WASHINGTON DC — The Alliance of exhibitions and conferences‘s Legislative Action Daywhich will be held on June 1 in Washington DC, will bring together the events industry on Capitol Hill to advocate for its needs to leaders and lawmakers.
“I am thrilled to welcome the entire industry back to Capitol Hill for the first time in four years. The industry has done a lot of outreach over the last three years, and I am excited for everyone to see how the issues that matter to the business events industry are top of mind for their elected officials,” said Tommy Goodwin, ECA Vice President of Government Affairs.
This year, the Legislative Action Day focuses on three key areas: reducing visa wait times, training the future skilled workforce, and ending commercial identity fraud. According to the ECA, long visa wait times will result in the loss of 2.6 million visitors and $7 billion in spending in the United States in 2023. Developing a skilled workforce includes reauthorizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and supporting the Jumpstarting Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act.
As the industry grapples with commercial impersonation fraud in a variety of forms, including scams such as fraudulent hotel offers, it continues to press Congress to encourage the Federal Trade Commission to finalize the Trade Regulatory Rule on Government and Business Impersonation as soon as possible.
Related. Trade shows and trade organizations lobby Federal Trade Commission for impersonation fraud rule targeting business imposters
Last year, during Legislative Action Week, which took place virtually in June, ECA coordinated 85 meetings with members of Congress, and Goodwin says he anticipates there will be more participants and meetings than in 2022.
“It will be great to have our industry leaders and advocates back on Capitol Hill to talk about the critical role our industry plays in driving economic growth, supporting job creation and empowering small businesses across the country,” Goodwin said. “This year’s daylong program will combine meetings with legislators on Capitol Hill with a kickoff breakfast and policy briefing, plenty of opportunities throughout the day for peer networking and a post-event reception. It promises to be a jam-packed day!”
Contact Tommy Goodwin at tommy.goodwin@exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org