The Detroit Regional Chamber joined the U.S. Chamber on two national advocacy initiatives in July, advancing policy priorities to strengthen workforce pipelines and modernize core infrastructure.
Immigration Reform and Workforce Security
Growing Michigan’s population and skilled workforce remains a core priority of the Chamber. On July 9, the Detroit Regional Chamber joined the U.S. Chamber in launching the American Alliance for Workforce and Border Security. As part of this national effort, the Chamber signed onto a joint letter urging the 119th Congress to enact sensible, bipartisan immigration reform to address persistent labor shortages across all economic sectors.
Congressional Budget Office data highlights a pressing demographic challenge, with U.S. population growth slowing to an average of 0.2% per year and domestic deaths projected to exceed births by 2031. To ensure regional and national competitiveness, the coalition called on Congress to focus on four key policy pillars:
- Sustaining border security measures to establish a stable foundation for economic growth.
- Amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to create employment-based visa pathways across all critical industries facing severe worker shortages.
- Establishing a practical process to retain experienced workers who have previously held legal work authorization and contributed to the economy.
- Modernizing work eligibility verification tools, including Form I-9 and E-Verify, to give compliant businesses real-time accuracy and regulatory certainty.
In Michigan, foreign-born residents contribute $2.6 billion in state and local taxes, hold $23.1 billion in spending power, and account for more than 36,000 business owners who generate over $1.2 billion in total business income. Furthermore, 36.6% of Michigan immigrants hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, providing vital high-skilled talent to regional employers.
A modernized legal immigration system, combined with ongoing investments in domestic workforce training and vocational education, is vital to closing the skills gap and filling open positions that currently constrain business expansion across the state.
Federal Infrastructure Reauthorization
Comprehensive federal infrastructure reauthorization is equally central to the Detroit Regional Chamber’s economic agenda. As the epicenter of global automobility and advanced manufacturing, the region relies on modern highways, intelligent transit corridors, ports, railroads, and international border crossings to maintain supply chain resilience and global competitiveness. Outdated infrastructure increases transit costs, delays deliveries, and undermines economic expansion across the state.
To address core transportation needs, the Detroit Regional Chamber joined business organizations nationwide on July 14 in sending a coalition letter to U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson, urging swift floor passage of H.B. 8870, the BUILD America 250 Act.
The proposed five-year surface transportation reauthorization provides $474.4 billion in guaranteed funding from the Highway Trust Fund to maintain and construct roads, bridges, railroads, transit systems, and ports. The legislation also introduces essential permitting and environmental review reforms designed to reduce project delays and lower construction costs, while establishing new revenue sources to secure the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.
Reliable infrastructure and efficient freight corridors are fundamental to supply chain stability and economic vitality across the region. Long-term federal funding certainty enables local communities and private partners to execute critical transportation projects that support commerce and job creation.