The Government Affairs Committee meets at least quarterly.
Government Affairs Committee Chair – Sarah White
Government Affairs Committee Members
- Anthony Amos, Fairfax City Council
Introduction
The Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) sets its legislative priorities for elected officials within NOVA and the Commonwealth of Virginia as representative of the goals for the City of Fairfax and its surrounding communities.
Dedicated to our goal of developing “business friendly environments” and supporting our communities, the Chamber represents and advocates for businesses of all sizes and categories within the City of Fairfax and local communities.
The Chamber’s legislative policies are developed through its Government Affairs committee, which is adopted and modified by the majority vote of the board of directors.
2026 Legislative Policy Positions
Advancing a Strong Business Climate and Thriving Community
The Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce represents businesses of all sizes across the City of Fairfax and surrounding region. Our legislative priorities reflect the needs of employers, workers, and the broader community, recognizing that economic vitality, quality of life, and public policy are deeply interconnected. We look forward to working collaboratively with policymakers to advance practical, balanced solutions.
Affordable & Workforce Housing
The Chamber supports legislation that reduces regulatory barriers and incentivizes the development of workforce and affordable housing to promote economic stability and shared prosperity. Workforce housing is critical for police, first responders, teachers, healthcare workers, service industry employees, and other public-facing professionals essential to our economy. We support zoning flexibility, land-use cost mitigation, alternative financing tools, and public-private partnerships—particularly near employment centers and transit hubs—to improve workforce retention, reduce congestion, and strengthen regional competitiveness.
Fair Business Competition
The Chamber supports reforms that promote fair competition and protect businesses and consumers from anti-competitive practices. We oppose market structures—such as dominant payment processing duopolies—that impose excessive fees on businesses and increase costs throughout the economy.
Equity, Inclusion & Workforce Participation
Northern Virginia’s diversity is a competitive advantage. The Chamber opposes discrimination in all forms and supports policies that promote equity and opportunity for all individuals. We strongly support inclusive employment practices, including expanded workforce participation and competitive wages for individuals with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Federal & State Regulations & Unfunded Mandates
The Chamber opposes unnecessary or rapidly imposed regulations—particularly unfunded mandates—that disproportionately burden small businesses. We urge policymakers to carefully evaluate the economic impact of proposed regulations and prioritize flexibility, transparency, and cost-benefit analysis.
Health Care
The Chamber supports policies that expand access to affordable, high-quality healthcare for employers and employees, including sole proprietors and small businesses. We emphasize the importance of accessible mental health services as essential to workforce well-being and productivity. The Chamber advocates for innovative, flexible healthcare solutions that reduce administrative burdens and address rising costs and workforce shortages.
Immigration Reform & Workforce Needs
Many local industries, including hospitality, healthcare, and construction, rely on immigrant workers. The Chamber supports common-sense immigration reforms that provide businesses with reliable access to talent, protect workers’ rights, and strengthen the overall economy.
Intellectual Property
Strong intellectual property protections are essential to innovation and economic growth. The Chamber supports policies that protect patents, trademarks, and copyrights to reward creativity, prevent counterfeiting, and maintain a competitive free-market economy.
Labor Policy & Right-to-Work
The Chamber supports Virginia’s Right-to-Work laws, which have contributed to strong economic growth and job creation, and opposes policies that would undermine them.
Minimum Wage
The Chamber opposes mandated minimum wage increases that do not account for market conditions or industry-specific impacts. Wage decisions should be guided by economic realities to avoid unintended harm to small businesses and employment opportunities.
Permitting & Development Processes
The Chamber supports continued efforts to streamline and accelerate permitting processes. Efficient permitting is strongly correlated with economic growth, increased tax revenue, and timely project delivery.
Public Safety & Economic Vitality
Public safety is fundamental to a thriving business environment. The Chamber supports strong investment in police, firefighters, EMTs, and all first responders, and policies that ensure they are adequately funded, trained, and equipped. Safe communities attract investment, support workforce retention, and strengthen local economies.
Public-Private Partnerships
The Chamber advocates for expanding public-private partnerships to improve infrastructure delivery, reduce public risk, increase efficiency, and leverage private-sector expertise for public benefit.
Reintegration & Second-Chance Employment
The Chamber supports legislation that expands employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. Gainful employment reduces recidivism and strengthens communities. We encourage incentives for businesses that partner with reintegration programs.
Small Business & Entrepreneurship
Small businesses are the backbone of Fairfax’s economy. The Chamber supports policies that reduce red tape, expand access to capital, and create a predictable, supportive environment where entrepreneurs can start, sustain, and grow their businesses with confidence.
Sustainable Business Practices
The Chamber supports realistic, achievable policies that help businesses transition toward sustainable and environmentally responsible practices. We encourage incentives, technical assistance, and flexibility to ensure sustainability goals do not unintentionally harm business viability.
Taxation
The Chamber opposes single-industry taxation and supports a balanced, competitive tax structure. We urge comparative tax analysis with neighboring jurisdictions and recommend pursuing efficiencies before increasing or creating new taxes.
Tort & Civil Justice Reform
The Chamber supports pro-business tort and civil justice reforms that reduce excessive litigation costs, improve judicial efficiency, and discourage forum shopping—particularly reforms that help control healthcare costs.
Transportation & Infrastructure
A sustainable, long-term transportation funding strategy is essential to Northern Virginia’s economic vitality. The Chamber supports public-private partnerships, express lanes, transit investment, and a dedicated, multi-jurisdictional funding approach for Metro to improve reliability and performance.
Unemployment Compensation
The Chamber opposes unemployment insurance changes that increase long-term financial burdens on small business employers and job creators.
Veterans Affairs
The Chamber supports legislation that promotes employment, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families.