TAO Advocacy Update

TAO Advocacy Update


The TAO team and its members have been busy on the advocacy front these past two weeks, including an annual fly-in event in D.C. with tech delegations from throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as an annual tech industry legislative reception in Salem. Top federal issues discussed with Oregon’s members of Congress included:

  • smart technologies, transportation and infrastructure
  • data privacy and Do Not Track
  • federal support for agriculture-technology projects in Oregon
  • closing the digital divide and encouraging the deployment of rural broadband
  • funding for tech workforce and education programs, like tech apprenticeship initiatives

We already have had several companies reach out about participating in next year’s fly-in event, which is free to attend. Companies simply pay for their own travel. Since space is limited, if you are interested in being considered for next year’s delegation, please let us know, and we will reach out once the main issues for the February 2020 fly-in are announced later this fall.

TAO Advocacy Update

In the meantime, we are working with the offices of Oregon’s members of Congress to organize roundtables this spring with tech companies from around the state on on-going topics of interest, such as those described above. Transportation/mobility, data privacy, smart agriculture, and potential solutions to bridge the digital divide are primary topics of interest.

At the annual legislative reception in Salem we focused on a host of issues ranging from data privacy to rural broadband, but the big focus was on tech education funding in Oregon and tax/revenue reform. We are organizing a series of roundtables this spring that provide an opportunity for TAO members to provide feedback on the various tax/revenue reform proposals under consideration by the Legislature. Goals of these reform efforts include keeping Oregon competitive while raising billions to support education—including tech education.

We have had members inquire as to whether they can support members of the legislature who are working to support Oregon’s tech industry. You can provide such support either individually or on behalf of your company through a donation to the Oregon Tech PAC. You can learn more about the Tech PAC’s priorities and bylaws here, and you can make an online donation here.

If you prefer to donate by check, please make the check payable to Oregon Technology PAC (EIN: 2503369), Post Office Box 42307, Portland, OR 97242. Donations to the Oregon Technology PAC are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Qualifying Oregon Tax Payers may be eligible for a $50 per person / $100 per couple filing jointly tax credit.

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