After a slow start and the complications of a several week partial government shutdown, the 116th Congress has taken shape. Committee assignments have been established and the new Congress includes 30 incoming members to the key committees of jurisdiction over transportation and infrastructure issues. If your Representative or Senator is featured on these lists and you are interested in inviting them to tour your facility, please contact Meghan Ryan at NATM headquarters.
 
A wave of retirements, electoral defeats, and a shifting majority brings 16 new Democratic members to the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I), as well as eight new members on the Republican side of the aisle. Below are the newest faces to the House T&I committee rosters.  

​The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation welcomes both a new Chair and Ranking Member, with Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) taking the gavel from newly elevated Majority Whip John Thune, and Senator Maria Cantwell replacing the recently defeated Senator Bill Nelson. In addition, the committee welcomes three new members:

​The Annual Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill Visits will be in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. Along with the Convention & Trade Show, this is one of NATM’s most important events of the year. The event brings in speakers from industry groups and agencies such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to provide updates on current policy and regulatory happenings. Topics are geared toward current events and industry needs, with attendees being given the opportunity to engage with experts. Following morning speakers, attendees will be prepared for afternoon visits on Capitol Hills with the staff of their legislators. For those who might be unsure about this event, all attendees are paired into teams with more experienced attendees helping to navigate the Hill and lead meetings. The event is structured to be as easy as possible for attendees while providing the important function of raising awareness of the industry and the issues being faced with legislators.

With the impact of tariffs and proposed tariffs on the industry businesses and the general volatility of the government affairs arena in recent months which is likely to increase in this important midterm election year, messaging for the visits has not yet been confirmed. The Government Affairs committee continues to monitor and adapt possible messaging to ensure our visits on the Hill are relevant and reflect the needs of the industry in the moment.

While messaging is in the works, the next step to ensure a successful event is to encourage more participation from members. NATM Members attending the Capitol Hill Visit serve as crucial constituent voices and are the most important in these one-on-one meetings. Members who have attended in the past have found the experience very rewarding and provided the following comments:

John Kerr, Executive Producer, Manufacturing Practice Group, Marsh & McLennan Agency, says, “I have attended every Regulatory Roundup since I have been a member of NATM. The Roundup has allowed me to have a real and meaningful impact on the trailer manufacturing industry…Without a doubt, this event has been the most important and impactful contribution I have made to the industry. The benefits of this work are real and I would challenge every NATM member to up their commitment to the industry by joining us in Washington,” said Kerr.

NATM’s long-term approach to and investments in government relations continue to pay dividends to the Association and its members. Legislative and regulatory enactments are important and beneficial to NATM, but preventative activities—stopping bad things from happening—are perhaps more important from NATM’s perspective. The Association has been successful on both counts. The current government relations program in place for NATM is strong, and maintaining a steady course will continue to provide tremendous value to NATM members. Expanding the participation at the Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill visits will help build on that success and help NATM educate members of Congress about the trailer manufacturing industry.

If you would like more information about the Regulatory Roundup or how you can get involved in the NATM Government Affairs program, contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433. ​
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