The Chambers strongly support the initiatives put forth by the current administration for transportation funding and the projects identified. This is an essential first step in improving our transportation efficiency in the region, especially in Prince William County. In addition the Chambers support the following specific transportation projects:

• Extend Route 234 from Interstate 66 to Dulles Airport;
• Make the funding and construction of Route 28 By-Pass between Route 234 and Interstate 66 a regional priority;
• Proceed with the Western Transportation Corridor (WTC);
• Support full funding for interchanges at Route1 and Route 234 and Interstate 66 and Route 29;
• Complete the widening of Route 234 from the City of Manassas to Montclair;
• Support river crossings on the upper and lower Potomac River, and;
• Widen Route 28 from Manassas to Route 17.

The Chambers support maintaining the current highway allocation formula.

The Chambers strongly support legislation permanently reserving Virginia Lottery proceeds solely for K-12 educational needs, including capital projects.

The Chambers support the complete and final restoration of the "Cost of Competing" salary differential for all Northern Virginia school divisions as supported by the 1996 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee.

The Chambers support analysis of the Commonwealth's tax code with the goal of restructuring the revenue streams so that localities may share in the economic health of the state- particularly in the area of sharing income tax revenues.

The current highway allocation formula is inadequate to meet the transportation needs of Northern Virginia. Prince William County, like some other Northern Virginia localities, raises funds for transportation improvements within their jurisdictions by using voter-approved bonds. Other parts of the Commonwealth may try to adopt the same philosophy used for the education funding formula and this concerns us greatly. In order to preclude this the Chambers propose the following:

The Chambers support the consolidation of the various transportation organizations (NVTC, PRTC, TCC, TPB, etc.) in Northern Virginia into a single entity.

The Chambers support requiring all Virginia Department of Transportation land purchases to follow the highway location and notification process in order to prevent loss of economic development parcels to project staging areas.

The Chambers support requiring the Virginia Department of Transportation to create uniform signage regulations along major roadways in order to improve the business climate and the flow of commerce. In addition, the comprehensive marketing of Prince William County's historical tourist destination sights would benefit from such uniformity.

The Chambers support the request of George Mason University for $22 million to fund the Phase III building at the Prince William Campus of George Mason University and for $800,000 to fund an Environmental Educational Center at Belmont Bay.

The Chambers support the right to employment in the Commonwealth of Virginia without joining a labor union. The Chambers support the "right to work" statute, and oppose any efforts which would infringe on the rights of Virginians to freely earn a living.

The Chambers oppose collective bargaining for public employees.

The Chambers oppose the following changes to workers’ compensation statutes:

• Legislation permitting entitlement to compensation for an injured employee who refuses suitable employment.

• Legislation which would require employers to pay for a physician chosen by an injured employee rather than the current system where employees choose a physician from a panel of three provided and paid for by the employers.

• Legislation designed to weaken the workers compensation "no-fault" system. The current system is the "exclusive remedy" for workers compensation claims and should remain so.

The Chambers oppose any new mandates that are not fully funded by the Commonwealth.

The Chambers oppose any expansion of impact fees, and any adequate public facility ordinance or levels of service legislation.

The Chambers oppose any changes to the Dillion rule.