WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Automotive Service Association (ASA) will host the “Taking the Hill” Fly-In and AMI Leadership Conference May 11-12 in Washington, D.C.
The fly-in will address key issues facing collision and mechanical repair professionals, and allow members to meet face-to-face with policymakers on the Hill on Wednesday, May 12. ASA collision repair members will meet with their House and Senate representatives to discuss aftermarket crash parts policy and insurance reform. ASA mechanical repair members will meet with their representatives to discuss federal incentives for safety inspection programs and vehicle emissions testing as part of clean air policy efforts, and federal automotive vocational education and training support.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s (D-Calif.) Access to Repair Parts Act (H.R. 3059), which exempts copies of certain component parts from infringing U.S. design patents. The legislation was recently reviewed by the House Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 1368 is companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. ASA opposes this aftermarket crash parts legislation, which the association says makes no assurances for the quality and safety of non-original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.
Fly-in participants will continue the dialogue from ASA’s 2009 fly-in on insurance reform and a full repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act, with collision repairers once again discussing this issue with their congressional leaders. Since 1945, insurance companies have had a “limited” exemption from federal antitrust laws that apply to most other industries assured to them through an act of Congress. The McCarran-Ferguson Act provides that federal antitrust law applies to the “business of insurance” only to the extent that such business is not regulated by state law. The anti-competitive consequences of McCarran-Ferguson impact both consumers and small businesses in their relationships with insurers.
Also during the fly-in, mechanical repairers will hone in on federal incentives for safety inspection programs. ASA supports federal incentives for state safety inspection programs, as less than 20 states require vehicle safety inspection, and throughout those states the programs are inconsistent.
The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) Leadership Conference sessions scheduled for May 11 will allow attendees to participate in two, three-hour workshops focusing on ethical leadership. The workshops are designed to enhance attendees’ business and personal success.
Travel and hotel accommodations are the responsibility of each participant. Attendees will save up to $110 per night when they register for their rooms by April 9 to receive the ASA hotel rate at the Gaylord National in Washington, D.C. The code for the room block at the Gaylord National is ASA.
For additional information or to register online, visit ASA’s legislative Web site, www.TakingTheHill.com.
