Government Relations
If someone had asked me two years ago, when I was seeking the office of ISA President, if I would be meeting with government representatives on behalf of industry and the Automation Federation, I probably would have laughed. Beyond exercising my right to vote, moving in political circles or other government involvement has never been an activity I pursued. Especially after watching the behavior of various candidates over the years!
All feelings aside, two weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting with Congressman David Price from North Carolina. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how the Automation Federation is becoming the “Voice of Automation” for the Members of Congress and which important federal government agencies could have a profound impact on the automation profession. The message resonating from Congressman Price was that the Automation Federation’s Workforce Development Initiative is playing a critical role in raising awareness about the need to develop the next generation of automation professionals. Congressman Price also stressed the importance of the Automation Federation continuing to work with Congress to achieve the goals of the initiative. Governments around the world recognize the global need for qualified workers in a variety of professions. The U.S. government has dedicated millions, perhaps billions, of dollars to stave off the imminent catastrophe facing us—particularly in the technology sector, traditionally a U.S. strength—from the retirement of the baby boomers. The Automation Federation has filled the automation information gap that, until 2007, has plagued Congress.
I learned a lot from Congressman Price during our meeting. First of all, I had preconceived notions that I needed to park at the door. Like many, I have a very cynical vision of our government leaders; however, after meeting with the Congressman, I have a new respect for our Representatives. I’ve learned that they work hard and that they care—at least the one I’ve met so far does! They live in a world where millions of dollars is a token amount for any given project, and a short day could be 16 hours of meetings and answering the bell (calling for a vote).
The most important lesson I learned was how to go about advocating for our profession and developing a plan to successfully partner with government. The opportunity exists, and there is a veritable alphabet soup of programs for the Automation Federation and ISA to become involved with to better advocate on behalf of our profession.
Two examples from this myriad of opportunities are the MEP (Manufactured Extension Partnership), a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce; and the Employment and Training Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. In 2007, the Automation Federation entered into a partnership with both of these integral government agencies. The benefits of these partnerships for the Automation Federation are already being realized: Representatives of the Automation Federation will present at the MEP National Conference in April and at the Workforce Innovation National Conference, held by the US Department of Labor, in July.
Both of these government agencies understand the importance of relying on the Automation Federation to better understand the critical importance of the automation professional for the future viability of manufacturing in the United States. The Members of Congress are learning about the role the Automation Federation is providing to them as a non-partisan expert and as a source for important information on issues involving automation that will come before them. Thanks to the communication bridges being built by the Automation Federation, the Members of Congress will be better informed in their decision making on issues impacting the automation profession.
The Automation Federation and its member organizations—ISA, OMAC, WBF, and WINA—have a lot to offer. We cover just about every industry, technology, and education/skill level that exists. So, jump in, the water’s fine! You too, can engage in government relations in your local area. Perhaps you’ll solve a huge problem. You might even come out of it with a more positive vision of government officials in general. I know I have.
All feelings aside, two weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting with Congressman David Price from North Carolina. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how the Automation Federation is becoming the “Voice of Automation” for the Members of Congress and which important federal government agencies could have a profound impact on the automation profession. The message resonating from Congressman Price was that the Automation Federation’s Workforce Development Initiative is playing a critical role in raising awareness about the need to develop the next generation of automation professionals. Congressman Price also stressed the importance of the Automation Federation continuing to work with Congress to achieve the goals of the initiative. Governments around the world recognize the global need for qualified workers in a variety of professions. The U.S. government has dedicated millions, perhaps billions, of dollars to stave off the imminent catastrophe facing us—particularly in the technology sector, traditionally a U.S. strength—from the retirement of the baby boomers. The Automation Federation has filled the automation information gap that, until 2007, has plagued Congress.
I learned a lot from Congressman Price during our meeting. First of all, I had preconceived notions that I needed to park at the door. Like many, I have a very cynical vision of our government leaders; however, after meeting with the Congressman, I have a new respect for our Representatives. I’ve learned that they work hard and that they care—at least the one I’ve met so far does! They live in a world where millions of dollars is a token amount for any given project, and a short day could be 16 hours of meetings and answering the bell (calling for a vote).
The most important lesson I learned was how to go about advocating for our profession and developing a plan to successfully partner with government. The opportunity exists, and there is a veritable alphabet soup of programs for the Automation Federation and ISA to become involved with to better advocate on behalf of our profession.
Two examples from this myriad of opportunities are the MEP (Manufactured Extension Partnership), a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce; and the Employment and Training Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. In 2007, the Automation Federation entered into a partnership with both of these integral government agencies. The benefits of these partnerships for the Automation Federation are already being realized: Representatives of the Automation Federation will present at the MEP National Conference in April and at the Workforce Innovation National Conference, held by the US Department of Labor, in July.
Both of these government agencies understand the importance of relying on the Automation Federation to better understand the critical importance of the automation professional for the future viability of manufacturing in the United States. The Members of Congress are learning about the role the Automation Federation is providing to them as a non-partisan expert and as a source for important information on issues involving automation that will come before them. Thanks to the communication bridges being built by the Automation Federation, the Members of Congress will be better informed in their decision making on issues impacting the automation profession.
The Automation Federation and its member organizations—ISA, OMAC, WBF, and WINA—have a lot to offer. We cover just about every industry, technology, and education/skill level that exists. So, jump in, the water’s fine! You too, can engage in government relations in your local area. Perhaps you’ll solve a huge problem. You might even come out of it with a more positive vision of government officials in general. I know I have.
Labels: Government Relations
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