kept apprised of the state joint resolutions mentioned above and also any data on impacts in the Pacific Northwest of tariffs, whether from Canada and Mexico or from China.
Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer's office also met with PNWER to speak about USMCA ratification and Section 232 tariffs. It was a wonderful opportunity for PNWER to provide input to the congressional staff on the Pacific Northwest's regional concerns with the continued instability on North American trade. PNWER is looking forward to working with the Representative's office as USMCA ratification comes up in the coming weeks.
Advocacy for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention: Invasive Mussel Funding
Continuing PNWER’s ongoing work on the issue of invasive species, Matt met with PNWER's regional Congressional delegation’s Appropriations committee members to ensure the continued appropriation of federal matching funds to the four Northwest states (ID, MT, OR, and WA) for watercraft inspection stations and monitoring to combat invasive mussels. PNWER has helped to bring $21 million of federal funds to the region since 2015 for invasive mussel prevention in the Columbia River Basin. This year, reauthorization language has expanded to allow for funding in three new river basins and up to a dozen more states. Matt advocated on the behalf of the PNWER region to ensure that the same level of funding would continue for the four Northwest states, and not be diluted by the addition of the new river basins.
For the upcoming year, PNWER submitted requests to each of the House and Senate appropriators in the region for the continued appropriation of $6 million to the four Northwest states. Meetings with Congressional appropriators included staff from the following offices:
The issue of invasive mussels is a key topic for PNWER's Invasive Species Working Group. The Invasive Species Working Group will be holding a session at the Annual Summit to discuss this and other topics that are vital to the protection of the region's waterways and industry.
For the upcoming year, PNWER submitted requests to each of the House and Senate appropriators in the region for the continued appropriation of $6 million to the four Northwest states. Meetings with Congressional appropriators included staff from the following offices:
- Senator Steve Daines, MT
- Representative Jaime Herrera-Beutler, WA
- Representative Derek Kilmer, WA
- Senator Patty Murray, WA
- Representative Dan Newhouse, WA
- Representative Mike Simpson, ID
The issue of invasive mussels is a key topic for PNWER's Invasive Species Working Group. The Invasive Species Working Group will be holding a session at the Annual Summit to discuss this and other topics that are vital to the protection of the region's waterways and industry.
Agency Meetings with Western
Governors Association
The Western Governors Association (WGA)) invited Matt Morrison on behalf of PNWER to participate in a series of meetings with administration officials while he was in Washington, D.C. He attended the following meetings with the WGA.
U.S. Department of the Interior: The WGA and PNWER met with officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior to discuss mandatory watercraft inspections for invasive mussels in Lake Mead and Lake Havasu in Arizona. Matt explained that under the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) the Army Corps of Engineers program has been expanded to four more river basins.
U.S. Department of Energy: At the Department of Energy, a number of issues were discussed including Western energy corridors as well as fossil fuels and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Matt also briefed the DOE on PNWER's Legislative Energy Horizon Institute (LEHI) program, which DOE has funded since 2009.
U.S. Department of Transportation: The WGA and PNWER met with Finch Fulton, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy. He has a particular interest in Autonomous, Connected, Electric, and Shared (ACES) vehicles which will be a key topic at PNWER’s Economic Leadership Forum in Seattle in November. Mr. Fulton was also interested in PNWER’s engagement in Section 1441 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST Act as the DOT is working on reauthorization of the act for 2020.
Lastly, Matt and key members of the WGA staff met with the Legislative Director for Senator Chuck Schumer as well as 3 additional staff during which they spoke about how to improve the relationship of the federal government to the state governments.
U.S. Department of the Interior: The WGA and PNWER met with officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior to discuss mandatory watercraft inspections for invasive mussels in Lake Mead and Lake Havasu in Arizona. Matt explained that under the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) the Army Corps of Engineers program has been expanded to four more river basins.
U.S. Department of Energy: At the Department of Energy, a number of issues were discussed including Western energy corridors as well as fossil fuels and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Matt also briefed the DOE on PNWER's Legislative Energy Horizon Institute (LEHI) program, which DOE has funded since 2009.
U.S. Department of Transportation: The WGA and PNWER met with Finch Fulton, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy. He has a particular interest in Autonomous, Connected, Electric, and Shared (ACES) vehicles which will be a key topic at PNWER’s Economic Leadership Forum in Seattle in November. Mr. Fulton was also interested in PNWER’s engagement in Section 1441 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST Act as the DOT is working on reauthorization of the act for 2020.
Lastly, Matt and key members of the WGA staff met with the Legislative Director for Senator Chuck Schumer as well as 3 additional staff during which they spoke about how to improve the relationship of the federal government to the state governments.
