2022 State Legislative Session: AEM Out on the Road

Share:

2/28/2022

State

2022 state legislative sessions are in full swing, and AEM’s State Advocacy team has been traveling to meet with key state legislators in state capitals across the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic forced an early end to state legislative sessions in 2020 and forced states to host fully virtual sessions in 2021. 2022 marked a return to the new normal, with more and more state capitols open to visitors, as well as state legislators open to more in-person meetings.  

Over the past few weeks, AEM’s State Advocacy Team has traveled to Des Moines (Iowa), Jefferson City (Missouri), Madison (Wisconsin), and Frankfurt (Kentucky). In Iowa, we were able to share with the Iowa Agriculture Commissioner Mike Naig our industry’s commitment to supporting Iowa’s essential agricultural economy. Commissioner Naig spoke about the essential role equipment manufacturers played during the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring our nation’s food chain continued operations.  

In Jefferson City, Missouri, AEM’s State Advocacy team thanked legislators for their recent passage of a gas tax increase bill, the first one passed nationally since 2017. The gas tax increase is expected to bring in an additional $70 million annually to the state’s road fund and the County Aid Road Trust (CART) for use by local governments. During the visit, the legislature is actively considering a repeal of their recently passed gas tax increase, in part because of higher gas prices and infusion of federal infrastructure funds. We urged legislators to keep their gas tax increase in place, as it serves as a long-term continual source of funding, as opposed to more time-limited federal funds. 

Our activities in Madison, Wisconsin served as a great opportunity for AEM’s Advocacy team to reintroduce AEM and our Wisconsin member companies to state officials. We had great conversations with House Trade and Supply Chain Chairman Rob Brooks about the continued supply chain issues AEM members face across Wisconsin and the U.S. AEM’s State Advocacy team extended invitations to key Wisconsin elected officials to visit and tour AEM’s recently renovated Milwaukee office.  

Kentucky businesses and legislators are focused on easing the labor shortage in the Commonwealth, with several popular workforce development bills under consideration, including the Chamber-backed H.B. 499, which would establish the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership, encouraging non-profit and for-profit employers to offer child care assistance as a benefit by matching employer contributions with state dollars. During our visit to Frankfort, we had many productive conversations with legislators about this proposal, as well as other innovative ideas our industry is employing to attract workers. 

AEM’s State Advocacy team has had a busy few weeks advocating for AEM’s core policy positions, including the expansion of rural broadband, investment in infrastructure, and expansion of workforce development plans.

Subscribe to the AEM Industry Advisor for more AEM news and updates. 

Advocacy & Legislation, AEM Updates

For more AEM news and updates, subscribe to the AEM Industry Advisor.

Related Articles

AEM Advances Pro-Manufacturing Policy Agenda in 2025

The 2.3 million men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry make the equipment that builds, powers, and feeds the world. Everywhere you look, equipment manufacturers...

AEM’s Manufacturing Express and Faces of Manufacturing Video Recognized with Five Davey Awards

AEM is proud to announce that the AEM Manufacturing Express and the Faces of Manufacturinginitiative have been recognized with multiple awards at the 20thDavey Awards, the most...

Last Chance! Participate in AEM’s Celebration of Construction on the National Mall

Several prominent member companies and association partners have already committed to participate in AEM’s second-everCelebration of Construction on the National Mall.Set for...

California Advocacy 2025: 3 Things to Watch

By NickRudowich, AEM Director of State Affairs—2025 looks to be a year of progress for the equipment manufacturing industry in California. Decisions on issues (ranging from...

Attend AEM's Upcoming Webinar for a Legislative & Regulatory Preview of 2025

AEM is pleased to offer its members insights on high-level regulatory and legislative trends to look out for in 2025, and how they may impact equipment manufacturers, through...

View all Advocacy & Legislation