The Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

Federal Priorities Two major GPCC federal policy priorities were accomplished in 2015 with the passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act): a five-year, long-term transportation plan and the reauthorization of the critical Export-Import Bank. The FAST Act represents a key accomplishment of the Allegheny Conference’s Infrastructure strategy, which is focused on improving systems and structures that support sustainability and opportunity. The FAST Act, a $305 billion infrastructure funding package, will make significant investments in our nation’s roads, bridges, highways, rail and transit systems over the next five years. Matched with state investments resulting from the passage of Act 89 – Pennsylvania’s $2.4 billion transportation funding package passed in 2013 – we are now on a path toward further infrastructure improvements to enhance connectivity in the region. Furthermore, the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank represents a big win for our region’s exporting firms and their suppliers. Businesses big and small, from Westinghouse Electric Co. in Cranberry to Aquatech in Canonsburg, utilize the Export-Import Bank to compete with foreign competitors that benefit from their own nation’s export financing institutions. The GPCC also advocated for an increase in the the budget of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) for Fiscal Year 2016. A federal appropriations bill was signed into law at the end of 2015 which will provide an additional $61 million for NETL to maintain and grow its energy research assets to further innovation in energy exploration and utilization in our region. The GPCC organizes regular trips to Washington D.C. to meet with members of our congressional delegation on issues important to the region’s economy and quality of life. GPCC Chair Laura Ellsworth, City of Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and other GPCC members met with our entire western Pennsylvania congressional delegation including Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, and Congressmen Mike Doyle and Tim Murphy. 6

The Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW | Page 8