Objective

• Prioritize and guide key public policy, AEMPAC, state, Canadian and grassroots initiatives to the AEM Board of Directors, the Ag and CE Sector Boards and AEM staff on advancing the issues to represent the interests of the AEM membership.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction and priorities for the Association’s state and federal government relations and public affairs efforts.
• Review and approve the Association’s state and federal policy priorities, consult with the Sector Boards on sector-specific priorities and recommend the Association’s annual policy priorities to the AEM Board.
• Administer AEMPAC and provide guidance and approval for disbursements made to candidates for public office.
• Guide the work done by the I Make America Committee, the Infrastructure Vision 2050 Task Force and the State Government Relations Working Group.
• Serve as champions for the Association’s state and federal policy priorities and government relations efforts on the AEM Board and Sector Boards and in the industry as a whole.
• Note: Support for and active engagement in AEM’s grassroots, state, and federal advocacy efforts is an important part of the roles and responsibilities of members of the Government & Public Affairs Committee. Members are strongly encouraged to make a voluntary contribution between $500 and $1,000 to AEMPAC on an annual basis and support fundraising efforts through in-kind donations and participation in ongoing fundraising activities.

Leadership

• The Government & Public Affairs Committee is led by the GPAC Chair and Vice Chair.
• The GPAC Chair and Vice Chair are nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected by the AEM Board annually in November and serve a one-year term. There are no term limits and the GPAC Chair and Vice Chair typically serve two consecutive one-year terms.
• The Vice Chair serves as the acting GPAC Chair in the Chair’s absence.

Composition

• The Government & Public Affairs Committee consists of 20 to 25 AEM Directors, Sector Board Directors and non-Director member company executives who are committed to supporting the Association’s government relations and public affairs efforts. Members are appointed by the GPAC Chair.
• Committee terms are two years. Members can be reappointed. There are no term limits.

Member Profile

• AEM seeks top or high-level executives from member companies with an emphasis on interest in public policy and support for the Association’s advocacy efforts, diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, age, and background along with diversity of product groups.

Meetings

• The Government & Public Affairs Committee meets virtually in January and in person in March, July/August and November in conjunction with AEM Board meetings and Annual Conference.
• The Government & Public Affairs Committee also meets by conference calls/virtual meetings at the Chair’s discretion.

GPAC Subcommittees

• I Make America Committee provides guidance and direction for the development and execution of AEM’s I Make America grassroots advocacy efforts, with particular focus on increasing and fostering AEM member company engagement.
• Infrastructure Vision 2050 Task Force provides strategic guidance and direction to the development and execution of the Infrastructure Vision 2050 initiative, a high-level, thought leadership policy initiative focused on crafting and supporting the implementation of a long-term, national vision for U.S. infrastructure.
• International Advocacy Working Group provides strategic guidance and direction on the development and execution of AEM’s International Advocacy efforts. Discusses issues impacting the equipment manufacturing industry in foreign markets and provides AEM staff strategic input as problems occur.
• Regulatory Affairs Working Group determines objectives and guides regulatory affairs activities on priority issues identified by the Government & Public Affairs Committee.
• State Advocacy Working Group provides strategic guidance and direction on AEM’s state government relations activities. Identifies state-level policy priorities for the equipment manufacturing industry.