WASHINGTON, DC — Legislative developments for the trade show industry took place on Capitol Hill addressing ongoing issues that the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), associations and trade show producers have been championing regarding visa delays and the future workforce.
Industry in action
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), producers of CONEXPO-CON/AGG, The Utility Expo and the World of Asphalt Show and Conference, went to Capitol Hill to advocate for legislation that would benefit the trade show industry.
“These issues support the ability for buyers and sellers to attend face-to-face trade events,” said Nicole Hallada, AEM’s senior vice president of exhibitions and marketing. “You can see that reducing visa wait times is critical to fostering real connections with markets that our members would not otherwise interact with. Additionally, passing legislation that makes it easier for people to enter our industry ensures that we will have enough workforce to host these events.”
The AEM is no stranger to lobbying, as the association has pushed for pro-manufacturing policies, investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and modernization of the permitting process, among other issues relevant to the equipment manufacturing industry.
“AEM’s premier trade shows provide an especially valuable platform to bring together the equipment manufacturing industry and facilitate relationships between our members and their customers. We want to ensure our voice is heard in Congress on issues that impact face-to-face trade events,” Hallada said. “Legislators were very open to discussing key federal policy priorities and understood the vital role the industry plays in supporting the U.S. economy.”
The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has launched the Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition to advocate for the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. The coalition, which has grown to approximately 600 members since its public launch, is pushing for passage of the legislation by securing support in the House and Senate.
Legislative developments
Two new bills have been introduced to address visa delays. The House of Representatives reintroduced the Visitor Visa Wait Time Reduction Act, which would require the State Department to address delays exceeding 100 days. In the Senate, a bipartisan bill, the Visa Processing Improvement Act, was introduced to improve transparency and accountability, revise interview waiver eligibility criteria, increase capacity and flexibility at consular offices, and improve the overall service experience.
The House also proposed a bill that includes $275 million to help the State Department address visa wait times and reduce passport backlogs and visa delays.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on the JOBS Act, which was a key advocacy point for ECA’s Legislative Action Day, when Congress resumes. The JOBS Act, if passed, would allow Pell Grant funds to be used for college and noncollege skills training.
“Since the Legislative Action Day, we have seen tremendous progress on our policy priorities on Capitol Hill,” said Tommy Goodwin, ECA Vice President. “The industry has called on Congress to focus on visa delays, and we have seen new bills introduced and oversight hearings held. Industry leaders and advocates have called for progress on issues related to the future of the workforce, and we are seeing new coalitions introduced and legislation on the calendar. This shows that our proactive and engaged presence in Washington, D.C. and beyond is working.”
According to Goodwin, in recent weeks, 22 representatives have co-sponsored the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act.
Contact Nicole Hallada at NHallada@AEM.org; Tommy Goodwin at tommy.goodwin@exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org.