Government & Public Affairs Committee

Objective

• Guide the Association's advocacy efforts, including state and federal government relations, grassroots (I Make America campaign), Canada advocacy, and political operations (AEMPAC), and serve as champions for the advocacy function within the Association and the overall industry.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction and priorities for the Association’s advocacy efforts.
• Review and approve the Association’s policy priorities and make recommendation to the AEM Board for final approval.
• Review and approve AEMPAC disbursements to candidates for federal office.
• Guide the work done by the I Make America Committee, the Infrastructure Vision 2050 Task Force, the State Advocacy Working Group, and the Regulatory Affairs Working Group.
• Serve as champions for the Association’s policy priorities and advocacy efforts on the Sector Boards, AEM Board, and within the industry as a whole. 
• Note: Support for and active engagement in AEM’s advocacy efforts is an important part of the roles and responsibilities of members of the Government & Public Affairs Committee. Members are strongly encouraged to make a voluntary contribution between $500 and $1,000 to AEMPAC on an annual basis and support fundraising efforts through in-kind donations and participation in ongoing fundraising activities.

Leadership

• The Government & Public Affairs Committee is led by the GPAC Chair and Vice Chair.
• The GPAC Chair and Vice Chair are nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected by the AEM Board annually in November and serve two-year terms. There are no term limits.
• The Vice Chair serves as the acting GPAC Chair in the Chair’s absence.

Composition

• The Government & Public Affairs Committee consists of 20 to 25 AEM Directors, Sector Board Directors and non-Director member company executives who are committed to supporting the Association’s government relations and public affairs efforts. Members are appointed by the GPAC Chair.
• Committee terms are two years. Members can be reappointed. There are no term limits.

Member Profile

• AEM seeks top or high-level executives from member companies with an emphasis on interest in public policy and support for the Association’s advocacy efforts, diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, age, and background along with diversity of product groups.

Meetings

• The Government & Public Affairs Committee meets virtually in January, in person during the AEM Spring Board Meetings, virtually in July, and then again in person during the Annual Conference.
• The Government & Public Affairs Committee also meets by conference calls/virtual meetings at the Chair’s discretion (typically 1-2 times per year).