The Greater Des Moines Partnership has announced the eight policy priorities it will present to Iowa’s congressional delegation in May during the organization’s annual trip to Washington, D.C. Click here for more on the trip.

Here’s a rundown:

Iowa Biotechnology Center

The Partnership supports policies that will lead to the development and expansion of biotechnology, the growth of the Cultivation Corridor, and the creation of an Iowa Bioscience Innovation Center in Central Iowa. The federal government is considering the creation of six innovation institutes supported by public-private partnerships.

Des Moines International Airport terminal

The Partnership supports an increase in the passenger facility charge that would help plug a $200 million gap in financing for a proposed new terminal building and related construction. The Partnership also wants the federal government to continue its $3.35 billion in spending for airport improvements.

 See one of our stories on the terminal on BusinessRecord.com.

Bus rapid transit

The Partnership supports the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority’s push for $20 million from the federal government for DART’s proposed Ingersoll/University bus rapid transit project. Bus rapid transit is a rail-like service with special branding and stations.

 See our coverage of transportation issues on BusinessRecord.com.

Long term transportation funding

A long-term reliable federal transportation reauthorization bill is important to economic recovery, the Partnership says. The more common short-term funding measures don’t provide the investment stability and predictability needed for planning and improving Iowa’s growing transportation network, the Partnership says.

Trade

Given Iowa’s $15.1 billion in exports of manufactured and value-added agricultural goods and the Partnership’s Greater Des Moines Regional Export Plan, the Partnership urges Congress and the administration to support pro-trade policies and initiatives. The organization supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Transatlantic Trade and Invest Partnership (TTIP), and the proposed International Services Agreement. Click here to see a Des Moines exporter that we recently profiled.

Immigration

Comprehensive immigration reform can increase national security while creating an effective and streamlined future flow program and a pathway to legal status for unauthorized workers currently in the United States, the Partnership reports. Actions could include an expansion and changes to certain visa programs.

Quality of life

Also on the Partnership’s wish list is solid support for the federal trails programs and continued funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund program, Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Parks Service, and the National Science Foundation.

Graduate medical education

The Partnership supports continued funding for federal programs supporting graduate medical education, and wants the federal cap on those positions removed in states that can demonstrate that they don’t have enough physicians.