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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2019 MEDIA CONTACT: Alexis Reed, (240) 403-3529 ROCKVILLE, MD: On Tuesday, July 30, the Montgomery County Council unanimously passed Bill 10-19 – sponsored by Councilmember Andrew Friedson (District 1) – which requires the Office of Legislative Oversight to prepare economic impact statements for each proposed piece of legislation. This has been a long-standing legislative priority for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC). “On behalf of MCCC and our Board of Directors and member companies, I commend Councilmember Friedson for his leadership on this priority issue for Montgomery County’s business community,” stated Gigi Godwin, President & CEO of MCCC. “We have been fighting for this legislation for nearly a decade and we’re proud to see it cross the finish line this year with the support of the entire County Council.” As passed, this legislation expands the required contents of an economic impact statement to include effects on Montgomery County’s workforce, tax policy, property values, incomes, operating costs to businesses and non-profits, capital investment from the private sector, economic development, and economic competitiveness. “It is critical that our policymakers have the necessary economic information at their disposal prior to voting on legislation that could unintentionally harm our County’s economic competitiveness,” said Tricia Swanson, MCCC Vice President of Government Relations. “Montgomery County is a global gateway; our businesses are not limited to the physical boundaries of the county,” added Godwin. “It is imperative that the County Council recognize the impact of their policy decisions’ on our ability to compete with neighboring jurisdictions in a highly competitive regional and global economy.” For more about information regarding MCCC’s policy priorities, visit: https://www.mcccmd.com/advocacy.html ### The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) is a membership organization that accelerates members success through effective advocacy, programs, and events. Its membership includes small, medium, and large organizations representing a wide range of industries. For more information, visit www.mcccmd.com.