NSSGA& Legislative Policy Forum to Take Message to Congress.
By Mark S. Kuhar
The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) will hold its first Legislative Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24-28. It will be held at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill.
Attendees can expect to hear industry leaders educate members of Congress about the importance of the aggregates industry to the economy and transform policy and regulation. This meeting also provides a venue for all NSSGA committees to meet.
Topics covered will include critical issues such as:
- Waters of the U.S. rule.
- MSHA’s workplace examinations rule.
- Long-term highway funding.
NSSGA President and CEO Michael W. Johnson emphasized the importance of this meeting, and the impact members could make with their legislators. “We have to take a message to Capitol Hill,” he said. “Infrastructure investment is critical to keep the economy moving. If aggregates producers don’t meet face-to-face with their elected representatives right now, we are missing a huge opportunity.”
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| Michael W. Johnson |
The event is designed to be one part educational experience, one part pep rally and one part lobbying effort. “This is a chance for members to become their own best advocate,” Johnson said. “Right now, with the current administration in Washington, we have a unique opening to influence regulatory reform and infrastructure investment. We need to take a strong, unified message to Congress.”
Educational session will include:
Allied for Aggregates – NSSGA and the Michigan Aggregates Association recently paired up to confront misguided legislation (created by passionate but uninformed citizens) that would have had a serious impact on Detroit operations. Learn how the two came together and the steps each group took to keep dangerous legislation from being implemented.
Improving Your Mineral Health Program & Reducing Costs – This session covers two separate but related topics on minerals and worker health: NSSGA’s Mineral Identification & Management Guide (MIMG) and a discussion of some of the factors you should consider when selecting the right laboratory to analyze your workplace personal air samples.
Be Your Own Best Advocate – How do you get elected officials to pay attention to the aggregates industry’s primary policy issues?
Rock Solid Reporting – When something happens at your operation, whether positive or negative, you need to be prepared to talk to the media. Media training can help give you the confidence and tools you need to present your operation in the best possible light.
The Core of our Concerns – Get important updates on active federal rule-making issues and how NSSGA is working to advance our industry’s interests on Capitol Hill.
Turn NIMBYs into YIMBYs with Social Media – Learn to use social media to find groups who actively work against quarry permits and operations and then discover tactics to bring them around and turn them into supporters.
Regulatory Reform – Hear a discussion of the current administration’s plans and goals for regulatory reform, including health and safety and environmental regulations.
Digging for Good News – A quarry has more good news to share with the community than you might think. Learn practical ways to highlight positive accomplishments of your business and your employees in order to build goodwill with the community and local elected officials.
Welcome to Washington – In this session, you’ll discover why your voice is an essential component of NSSGA’s mission, whether you drive a loader, analyze the stockpiles or sign the paychecks.
NSSGA also released a videofeaturing three members of Congress – Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) – touting the importance of infrastructure investment. The video is part of overall efforts to move the needle on important issues and increase industry buzz for the Legislative Policy Forum.
“If you believe in change,” Johnson concluded, “you need to be in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24-28.”
The schedule of events for the Legislative Policy Forum is:
SUNDAY, SEPT. 24, 2017
12-5 p.m. – NSSGA Registration & Information Desk open.
2-5 p.m. – NSSGA officers meeting (committee members only).
5-8:45 p.m. – TOUR: Mount Vernon Mansion, Museum and Education Center.
5:30-7:30 p.m. – Dine-around. Dinner reservations made by NSSGA for these restaurants: Trump International Hotel, Occidental Grill & Seafood, The Capital Grille, Belga Café, Bistro Bis, and The Hamilton. (Separate registration required).
7-9:30 p.m. – TOUR: Monuments by Moonlight.
MONDAY, SEPT. 25, 2017
7 a.m.-5 p.m. – NSSGA Registration & Information Desk open.
7:30-9 a.m. – NSSGA meetings and Education Committee meeting (committee members only).
8-8:45 a.m. – NSSGA Spouses and Guests Welcome Breakfast.
8:30-9:30 a.m. – NSSGA Nominating & Leadership Development Committee (Committee members only).
8:30-10:30 a.m. – NSSGA/IQ Distance Learning:
• Year 1 Junior Management Program: Math.
• Year 2 Junior Management Program: Aggregate Extraction & Transportation.
• Year 3 Junior Management Program: Engineering 3.
• Graduate/Management Program: Aggregate Extraction & Transportation.
9-10 a.m. – Breakout Sessions.
• 1A: Allied for Aggregates.
• 1B.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. – TOUR: National Cathedral (Separate registration).
9:30-10:30 a.m. – Meetings (committee members only).
• M&S Division Nominating Committee.
• Small Producers Sub-Committee.
10:30-11:30 a.m. – Meetings (committee members only).
• M&S Division Executive Committe.
