The EDPA is committed to driving sustained advocacy efforts to support the exhibitions and events industry.  As part of these efforts, we proudly partner with the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) and the Exhibitor Advocate

The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is a coalition of leading professional, industry, and labor organizations that comprise the unified advocacy voice of the business events industry. The exhibitions, conferences, and trade shows delivered by ECA's alliance partners and their members attract exhibitors, attendees, and buyers from around the world to conduct business in the United States. This dynamic industry employs 2.6 million Americans and drives $399 billion in spending annually.

Click here to learn more about the ECA

The Exhibitor Advocate amplifies the voice of exhibitors to ensure the enduring success of exhibitions and events by collaborating with all stakeholders to promote and cultivate open communication, consistent standards, and industry best practices.

Click here to learn more about The Exhibitor Advocate

Legislative Action Day

ECA Advocacy Update

By Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance ● May 09, 2025

🔆 Welcome to the latest issue of the ECA Advocacy Update newsletter!

  • As tariff policy continues to impact the industry, Trade Show Executive and Trade Show News Network recently published important articles with insights from a who’s who of industry leaders about how they are navigating the ongoing uncertainty.

  • To share your tariff perspectives with your elected officials, please visit the ECA Advocacy Network, where you can email your members of Congress in less than 2 minutes and ensure your voice is heard.

1 big thing: Last call for #ECALAD!

ECA Legislative Action Day registration closes one week from today.

By the numbers: More than 150 industry leaders and advocates have signed up to be on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Thursday, May 29. Will you be joining them?

  • This year’s one-day event will be the largest gathering of the business and professional events industry on Capitol Hill ever!

The big picture: During ECA Legislative Action Day, industry leaders and advocates will meet with lawmakers about 3 critical policy issues:

Once again, ECA Legislative Action Day will be held alongside 2 great industry events taking place in Washington, DC, during #ECALAD week:

What they’re saying: Thanks to Trade Show Executive and Exhibit City News for their great previews of what to expect on Thursday, May 29.

2. Workforce issues gain momentum

Momentum continues to build for ECA’s next-generation workforce agenda in the White House and on Capitol Hill!

Why it matters: The future of our industry depends on our collective ability to attract, train, and grow our nation’s future skilled workforce.

In recent days, ECA has 2 big wins in our nation’s capital:

  • President Trump signed an executive order calling on federal agencies to streamline and modernize federal workforce programs to better support the high-paying skilled trade jobs of the future.

  • The House of Representatives Education & Workforce Committee included language to expand the Pell Grant program to pay for high-quality short-term skilled workforce training for the first time in its part of the forthcoming tax reform legislation.

What’s next: Next Tuesday, the House Ways & Means Committee is slated to take up its part of the tax reform bill.

  • ECA is hopeful that it will include an ECA-supported proposal to transform Section 529 college savings programs into career savings programs by also paying for licenses and certifications.

3. ECA on the road (and online)

In the coming weeks, ECA’s Tommy Goodwin will hit the road to join several events hosted by ECA member associations and partners.

  • SISO Small Business SIG: On May 13, ECA will join Walter Charnizon for a webinar on what small business event producers need to know about the latest tariff and travel developments.

  • UFI European Events Week: On June 4, ECA will be part of a half-day UFI Leadership Insight Series session on navigating the U.S. exhibition ecosystem, curated by SISO’s Vinnie Polito.

  • IFES Global Summit: On June 19, ECA will moderate a panel discussion featuring insights from experiential marketing leaders from the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

  • ESCA Summer Educational Conference: On July 1-2, ECA will provide a Washington, DC update and join a conversation featuring the 6 Exhibitions Industry Collective leaders on the industry’s future.

4. In case you missed it

Trade Show Executive’s Fastest 50 Awards & Summit featured a policy update from ECA’s Tommy Goodwin.

  • EXHIBITOR wrote about the unique intersection of climate change and the future of event cancellation insurance.

  • IAEE board chair Chuck Grouzard shared his perspective on why advocacy is more important than ever.

  • Trade Show Talk podcast recently interviewed ECA leaders Hervé Sedky, Doug Emslie, and Chris Skeith.