PHCC President-Elect David Dugger (left), PM Managing Editor Kelly
Faloon and members of the Tennessee PHCC group meet with some of Sen. Lamar Alexander’s (R-Tenn.) staff. Photo credit: Solid
Image Photographic Service/PHCC
More than 130 PHCC members attended thePHCC Legislative ConferenceApril 25-26. During visits on Capitol Hill, contractors and association executives lobbied for: support for permanent repeal of the estate tax; a more workable EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule; and a congressional hearing on the Department of Energy’s development of workforce guidelines for the Weatherization Assistance Program.
At the PHCC Legislative Breakfast, House Small Business Committee Chair Rep.Sam Graves(R-Mo.) reminded attendees that “bipartisan work does happen” on Capitol Hill as he discussed new opportunities for small business to enter the federal procurement process that came about with the help of Senate Small Business Committee ChairMary Landrieu(D-La.).
PHCC President-ElectDavid DuggerofShoffnerKalthoff Mechanical Electrical Service (Knoxville, Tenn.) noted that legislators really do want to hear from their constituents.
“[Government Relations Director]Mark Risodoes a great job for PHCC, but lawmakers see so many lobbyists every day,” he said. “They would rather hear from you aboutyourconcerns. Contractors need to get into politics or get out of business.”
That theme was repeated by retiring Sen.Jon Kyl(R-Ariz.), who told attendees at the closing reception to get to know their legislators while they are in their districts and states.
“Once they are in Washington, you’ve missed the opportunity to have a voice,” he said.
