Last week, FY24 government funding legislation, which included $50 million in supplemental funding for the State Department to address visa delays, was signed into law!
The bottom line: Restoring visa operations to pre-pandemic levels has long been one of ECA's top policy priorities. This funding will help further reduce visa wait times and get more of our international exhibitors and attendees back to the U.S.
While this is great news, ECA will still be "all in" advocating for three bills in Congress that will help ensure long visa wait times never happen again:
ECA's view: "Securing this funding marks an important step in reopening our doors and bringing all of our international stakeholders back to business events in the U.S., which play a vital role in driving domestic economic growth, fostering job creation, and empowering U.S. small businesses every day,” said Hervé Sedky, Emerald Holding Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the ECA board of directors.
ECA Legislative ActionDay registration is on a record-setting pace, with 76 industry leaders and advocates from 22 states already signed up.
The big picture: On May 30, the business events industry will be on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to advocate for ECA's top federal policy priorities:
Eliminating visa backlogs and modernizing the visa processing system. 🌎
Helping attract and retain the industry's next generation workforce. 👷
Check out this TSNN blog post on why it's so important for the entire industry to join us for Legislative Action Day.
Who's coming? Industry leaders including Jim Kelley, Dasher Lowe, and Kate Hawley will be there. Watch this video to learn why:
Ready to join us in Washington, DC? Click here to register for free today!
3. ECA joins International Cleaning Week
Thisweek, ECA was pleased to join ISSA–The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, in recognizing International Cleaning Week (#ICW).
Why it matters: ECA has worked with ISSA on various advocacy initiatives in recent years including:
Lobbying for tax credits to offset increased post-pandemic cleaning costs. 🧹
Supporting the ISSA-led Healthy Workplaces Coalition, which advocates for federal support to help businesses implement workplace improvements and strategies that advance the health, safety, and well-being of their employees and all others inside these facilities, including business events venues. 🤝
In their words:“ISSA–The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association is proud to elevate Cleaning Week to a truly international event this year,” said John Nothdurft, ISSA's Director of Government Affairs. “I’d like to take the time to personally thank the organizations that have supported our endeavor to change the way the world views cleaning, including ECA."
Congratulations to John and the ISSA team on a successful #ICW and their ongoing efforts advocating for clean!
4. In case you missed it...
Listen to the new episode of the EXHIBITOR Now Association & Advocacy Focus podcast, featuring news from ECA and its partner associations.
The Iceberg published latest issue of its Business Events Worldnewsletter with the latest on the social impact of business and professional events.
ECA will at the SISO CEO Summit from April 8-11 in Amelia Island, FL. ECA be part of the panel "Advocacy for Our Industry: What’s new from Washington DC?" with Nancy Walsh, Yancy Weinrich, and Walter Charnizon.
