2018 MEMA Legislative Summit Reinforces Supplier Voice on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The 2018 MEMA Legislative Summit, held April 10 and 11, 2018, drew more than 130 members of AASA, HDMA, MERA and OESA to Washington, D.C. to carry the message of the motor vehicle parts supplier industry to legislators on Capitol Hill.
 
The event kicked off on April 10 with opening remarks from MEMA President and CEO Steve Handschuh.
 
“As you know, our mission is to advance the business interests of our members. This is why we have a strong presence here in Washington, D.C., and why we convene the Legislative Summit each year. It is not an overstatement to say that since we met here last, MEMA has been more active in Washington than ever. We have increased our financial commitment, and our team based here has been clocking long hours to focus on several major issues that affect you directly,” Handschuh said.
 
“This is a unique time in American politics and MEMA is well positioned to lead,” Handschuh continued. “In the last year, we gained meaningful access, meeting with the White House, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Transportation and the United States Trade Representative. But these are just the beginning of many more expected conversations between MEMA senior leadership and Trump administration officials in the coming weeks and months to ensure our industry and our members have a seat at the table.”
 
After opening remarks, attendees participated in a packed two-day agenda. The keynote was Charlie Cook of the Cook Political Report. The program continued with presentations by Bill Wehrum, assistant administrator of the Office of Air and Radiation at the EPA; Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee; Heidi King, deputy administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.), member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
 
Summit attendees conducted more than 120 high-level meetings on Capitol Hill, providing legislators and their staffs with informational materials, industry statistics and policy position papers on a wide range of issues. Meetings were focused on issues affecting the supplier industry, including:
 

• fair trade policies,
• workforce development,
• harmonized regulations,
• sustained infrastructure spending, and
• adaption of new technologies.

 
About MEMA
 
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and its four specialized divisions comprise a leading international trade association in the fast-changing mobility industry. Representing vehicle suppliers that manufacture and remanufacture components, technologies, and systems for use in passenger cars and heavy trucks, MEMA serves as a critical bridge between high-tech capabilities in new vehicles –such as autonomous vehicles and vehicle connectivity—and the “nuts and bolts” of vehicle manufacturing. MEMA works at state, federal, and international levels to ensure that the marketplace and public policy support the development of advanced, transformative technologies that enable safer, smarter, and more efficient vehicles. MEMA’s members are represented through four divisions: Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA), and Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA). For more information on how MEMA is leading transformation in the mobility industry, visit www.mema.org.