ISA Steps Up Federal Advocacy on Behalf of Sign Industry
ISA recently joined the American High-Performance Buildings Coalition, an alliance of manufacturing trade associations that are affected by code organizations like the International Building Code and the International Green Construction Code. These building codes often impact the performance and value of signs and are being adopted by cities and states across the country and this coalition is working to make sure that they are supported by science and are as economically viable as possible. ISA also recently joined with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to support a new bill, “The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2013“, which will update the process by which federal agencies promulgate regulations (it hasn’t been updated in 66 years!) to improve accountability and the integrity of the rulemaking process. Most small businesses and manufacturers – including sign companies – are deluged with federal regulations and ideally this bill will help alleviate the bureaucratic burden on our economy. And finally, through our involvement with the Trade Association Leadership Coalition, or TALC, in just the last few weeks we have been able to meet with several members of Congress and administration officials, including Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Congressmen Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), and with SBA and OSHA staff to discuss federal issues of concern to ISA members. ISA’s involvement with these coalition groups allows us to work with federal officials with whom we might not be able to gain access to alone, and enables the sign industry to get its voice heard more effectively on The Hill.
On June 19-20, 2013, five ISA member companies will be joining ISA staff to participate in the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) “Manufacturing Summit” in Washington, D.C. during which they will meet with members of Congress and learn from NAM experts the latest legislative and policy issues that are affecting manufacturers, including sign companies. The Manufacturing Summit will be a fine opportunity to educate federal officials on the value of signs to our communities and to raise the visibility of the sign industry on Capitol Hill. For more information or to participate in the Summit, please contact David Hickey at [email protected] or (703) 797-0479.