Looking Forward
PNWER is committed to continuing federal advocacy for the region on these key issues and many more. Currently, PNWER is focusing particularly on the ratification of USMCA and the removal of Section 232 tariffs and retaliatory tariffs. To see PNWER's work on this issue, visit our NAFTA Modernization/USMCA Ratification page.
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On January 31, Nirav Desai, PNWER Innovation Working Group co-chair, and Steve Myers, PNWER Senior Program Manager, had the opportunity to testify during the Alaska Senate Labor and Commerce Committee hearing in Juneau. During their testimony, Mr. Desai and Mr. Myers highlighted the options in Alaska for economic diversification and development. Watch the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee hearing HERE.
Alaska has similar challenges as other cities, states, and provinces that are dependent on one sector of the economy. Automation and globalization have increased over time, and jobs in traditional sectors have been eliminated or outsourced. Economies that are primarily resource-based are particularly impacted by swings in prices because of the cost to commit to development as well as getting products to market. It is often difficult to justify investment in development and an increase in production if the price of resources is down. Additionally, as calls for new transportation options like pipelines and increased rail capacity are being scrutinized, the cost of getting products to market increases. This has an adverse effect on jobs and revenue for resource-based economies.
Mr. Desai pointed out that some regions have had success attracting technology-based industries in an effort to diversify the local economy and enhance its incumbent industries. For example, over the past 20+ years, Austin and Houston, traditionally resource-based economies, have encouraged technology firms to open engineering offices in Texas, selling the low cost of living, educated talent, and low taxes. It has taken several years and courting by economic development leaders, but when a community lays out a strategy and sticks to it, there is opportunity for growth. This strategy is opposite to the traditional method of targeting corporations for complete relocation. The traditional relocation process can be challenging and harmful as states and provinces undermine each other to get the best deal by offering the most incentives – essentially a race to the bottom marked by tax breaks and incentives that may surpass the growth in municipal revenue.
Cities like Austin, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have embraced the innovation economy and sought ways to connect their educational institutions with technology platforms to foster the growth of engineering offices and a start-up ecosystem. States and provinces can foster an innovation ecosystem that creates jobs and revenue by enticing firms to work in their community. States and provinces need to remember to focus on their strengths and get buy-in from stakeholders. States and provinces like Alaska could take on the strategy of attracting satellite offices using its uniqueness to test products and support incumbent industries.
Learn how workforce development and talent can foster an innovation ecosystem in a future post.
Check out our 2019 PNWER Annual Summit in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, July 21-25, 2019!
Future posts in this blog series will showcase the working groups that will hold sessions at our Annual Summit including workforce, transportation, economic development, and more. Stay tuned!
Alaska has similar challenges as other cities, states, and provinces that are dependent on one sector of the economy. Automation and globalization have increased over time, and jobs in traditional sectors have been eliminated or outsourced. Economies that are primarily resource-based are particularly impacted by swings in prices because of the cost to commit to development as well as getting products to market. It is often difficult to justify investment in development and an increase in production if the price of resources is down. Additionally, as calls for new transportation options like pipelines and increased rail capacity are being scrutinized, the cost of getting products to market increases. This has an adverse effect on jobs and revenue for resource-based economies.
Mr. Desai pointed out that some regions have had success attracting technology-based industries in an effort to diversify the local economy and enhance its incumbent industries. For example, over the past 20+ years, Austin and Houston, traditionally resource-based economies, have encouraged technology firms to open engineering offices in Texas, selling the low cost of living, educated talent, and low taxes. It has taken several years and courting by economic development leaders, but when a community lays out a strategy and sticks to it, there is opportunity for growth. This strategy is opposite to the traditional method of targeting corporations for complete relocation. The traditional relocation process can be challenging and harmful as states and provinces undermine each other to get the best deal by offering the most incentives – essentially a race to the bottom marked by tax breaks and incentives that may surpass the growth in municipal revenue.
Cities like Austin, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have embraced the innovation economy and sought ways to connect their educational institutions with technology platforms to foster the growth of engineering offices and a start-up ecosystem. States and provinces can foster an innovation ecosystem that creates jobs and revenue by enticing firms to work in their community. States and provinces need to remember to focus on their strengths and get buy-in from stakeholders. States and provinces like Alaska could take on the strategy of attracting satellite offices using its uniqueness to test products and support incumbent industries.
Learn how workforce development and talent can foster an innovation ecosystem in a future post.
Check out our 2019 PNWER Annual Summit in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, July 21-25, 2019!
Future posts in this blog series will showcase the working groups that will hold sessions at our Annual Summit including workforce, transportation, economic development, and more. Stay tuned!
