As part of PPAI’s Legislative Education and Action Day (PPAI LEAD), a group of 78 industry representatives went to Washington D.C. this week to let Congress know about specific issues that are important to the ad specialty industry and its individual companies. On the agenda: independent contractor reform, protecting the advertising deduction, passage of the Toxic Substances Control Act, and letting Senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives know about the value of promotional products.

The effort, which took place during PPAI’s Promotional Products Work! Week, included 250 meetings with members of Congress during the past two days. Chuck Machion, senior vice president and senior counsel of ASI, joined the LEAD delegation in Washington D.C. and met with members of Congress from Pennsylvania. “In all, it was valuable to be able to inform them about the importance of promotional products,” Machion said. “There are also many issues that impact small businesses – which make up the backbone of our industry – that were important to discuss with these lawmakers. They need to hear about how things like the advertising tax deduction and independent contractor reform impact the companies in our industry.”

In conjunction with the LEAD effort, PPAI is encouraging all members of the industry to get involved by virtually meeting with members of Congress. All ad specialty professionals can send a letter to their public representatives by clicking here.

“I encourage each and every one of our members to take action during L.E.A.D. and speak for the industry on issues critical to the way we do business,” said Paul Bellantone, president and CEO of PPAI.