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March 6, 2024
ASAE hosted its annual Legislative Fly-In on March 5-6 in Washington, DC, with association professionals from across the country in town to build support for a pro-association, pro-credentialing workforce development bill.
The bipartisan, bicameral Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (H.R. 1477/S. 722) would expand qualified expenses under 529 savings plans to include postsecondary training and credentialing programs, such as licenses and voluntary certifications offered by many associations. The bill has been gaining traction over the past year – the House version has 121 bipartisan cosponsors, up from zero when it was introduced in March 2023; the Senate bill has 19 bipartisan cosponsors.
U.S. Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA), who leads H.R. 1477 in the House, helped educate fly-in attendees about his bill during an education session on March 5, speaking alongside Jay Karen, CAE, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association and an ASAE Board member. Senator Amy Kobuchar (D-MN), who cosponsors the bill in the Senate, and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), an original cosponsor in the House, recorded videos for the ASAE fly-in to thank advocates for supporting the legislation. Other Congressional speakers who spoke during the fly-in included: Kyle Perel, tax legislative assistant, House Ways and Means Committee; Victoria Honard, legislative director, Rep. Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA); and Oliver Edelson, legislative director, Rep Chris Pappas (D-NH).
This year’s Legislative Fly-In included a session on March 5 for first-time attendees to gain insights on the basics of a Capitol Hill meeting, how to connect with their state group and how to be an effective advocate on behalf of ASAE and the association community. Sponsors of the ASAE fly-in included Lobbyit, a government relations firm with numerous association clients, including ASAE; and CNTV, which produces customized digital video and dynamic content to help create one-of-a-kind events.
