2022 state legislative sessions are in full swing, and AEM’s State Advocacy team has been traveling to meet with key state legislators in state capitals across the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic forced an early end to state legislative sessions in 2020 and forced states to host fully virtual sessions in 2021. 2022 marked a return to the new normal, with more and more state capitols open to visitors, as well as state legislators open to more in-person meetings.
Over the past few weeks, AEM’s State Advocacy Team has traveled to Des Moines (Iowa), Jefferson City (Missouri), Madison (Wisconsin), and Frankfurt (Kentucky). In Iowa, we were able to share with the Iowa Agriculture Commissioner Mike Naig our industry’s commitment to supporting Iowa’s essential agricultural economy. Commissioner Naig spoke about the essential role equipment manufacturers played during the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring our nation’s food chain continued operations.
In Jefferson City, Missouri, AEM’s State Advocacy team thanked legislators for their recent passage of a gas tax increase bill, the first one passed nationally since 2017. The gas tax increase is expected to bring in an additional $70 million annually to the state’s road fund and the County Aid Road Trust (CART) for use by local governments. During the visit, the legislature is actively considering a repeal of their recently passed gas tax increase, in part because of higher gas prices and infusion of federal infrastructure funds. We urged legislators to keep their gas tax increase in place, as it serves as a long-term continual source of funding, as opposed to more time-limited federal funds.
Our activities in Madison, Wisconsin served as a great opportunity for AEM’s Advocacy team to reintroduce AEM and our Wisconsin member companies to state officials. We had great conversations with House Trade and Supply Chain Chairman Rob Brooks about the continued supply chain issues AEM members face across Wisconsin and the U.S. AEM’s State Advocacy team extended invitations to key Wisconsin elected officials to visit and tour AEM’s recently renovated Milwaukee office.
Kentucky businesses and legislators are focused on easing the labor shortage in the Commonwealth, with several popular workforce development bills under consideration, including the Chamber-backed H.B. 499, which would establish the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership, encouraging non-profit and for-profit employers to offer child care assistance as a benefit by matching employer contributions with state dollars. During our visit to Frankfort, we had many productive conversations with legislators about this proposal, as well as other innovative ideas our industry is employing to attract workers.
AEM’s State Advocacy team has had a busy few weeks advocating for AEM’s core policy positions, including the expansion of rural broadband, investment in infrastructure, and expansion of workforce development plans.
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