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Congressman Lance Provides Washington Briefing

CONGRESSMAN LANCE PROVIDES SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS LEADERS WITH CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING

 

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – Congressman Leonard Lance (R-7) provided aproximately 60 members of the Somerset County Business Partnership with an intimate and informative Congressional Roundtable and Washington Briefing at the offices of Norris, McLaughlin, Marcus on Friday, March 7, 2014. Congressman Lance had reached out to the Business Partnership with a request to discuss the national issues that impact businesses in Somerset County.

 

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Business Partnership President/CEO Mike Kerwin opened the breakfast meeting by providing an overview of initiatives that will be addressed in the coming months. He stressed that the Partnership, as representatives of county businesses, will “play offense” for the foreseeable future. Among the initiatives that are currently being pursued are working closely with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority to assure that funding is directed to the areas that most need help, specifically the corridors that currently house hundreds of thousands of square feet of vacant office space. It is these areas that most need support and effective planning to again become viable business and employment generators.

 

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The Partnership agenda for 2014 also includes working closely with the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce to develop a reform agenda for small business. In addition, because Somerset County is well positioned to take advantage of the demographic shift to urban areas where infrastructure is in place, the Partnership will lead a the effort to develop a toolkit to attract and retain talent and develop a targeted outreach to grow business.

 

Congressman Lance explained that New Jersey currently has 12 Congressional Districts, each containing among the largest population bases in the country. With redistricting taking place following every ten-year census, the current Congressional make up in New Jersey is expected to remain as is until at least 2032.

 

Reviewing Congressional actions during the current session, Lance stressed that the economy and job growth are the primary issues with unemployment too high and far too many people having given up seeking employment

 

As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Congressman is directly involved with oversight of the pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries, key economic generators in his congressional district.

 

Discussing the makeup of the New Jersey Congressional delegation, Lance noted that three sitting Congressman, Rob Andrews, Jon Runyon, and Rush Holt, have opted not to run again in November. Regardless of whether or not Republicans or Democrats win those seats, there will be negative impact on New Jersey’s seniority for committee and leadership appointments.

 

With a need for greater certainty to generate discernable economic improvement, Congress recently voted to delay for one year the penalty on businesses for not implementing Obamacare, voted to expedite energy projects, and streamlined the federal regulation process.. Stating that he is a proponent of the Keystone Pipeline, Lance noted that the project has been under discussion for five years without a decision. His support is based on short-term job growth and the need to support Canada’s energy needs before they are forced to look to China for oil.

 

Addressing the President’s budget message, Lance explained that it is a blueprint for spending and that Congress is responsible to fund the government through the appropriation process. He expects the House of Representatives to pass a budget this year but does not expect the same from the Senate. New Jersey Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen is in line to possibly assume leadership of the Appropriations Committee after the first of the year, one of the most powerful positions in Washington.

 

Other issues recently addressed by Congress are investigation into the IRS targeting issues, increasing the exporting of natural gas to allies, support of the Ukraine democratic government, revisions to tax policy to address state tax deductibility, and immigration issues that will result in securing our southern borders.

 

The Congressman is seeing a limited return of manufacturing to this country due to high productivity of the American worker and the quality of production. He favors changing the rules that require a corporate tax on foreign profits in addition to the tax paid in foreign countries. By limiting the additional tax, Lance feels that we will further increase manufacturing and add US jobs. He noted that lax environmental regulations in foreign countries provide an unfair financial advantage in addition to being detrimental to indigenous populations.

 

Congressman Lance was elected to the United States House of Representatives in November of 2008 and reelected to his third term on November 6, 2012 . He represents the 7th Congressional District that includes all of Hunterdon County and parts of Essex, Morris, Somerset, Union and Warren counties.

 

Lance serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, playing a significant role in protecting and growing jobs in New Jersey’s energy, life sciences, and telecommunication sectors.


Prior to being elected to Congress, Lance served as a member of the New Jersey State Senate beginning in 2002, representing the 23rd Legislative District. He held the position of Minority Leader of the Senate from 2004 to 2008.

BACKGROUNDER

The Somerset County Business Partnership serves as central New Jersey’s regional Chamber of Commerce. Members and investors represent public, private and community organizations, working in partnership and dedicated to maintaining and promoting economic prosperity and quality of life in Somerset County.  The Somerset County Business Partnership is an essential partner for doing business in Somerset County, and as such is the premier regional business organization in New Jersey. The Business Partnership seeks to achieve four key outcomes; public leadership, advocacy, economic and community development, and value/engagement, providing LEADERSHIP, OPPORTUNITY, AND RESULTS to the Somerset County Business Community.


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