The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) 2023 Legislative Action Day will take place in-person in Washington, DC on Thursday, June 1, 2023.
ECA Legislative Action Day will bring advocates and leaders from EDPA and across the face-to-face business events industry back to Capitol Hill to meet with their members of Congress about ECA’s public policy priorities and the vital role that our industry plays in helping to spur economic growth, support job creation, and empower small businesses across the United States of America.
This year’s one-day program will combine meetings on Capitol Hill with a policy briefing kickoff breakfast, a post-event reception, and plenty of opportunities for peer-to-peer networking.
Sign up today to join more than 100+ advocates and leaders from EDPA and across the industry on Capitol Hill!
REGISTER NOW https://www.exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org/legislative-action-day
Questions? - Reach out to Dasher Lowe,EDPA Executive Director (dlowe@edpa.com).
Advocacy As A Habit
Our advocacy mission is to create an ongoing culture of advocacy within the EDPA community, members and affiliates in support of the trade show and live event industries. We will do this by delivering consistent and compelling messaging about the positive impact our industry has on the US and global economies. We seek to ensure our stakeholders understand that:
Together we can make change and improve the future of our industry
There is a need speak with one consistent voice (ie. One Voice, One Message)
Advocacy must be an ongoing effort, if our total message is to be heard
Waiting to speak about an issue until we need something – is simply too late
Knowledge must be shared, education must be continuous, and relationships must be frequently developed
Advocacy and personal engagement creates reliable and enduring channels of communication
Local And National Advocacy Varies, But Both Are Necessary
There are distinct differences between advocating for issues at the federal level and advocating locally for regional needs
Local advocacy means state and municipal engagement
Local matters are best handled by regional business leaders communicating with state and local representatives on issues affecting their communities
Grass roots efforts to share information and educate the public are most effective when spoken with passion and delivered by engaged citizens
Having a positive impact on local economies, businesses and people are at the forefront of advocacy efforts
Your Involvement Makes A Difference
Current Issue / Call to Action: Planning for the Re-Opening of Trade Shows and Live Events
Do not wait for “someone to decide” we are ready to re-open venues
It takes time to attract, schedule, book, plan and hold events
Poll results show it takes 3 to 6 months to target and attract local and regional events. It takes 6 to 9 months to solicit and secure national events.
Venue re-openings require immediate attention and effort for conferences and events to rebook and meet safely – even if changes occur in the interim
Local (Grassroot) Advocacy Opportunities
Question: How Can Our Industry Advocate at the Local Level?
Consistent messaging on critical points (crafted from EDPA polls, surveys, and data) is the best strategy for successfully engaging in effective advocacy
A “One Voice, One Message” strategy --- delivered by local, passionate professionals --- allows for reopening procedures and safety protocols to be shared throughout the country, hence accelerating event reopenings
Enlistment of local EDPA Chapters to engage in advocacy is advantageous to all
Communicating regularly with Members who engage in advocacy efforts is paramount
Training local EDPA Members helps ensure messaging and data is current and accurate
Methods and Channels of Advocacy
Creativity helps. Written posts, blog and vlog articles, and local meetings (digital and in-person) are essential tools of Advocacy Warriors
Social Media Outlets (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Other) offer good means of delivering content to the public, and represent effective ways to rally support
Audience reach can be narrow based on the limitations of our own contacts; it’s why we are always looking for new methods to expand our reach.
Connecting with local TV, Radio, Print/Electronic media should be a priority
Wide-spread public education will strengthen our efforts
Publicity and social media activity can gain the attention of local politicians and their staffers
Connecting with state and municipal officials helps improve our governmental affairs objectives
Public and municipal engagement helps us gain support and affect positive change towards any legislative agenda
Advocacy Resources
EDPA Advocacy team members are standing by to help you with your advocacy efforts. You can search for your elected representatives with the links below.
Find your US House Rep - https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Find your US Senator - https://www.senate.gov/senators/How_to_correspond_senators.htm
Find your Congressional leader on Twitter - https://twitter.com/i/lists/8243785/members
Find your state legislators - https://openstates.org
EDPA Joins Americans for Free Trade Efforts
Keeping the tariffs in place isn’t being “tough on China.” These tariffs are only tough on the American businesses and consumers who have directly paid over $80 billion dollars in tariffs to the U.S. government as a result of the trade war with China.
There’s a common misconception that China is paying these tariffs. They are not. It’s actually American businesses, farmers, manufacturers, consumers, and families who are paying the price for these ineffective tariffs that have done nothing to change China’s behavior.
These tariffs are a misguided place-holder policy until the Biden Administration develops a comprehensive plan that might actually be effective in addressing legitimate issues with China. But until such plan is put in place, American businesses and farmers are being directly harmed to the tune of $80 billion and counting.
Tariffs are taxes on American businesses. Keeping them in place undercuts the Biden Administration’s economic recovery efforts, raises costs for American consumers, impedes job growth, and acts as a drag on the U.S. economy as we recover from the global pandemic.
Tariffs act as a “pay cut” for hard-working Americans. Imports offer American consumers greater selection and lower prices, which helps American families stretch their budgets, especially as they continue to struggle in the economic downturn.
Because tariffs raise the cost of many household items, American workers’ hard- earned wages don’t stretch as far to purchase these essential goods.
Tariffs kill jobs and place significant financial burdens on American businesses, making it hard for them to grow.
Trade is vital to our manufacturing industries and is essential for positioning the U.S. as the leading global economy. Imports are critical for many American manufacturers who have no choice but to buy component parts from other countries because those parts cannot be sourced in the U.S. Imported inputs incorporated into goods manufactured in the U.S. make those goods more competitive when exported abroad.
Short of lifting the tariffs, the Biden Administration should take the following steps to provide economic relief to American families:
Providing immediate and retroactive tariff duty relief on products needed for the U.S. response to the pandemic.
Reinstating expired Section 301 tariffs exclusions and extending existing exclusions
Reviewing, improving, and overhauling the tariff exclusions process
