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Yet another element of a successful government relations strategy is to reach outside the industry and the halls of government to raise awareness in the broader community. We do this with a pro-active media relations campaign, on top of our other advocacy efforts. For example, in 2014 we scheduled a meeting with the Bloomberg editorial board in Washington to share our industry’s views. We also work to place articles in the media when they can contribute to our advocacy goals. Last year this was highly important as we were advocating for the successful passage of the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation (RAMI) Act.
Global Policy Framework for 2015
Looking forward, we are focusing our advocacy efforts in the areas our members tell us are most important to them. Our Global Policy Framework for 2015 is aimed at promoting an advanced manufacturing economy that supports the entire electronics supply chain. The broad areas of that framework are:
- Driving technological innovation and advanced manufacturing
- Promoting a 21st century economy and workforce
- Advocating for smart regulation
- Supporting science-based environmental protection
Specific issues under these headings include public-private partnerships for manufacturing innovation, tax policy, education and training, and environmental health and safety policy. These will be the areas that we target in our advocacy efforts, as they are the current top priority issues for our industry.
We constantly monitor the policy debates that affect the electronics industry, and we update our policy agenda whenever necessary. This gives us a government relations platform that is always ready to take action.
Raising a Unified Voice
As an association, we understand that we are here for our members, to be a strong and well-heard voice for them and for the industry as a whole in the halls of government.
The electronics manufacturing industry is an important sector in the global economy, and it is our responsibility to advocate for policies that will help our members succeed. Together, with a unified voice and a clear strategy, we can influence the adoption of public policies that will advance our industry as well as the prosperity and welfare of billions of people.
John Hasselmann is the vice president of Government Relations at IPC—Association Connecting Electronics Industries®. Follow him on Twitter @john_hasselmann
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Barry Matties, Publisher of I-Connect007, sat down with Congressman Honda, who represents District 17 in the Silicon Valley, and talked with him about American manufacturing, infrastructure, education and some of the current thinking in America. According to Honda, "The policies we pass and the things we do in D.C. that negatively impact our economy...a lot of those guys who don’t support some of the positive things we want to see happen don’t really understand that it impacts their districts, their social services, health and business."
