Reston, Va. – Registration is now open for the Print & Packaging Legislative Summit 2018, coming June 19 – 20 to Washington, D.C. The Legislative Summit will bring printers, packaging converters, technology and consumable suppliers, and allied interests together for public policy and political education, as well as direct interaction with Members of Congress and the Administration to discuss hot-button policy issues.

The co-hosts of the Legislative Summit are AICC, the Independent Packaging Association; the Association for Print Technologies (APTech^SM), formerly NPES; the Fibre Box Association (FBA); Printing Industries of America (PIA); Idealliance; and Specialty Graphic Industry Association (SGIA). Additionally, lending their support are Legislative Summit sponsors: Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute, Inc. (TLMI), FalcoSult, Book Manufacturers Institute (BMI), National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM), and Resolute Forest Products.

Representing a $1.4 trillion share of the U.S. economy, the thriving printing, packaging and mailing industry employs 7.5 million workers. At the same time, it is challenged by a transformed market where digital electronic communication competes directly with traditional paper-based mail and advertising, a shortage of qualified workers, and laws and regulations that stifle business growth. Industry executives will engage in a one-of-a-kind legislative experience, networking with peers and colleagues from across the nation, and culminating in face-to-face meetings designed to advocate for action on critical issues that impact the industry that include:

• Boosting long-run U.S. GDP by making 100% Expensing permanent;
• Keeping rising postage rates in check, by enacting postal reform legislation that would financially stabilize the U. S. Postal Service;
• Preserving access to important paper-based information and services for Americans who prefer them or depend on them, by endorsing the efforts of the Coalition for Paper Options;
• Bringing printing, imaging and mailing industry employers together with qualified workers, by supporting community-based educational programs that prepare job-seekers with the skills needed to be successful in modern graphic communications careers;
• Working to facilitate the possibility of association health plans (AHPs);
• Expanding global markets and helping U.S. manufacturers compete more effectively for the 95% of the world market outside of the United States, by supporting fair trade agreements and opposing economically harmful tariffs;
• Further reducing government regulatory costs;
• Curtailing “patent troll” abuses while also protecting intellectual property rights; and,
• Protecting data privacy, both domestically and in international commerce.

To educate policymakers and favorably influence members of Congress to act, advocates must present compelling information about the importance of this key U.S. industry that puts America to work. C-Suite executives of printing, packaging, mailing and graphic communication technology companies, executives with responsibility for environmental/health and safety, human resources, legal, postal, tax, technology and/or sales are especially encouraged to attend.

For the latest information about the Print & Packaging Legislative Summit 2018, as the program elements and speakers are announced, to register, and to reserve hotel accommodations, visit: www.printpackagingsummit.com. 

For more information, contact Cindy Huber, AICC, at [email protected] or (877) 836-2422; Sherry MacDonald, APTech^SM, at [email protected] or (703) 264-7237; Rachel Kenyon, FBA, at [email protected] or (847) 364-9600; Lisbeth Lyons, PIA at [email protected] or (202) 627-6925; David Steinhardt, Idealliance, at [email protected] or (703) 837-1066; or, Donald Rendulic, SGIA, [email protected] or (703) 359-1370.