Making Our Voices Heard
Through grassroots efforts in the states and through direct action by TCIA’s lobbyists, staff, and members, your industry’s trade association works to promote the interests of commercial and utility arboriculture.
Our lobbying efforts aim to ensure that policymakers understand the complexities involved in running a safe, professional tree care company. Our goal is to limit burdensome laws and regulations while promoting programs that help tree care companies succeed.
The Day on the Hill involves briefings on the issues of importance for your business, followed by a day of meetings with Senators, Representatives, and their staff. We may also have meetings with executive branch officials. TCIA will make your appointments for you and you will be part of a larger delegation visiting offices. You may, of course, head out on your own to see your elected officials if you choose.
Topics could include OSHA, labor policy, immigration issues, regulations, and forestry policy.
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.
How to take a more active role
Please contact TCIA’s Advocacy & Standards Manager Aiden O’Brien, at aobrien@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.
