In the best-supported joint annual industry Capitol Hill Fly-In to date, cohosts NPES and Printing Industries of America, together with key sponsor associations, brought over 50 leading printing industry executives to Washington, D.C., June 2-3, 2015, for PRINT’S VOICE 15, where they addressed top graphic communications industry business concerns directly with their elected representatives in Congress and the Executive Branch.
In the best-supported joint annual industry Capitol Hill Fly-In to date, cohosts NPES and Printing Industries of America, together with key sponsor associations, brought over 50 leading printing industry executives to Washington, D.C., June 2-3, 2015, for PRINT’S VOICE 15, where they addressed top graphic communications industry business concerns directly with their elected representatives in Congress and the Executive Branch.
PRINT’S VOICE 15 participants, including industry executives and association leaders, contacted 80 congressional offices, up 13% from last year; of these contacts 28 were the elected officials themselves, 33% more than in 2014. Additionally, the group engaged with members of the Obama Administration, as well as recently appointed U.S. Postmaster General Megan Brennan.
The agenda for PRINT’S VOICE 15 included a Tuesday welcome luncheon and afternoon issue briefings by invited Members of Congress and Washington, D.C.-based policy experts. This year’s featured guests included Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-2-NC) as well as Congressmen Erik Paulsen (R-3-MN) and Bruce Poliquin (R-2-ME). The day continued with a bi-partisan Congressional Reception attended by 13 additional members of the House of Representatives followed by a Gala Congressional Dinner at which freshman U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) was the featured speaker. The program resumed Wednesday morning on the "Senate side" of Capitol Hill with a breakfast featuring U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and new U.S. Postmaster General Megan Brennan, followed by 59 congressional office visits for the remainder of the day.
During the congressional office visits participants advocated for the following pressing industry issues:
1. Restructuring and revitalizing the U.S. Postal System, and the importance of paper;
2. Preserving pro-growth business tax policy;
3. Strengthening U.S. exporters’ competitiveness in international trade;
4. Curtailing abusive "patent troll" practices; and,
5. Reducing burdensome government over-regulation in the manufacturing workplace.
"With crucial issues, such as Trade Promotion Authority and postal reform, which are of huge importance to our members and their customers, it’s imperative for our industry to weigh in with the information legislators need to make informed decisions," states NPES President Ralph Nappi. "In fact, NPES believes this program to be so important that our Board, again this year, met in conjunction with the Fly-In," continues Nappi.
NPES Board members Mark Hischar, President & CEO, KBA-North America, who was attending his third PRINT’S VOICE, and his Board colleague Greg Blue, CEO, manroland web systems, Inc., both noted key "take aways" from the event were a better understanding of the issues facing the industry and the political context and process in which they are being addressed. NPES Board member Deirdre Ryder, Managing Director & President, VITS International, noted one of the best features of the Fly-In was the opportunity it provided to "network across printing industry associations."
Lending support for the industry’s policy advocacy efforts and endorsing the Fly-In, Epicomm was the event’s Congressional Sponsor, joined by the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) at the Executive Sponsor level. Expanded in scope this year, sponsorship of PRINT’S VOICE 15 provided an opportunity for industry organizations to join forces and raise their visibility among Federal lawmakers and other key policy makers, as well as event participants.
NPES, Printing Industries of America, Epicomm and NAPIM members joined together, speaking with one unified voice directly to their elected officials, to convey their concerns and recommendations for action on issues vital to their businesses and employees’ livelihoods.
"PRINT’S VOICE 15 is both an opportunity and a responsibility to reach out to our congressional representatives on issues of concern to the printing industry," says NPES Government Affairs Chairman Ron Rose, President, Nova Pressroom Products, Inc. Former NPES Chairman Hank Brandtjen, President, Brandtjen & Kluge, Inc. concurred stating, "PRINT’S VOICE is a great event that every NPES member should consider attending."
"These face-to-face discussions with their constituents are the most effective way of getting the message across to lawmakers," adds NPES Government Affairs Director Mark Nuzzaco.
For more information contact NPES Director of Government Affairs Mark J. Nuzzaco at phone: 703/264-7235, e-mail: mnuzzaco@npes.org, or www.printsvoice.org.