Chamber Conducts 2026 Washington D.C. Advocacy Trip

The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce led a delegation of business and community leaders to Washington, D.C. on May 19 and 20, 2026, to advocate for federal policies and investments that support Staten Island's small business community and strengthen the borough's long-term economic competitiveness. The trip centered around the Chamber's 2026 Federal Policy Agenda, which focused on expanding access to capital, investing in transportation and infrastructure, supporting workforce development, improving resiliency, and reducing the rising cost of doing business.

During the visit, the Chamber delegation met with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis to discuss Staten Island's unique economic and transportation challenges and to advocate for targeted federal support. Key topics included modernizing outdated federal eligibility standards that often exclude mixed-income communities from funding opportunities, expanding access to SBA and disaster recovery programs, and supporting small business affordability initiatives.

Transportation and infrastructure priorities were a major focus throughout the meetings. Delegates discussed the importance of advancing the North Shore Bus Rapid Transit project, completing the final HOV segment of the Staten Island Expressway, expanding ferry infrastructure and regional connectivity, and addressing congestion pricing inequities that disproportionately impact Staten Island businesses and commuters. The Chamber also highlighted Staten Island's transportation realities, including long commute times, heavy bridge traffic, and limited transit options compared to other boroughs.

The delegation additionally emphasized the need for workforce development investments, practical apprenticeship and training opportunities, and support for entrepreneurship and small business growth. Discussions also included resiliency and disaster recovery priorities such as accelerating the East Shore Seawall project, improving stormwater infrastructure, and expanding access to technical assistance and recovery funding for businesses. Public safety concerns, including organized retail theft, fraud, and cybersecurity risks affecting small businesses, were also addressed.

The Chamber's 2026 D.C. Delegation included Linda Baran, President & CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce; Lauren Aquino of Alpha/Omega Coverage Corp; Tatiana Sabatelli of Nonprofit Staten Island; Roosevelt Board of Chick-fil-A; Zoltan Kemeny, CPA; Janet Magnuson of Richmond Home Needs; Regina Poreda Ryan of CMW Strategies; Henry Salmon of Equity Valuation Associates; Kristopher Sykes of Edward Jones; Joseph Torres of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; and Laura Volsario of Gateway Arms Realty.

The outreach trip reinforced the Chamber's ongoing commitment to ensuring Staten Island's business community remains part of the federal conversation and that outer-borough communities receive fair consideration in future policy decisions, infrastructure investments, and economic development initiatives.