AEM’s Advocacy Team and 35 executives made a forceful case for pro-growth, pro-jobs policies as part of the 2021 AEM March Virtual Fly-in.
The group engaged in more than three dozen virtual meetings with members of Congress and senior staff during the one-day event. Rather than traveling to our nation’s capital for a day of in-person meetings throughout the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, AEM brought Capitol Hill to offices from California to Georgia and throughout the Midwest. While all participants wished they could have made the case for pro-manufacturing policies in person, they all agreed that virtual “face-to-face” meetings are still a very effective way to get the industry’s message through to congressional offices.
Highlights from the 2021 AEM March Fly-In included virtual meetings with Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Representatives Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-Ga.), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Ron Kind (D-Wis.), Greg Murphy (R-N.C.)., and David Scott (D-Ga.).
“While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge our industry, our volunteer leaders remain as committed as ever to supporting the association’s advocacy efforts,” said Kip Eideberg, AEM’s senior vice president of government and industry relations. “Throughout this pandemic, equipment manufacturers have remained open, kept their employees and communities safe, and continued to make the equipment that builds, feeds, and powers our country. We are grateful to the many members of Congress and their staff who took the time to meet with our member companies, listen to their stories, and learn about the policies that will keep our industry strong.”
During the virtual meetings, AEM’s Advocacy Team and member company executives pushed for comprehensive infrastructure legislation, support for rural America, and removal of tariffs and other barriers to trade. Support for these policies will ensure that the 2.8 million men and women of the $288 billion industry will remain competitive in the global economy.
Stay tuned for more information about the 2021 AEM Washington Fly-In, currently set to take place later this year in Washington, D.C.
If you have questions about AEM’s advocacy efforts or want to get involved, email AEM’s Kate Fox Wood at kfoxwood@aem.org.
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