Washington Business Spring 2018 | Washington Business | Page 25

federal focus AWB Brings Washington Employers’ Perspective to Congress AWB’s D.C. Fly-in marks fourth year of enhanced federal affairs work. Bobbi Cussins From trade to tax reform and health care to infrastructure, 20 business leaders joined AWB staff in sharing with the state’s congressional delegation what employers need to compete nationally and globally during the fourth-annual AWB D.C. Fly-in Dec. 4-6. At A Glance AWB held its fourth-annual D.C. Fly-in Dec. 4-6. The next trip will take place in December. Twenty business and local leaders participated in the December Fly-in and discussed everything from the importance of a fully functioning U.S. Export-Import Bank to the need for federal investment in infrastructure. The annual trips are part of AWB’s increased federal affairs advocacy, recognizing that federal actions impact state and local governments. Emails and calls are a good way to communicate, but nothing takes the place of members of Congress hearing directly from their constituents in their D.C. offices. To help facilitate the face-to-face conversations, AWB began annual D.C. Fly-ins in 2014 and hosted its fourth trip last December. The trip included 20 business leaders and AWB staff, who met with each of Washington’s 12 members of Congress and their key policy issue experts over three days. One of the top issues again for Washington’s business leaders was getting the U.S. Export-Import Bank up to full speed with a quorum on the bank’s board. Without a quorum, the bank is unable to approve loan products over $10 million, which holds back exports from Washington businesses. They also covered the need for federal infrastructure investments, something that appears to have bipartisan support in Congress. For more information on federal issues AWB is tracking or to participate in the next AWB D.C. Fly-in, contact Amy Anderson, AWB government affairs director for federal issues, at [email protected] or 360.943.1600. spring 2018 25