Making Our Voices Heard

TCIA’s Legislative Day on the Hill occurred September 18-19, 2024.

The 2024 agenda focused on key issues such as:

  • OSHA Tree Care Operations Rulemaking: Advocating for a separate OSHA standard for arborists.

  • Immigration Reform: Pushing for reforms to the TPS and H-2B visa programs to address workforce shortages.

  • Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): Ensuring TCIA members benefit from funding for urban and community forestry projects.

Why We Visit Washington

Why We Visit Washington

TCIA, through its membership, is organized as a trade association.

What does that mean specifically, and how is TCIA different from other groups in the green industry? A trade association is an organization founded and funded by businesses.

TCIA’s mission is to “advance tree care businesses.” One of the primary ways to protect and advance the industry is through attempts to influence public policy in a direction favorable to our members.

TCIA does this with contributions to the campaigns of political candidates through the Voice for Trees political action committee, by supporting or opposing particular legislation, and by working to influence the activities of regulatory bodies such as OSHA and EPA.

There are almost 8,000 national trade associations in the United States, but only one represents the interests of the tree care industry.

No one knows tree care better than the people who run businesses every day, and TCIA – through its dedicated members – will continue to educate Washington on the unique issues and challenges the industry faces.

2024 Schedule

Wednesday, September 18

Location: AC Hotel Washington DC Capitol Hill Navy Yard – Capitol Room

  • 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Speakers/Briefings

  • 1:05 p.m. – 1:25 p.m. | Housekeeping/Lobbying 101/Schedule Overview

  • 1:25 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | H-2B/Immigration Reform: Jon Baselice (Vice President, Immigration Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Incoming Chair of H-2B Workforce Coalition)

  • 2:00 p.m. – 2:35 p.m. | Inflation Reduction Act’s U&CF Grant Program: Nausheen Iqbal, Regan Hopper (US Forest Service)

  • 2:35 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. | OSHA Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Rulemaking: Robin Repass, Partner Fisher & Phillips LLP

  • 3:10 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Hill Day Prep/Issue Briefing

  • 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Cocktail Reception (Capitol Room)

    Speaker: Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)

Thursday, September 19

  • 7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast on the Hill (Capitol Hill Club)

    Speaker: Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA)

  • 9:00 a.m. | Guests depart for Capitol Hill

  • 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Day on the Hill Appointments

Issue Briefs

How to take a more active role

Please contact TCIA’s Government Affairs, at govaffairs@tcia.org or by calling (603) 314-5380 if you would like learn more about how you can take a more active role in your industry’s government relations efforts.