COLUMBUS, Ohio — More than 100 Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) members spent two days in Washington, D.C., lobbying on behalf of the HVACR industry through the organization’s annual Fly-in event.
HARDI members and staff conducted approximately 200 meetings with the nation’s elected officials and their staff members during the May 22-23 event.
HARDI’s presence is making a difference and has been well documented. The organization’s bipartisan outreach was highlighted in Politico Influence’s May 23 newsletter.
"Our current Fly-in participation continues to turn heads on Capitol Hill" said Palmer Schoening, vice president of government affairs, HARDI. “Thank you to all of our members who came to Washington this year. Your engagement will be a tremendous help in our advocacy efforts in the months ahead.”
The HARDI Fly-in showcased a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., who led the Ways and Means Tax Policy Subcommittee during passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Additionally, Reps. Lou Barletta, R-Pa.; Jason Smith, R-Mo.; and Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, presented on policies that specifically impact the HVACR industry.
HARDI’s top legislative priorities included tax cut permanence, ratification of the Kigali amendment to the Montreal protocol, e-fairness, and promoting career and technical education to support jobs in the trades.
"We are confident that our efforts this year will resonate in the short term," said Alex Ayers, director of government affairs, HARDI. “Many of our legislative priorities enjoyed support from both parties. Now we have additional weight to throw behind them thanks to the efforts from our Fly-in attendees.”
The HARDI Congressional Fly-in has become an effective tool in shaping the policies that affect HVACR distribution. Full expensing of commercial HVACR equipment was a top priority of the HVACR industry in 2017. Thanks to the engaging efforts of HARDI’s members, bipartisan full expensing legislation was ultimately included in the tax reform package that passed in 2017.
"Many Fly-in attendees are regulars who have achieved veteran status after years of coming to this event," said Anthony Lagunzad, public affairs specialist, HARDI. “Not only is our reputation as an association growing in Washington, our clout on many of these issues affecting small businesses, family businesses, and the HVACR industry as a whole is growing as well."
For more information, visit www.hardinet.org.
Publication date: 05/31/18