• Communications Committee.
• ROCKPAC Trustees.
• Young Leaders Steering Committee.
10:30-11:30 a.m. – Breakout Sessions.
• 2A: Improving Your Mineral Health Program & Reducing Costs.
• 2B.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – NSSGA/IQ Distance Learning Participants Lunch.
12 – 2 p.m. – NSSGA Executive Committee meeting (committee members only).
12:30-2:30 p.m. – NSSGA/IQ Distance Learning:
• Year 1 Junior Management Program: Engineering 1.
• Year 2 Junior Management Program: Construction Materials.
• Year 3 Junior Management. Program: Aggregate Management & Processing.
• Graduate/Management Program: Aggregate Management & Processing.
1-2 p.m. – Breakout Sessions.
• 3A: Be Your Own Best Advocate.
• 3B: Rock Solid Reporting.
1:15-4:30 p.m. – TOUR: U.S. Capitol Tour (Separate registration required).
2-3 p.m. – NSSGA-State Association Executives Council (state aggregate executives only).
2-4:30 p.m. – NSSGA Steering Committee meeting (committee members only).
2:30-4 p.m. – NSSGA/IQ Distance Learning Extra Help (by appointment).
2:30-3:30 p.m. – Breakout Session 4.
2:30-4:30 p.m. – NSSGA Engineering & Technical Committee meeting.
3-3:30 p.m. – NSSGA Joint State Association Executives/Membership Committee meeting (committee members only).
3:30-4:30 p.m. – Meetings (committee members only).
• NSSGA Membership Committee.
• MSHA-NSSGA Alliance Sub-Committee.
5-6 p.m. – NSSGA Opening General Session.
6-7 p.m. – NSSGA Chairman’s Welcome Reception.
7-9:30 p.m. – TOUR: Monuments by Moonlight (separate registration).
TUESDAY, SEPT. 26, 2017
6:45-8:15 a.m. – NSSGA Safety & Health Sub-Committee meeting.
7 a.m.-5 p.m. – NSSGA Registration & Information Desk open.
7-8:30 a.m. – NSSGA LPG Sub-Committee meeting (committee members only).
8-9:30 a.m. – (Breakfast open at 7:30 a.m.) NSSGA Breakfast with a Lawmaker. Speakers: Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) and Rep. Huizenga (R-Mich.)
9:30-11:30 a.m. – NSSGA/IQ Distance Learning:
• Year 1 Junior Management Program: Industry Introduction.
• Year 2 Junior Management Program: Engineering 2.
• Year 3 Junior Management Program: Business Management.
10-11 a.m. – Breakout Sessions.
• 5A: Turn NIMBYs into YIMBYs with Social Media.
• 5B: Regulatory Reform.
10-11 a.m. – NSSGA M&S Division Board of Directors (all M&S Division members welcome).
11 a.m-12 p.m. – NSSGA Government & Regulatory Affairs Committee meeting. (committee members only).
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – NSSGA Past Chairman’s Roundtable (committee members only).
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – NSSGA/IQ Distance Learning Extra Help (by appointment).
12:30-2 p.m. – NSSGA Lunch with a Lawmaker. Speaker: Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.)
2-4 p.m. – Institute of Quarrying HR/Informational Forum.
2-5:15 p.m. – TOUR: Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens (separate registration required).
2:30-3:30 p.m. – Breakout Session 6: Digging for Good News.
2:30-4 p.m. – NSSGA Board of Directors meeting.
4-5 p.m. – Breakout Sessions.
•7A: Welcome to Washington 101. Speaker: Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.)
• 7B: Be Your Own Best Advocate.
6 -7:30 p.m. – NSSGA Networking Reception, Library of Congress, James Madison Building, Montpelier Room.
7:30-9 p.m. – Young Leaders Reception Sponsored by ROCKPAC, with Special Guest Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 27, 2017
7 a.m.-5 p.m. – NSSGA Registration & Information Desk open.
7:30-9 a.m. – NSSGA Breakfast and Closing General Session: Congressional Hill Briefing. Speaker: Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.)
9-11:45 a.m. – TOUR: Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building (separate registration required).
9 a.m.-5 p.m.– U.S. Capitol Hill Advocacy Visits (by appointment).
12-1:30 p.m. – NSSGA Advocacy Luncheon. .
12-5 p.m. – Training (separate registration required).
• Strategic Sales (Day 1)
• Basic Supervisory Training (Day 1).
2–4 p.m. – TOUR: Dept. of State Diplomatic Reception Room (Separate Registration).
5:30 -7 p.m. – NSSGA Closing Reception, Union Station, Columbus Club.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 2017
7 a.m.-4 p.m. – NSSGA Environmental Committee Meeting.
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. – Training (separate registration required).
• Strategic Sales (Day 2).
• Basic Supervisory Training (Day 2).