Greater Austin Chamber Chairman Tim Crowley, President-Austin Community Banking Group, Frost Bank and Vice Chair of Government Relations, Carl Richie of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, will lead a delegation to Washington DC March 28 to 30 along with approximately 20 Chamber volunteers to advocate a number of issues including funding federal academic scholarship programs and specific Central Texas infrastructure projects, patent reform, reinstating access to grants for innovative biotechnology research and the reauthorization of research and development tax credits.

“This trip is essential to getting the attention of national lawmakers who are currently deciding which projects to fund,” said Richie. “Reform of the patent review process and issues critical to small business are imperative to their success and growth.”

The Chamber’s Legislative Agenda advocates:

• Funding for various transportation projects including roads, rail and buses
• Reform of the patent review process through regulatory stream lining, changes to the patent law and full funding of the Patent and Technology Office to enable the review of patents in a shorter time frame
• Restoration of eligibility for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants to venture capital–backed small biotechnology companies
• Permanent extension of the research and development tax credit
• Creation of a tax credit for technology retraining
• Regulatory reform of Sarbanes Oxley to reduce the disproportionate burden face by small and medium businesses

Community leaders attending are Ron Edgerton and Rebecca Gonzales of SigmaTel, Fred Gilliam of Capital Metro, Sandy Hentges of the Greater Austin Chamber, Brandon Janes of Jackson Walker, Justin Keener and Lauren Pfeifle of Edelman, Bruce LaBoon of Locke, Liddell, & Sapp, Ross Milloy of Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council, Cis Myers of CH2MHill, Carl Richie of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, Robert Stluka of Winstead Sechrest & Minick, and Jerry Valdez of the Valdez Company. The members will welcome Congress members and staff at a Texas barbeque reception Wednesday night.

Opportunity Austin, now in its third year, is a five-year, five-county economic development initiative to create 72,000 jobs and a $14 billion positive economic impact on the economy.