May 12, 2020
SOCMA President & CEO Jennifer Abril is Achieving Bipartisan Solutions to Key Public Policy Issues Through TALC
Arlington, VA – When I was asked to serve as Co-Chair of the Trade Association Leadership Council (TALC), I jumped at the chance. The Biden-Harris Administration is off to an active start at a swift pace, enacting a wide range of initiatives. I saw this as an opportunity to further raise SOCMA’s profile and ensure it is well-positioned and squarely situated within the radar of newly appointed Administrators and Secretaries of key federal agencies, members of Congress and other critical players both inside and outside of the Beltway.
I am co-chairing the coalition with my colleague from the Aluminum Association. Together, we’ve established objectives for this group of 30+ Chief Executive Officers of trade associations, as we work collaboratively to achieve bipartisan solutions to public policy issues plaguing our nation. Our key areas of focus include:
- Promotion of job growth
- Science-based regulation
- Fair and reciprocal international trade policy
- Protecting worker health and the environment
All of these goals underpin a strong American economy. If you are a SOCMA member reading this, or industry partner, you might already see the very seamless alignment with TALC’s focus and SOCMA’s own mission and vision. Now in our centennial anniversary year, SOCMA has worked since 1921 to promote these parallel objectives on behalf of our members and the specialty and fine chemicals industry – promoting innovative, safe and environmentally responsible operations and advocating for modernized regulations, the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers to increase competitiveness and enhance global market access to specialty chemicals.
Like the Biden Administration, my TALC Co-Chair and I are off to a fervent start, having extended invitations to join our upcoming sessions to the Secretaries of State, Energy, Commerce and more key federal agencies. Our most recent session welcomed Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), both of whom are joint members of the Problem-Solvers Caucus – a bipartisan group of 56 members of Congress that meets weekly on Capitol Hill to find common ground toward solutions for our country’s most pressing and critical issues.
Representatives Dingell and Upton shared insight into top priorities such as infrastructure – a current hot topic; Biden having just pitched a $2.3 trillion proposal around infrastructure and job growth on Thursday, May 6 – the highway bill, education, health care and how to ensure proper care is given to COVID long-haulers – those who experience physical symptoms long after having contracted COVID-19. What was apparent by the end of this session was the genuine care and concern that emanated from Dingell and Upton – a signal of the bipartisan efforts of the Caucus for the good of the country.
Prior to starting the session, I logged on early to introduce myself, and more importantly, discuss SOCMA, its mission and talk about the contributions our members make to the very fabric of our nation, underpinning the importance of the initiatives being worked on and how they more intimately affect the specialty chemicals industry.
I look forward to continuing in my role as Co-Chair of this important coalition, working with other trade association leaders to learn even more about policy perspectives from both sides of the aisle, while bringing the positions and viewpoints of our various industries to the forefront of government leaders, encouraging collaboration and pursuing resolutions to America’s toughest, ongoing challenges. And throughout this journey, I will ensure SOCMA members are empowered and advocated for, as producers of materials and products that are essential to the health and welfare of people around the globe.
Categorized in: SOCMA