CAPITOL HILL VISIT

Left: ARA presented Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) with the Association’s Congressional Award of Appreciation for his role in posing targeted questions to the automakers about access to parts data for professional automotive recyclers in a hearing about recalls. Right: The ARA Executive Committee on Capitol Hill.

Legislative Summit is an all-day program for attendees from across the country to meet and discuss trending legislative issues.

It opened with a sharing of information, including legislative successes and current issues faced by auto recyclers in the state legislatures. Led by Govern- mental Affairs Committee Chairman and ARA Past President, Norman Wright, and Director of State Government Affairs, Jessica Andrews, participants identified several top issues facing the industry on the state level, including: access to salvage and end- of-life vehicles, efforts to incorporate NMVTIS report- ing and enforcement into state statute, building relationships with industry stakeholders and state

governmental agencies, and the importance of keep- ing an eye on local and city regulations. Summit attendees shared resources such as legisla- tive language, talking points, issue strategies, past experiences and other tactics with the goal of enhanc- ing ARA’s grassroots advocacy structure. Attendees also reviewed ARA’s position statements and made suggestions to the Governmental Affairs Committee. For those unable to attend, participation in the Automotive Recyclers Defense Fund is encouraged to help the voice of the profession be heard loud and clear in the states. To contribute to the 2015 Defense Fund initiative, please visit www.a-r-a.org, click on Government Affairs tab, and select Defense Fund.

52 Automotive Recycling | May-June 2015

Eric Schulz

David Gold