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Dear SMACNA Member: 
 
I take on SMACNA’s leadership role on behalf of our industry in a time of growing HVAC and general construction market opportunities. Yet some leading “expert” economists now predict uncertainty and a contraction for the construction economy in the year ahead. Further, due to a narrowly-divided Congress, some predict our legislative and regulatory challenges will only grow more difficult in the 119^th Congress. That is NOT how our leadership views the months of abundant opportunities before us. We have succeeded in recent years due to our aggressive policy leadership and outspoken contractor engagement. SMACNA and our leadership anticipate significant gains on many legislative, political and labor fronts in the 119^th Congress. Our members and leadership gained attention on Capitol Hill recently by proposing reasonable legislative and regulatory solutions that earned bipartisan support. Many of these proposals became law and drove the economy forward for contractors, suppliers, and our growing skilled workforce. Instead of an oft-promised recession, we witnessed historic economic growth, record profits and project funding levels directed toward infrastructure, CHIPS and Science investments that boosted construction markets and the GDP. In fact, we remain challenged to find a sufficiently skilled workforce for public and private work. 

As you may know, our skilled Washington, DC staff has worked closely with countless lawmakers to create additional legislative and political champions for us on Capitol Hill. They have also provided us with impactful face-to-face meeting opportunities to advocate for legislative proposals in the best interests of our industry, including research and development tax credits, public building program grants, and private sector equipment expensing and bonus depreciation tax provisions vitally important to our industry. We have many more opportunities like these ahead of us to pass into law. Remember, SMACNA’s recent legislative successes helped to produce an estimated $3 trillion dollars in new public and private economic construction activity. 

Although the 2024 election may have changed control of the White House and Senate, it left the slimmest of GOP Congressional majorities. While this will be a major challenge for some on Capitol Hill, SMACNA’s success is a result of pushing bipartisan bills and issues attractive to both sides of the political divide. With your engagement, we can achieve several critical priorities left behind by the 118^th Congress, such as extending expiring tax provisions, contract change order reforms, small business banking reforms, federal building energy efficiency retrofits, and more. Remember: while our Capitol Hill lobbying team has proven invaluable, YOU are the key to our successful legislative advocacy: your engagement back home and in Washington will improve our markets, financial health, and grow YOUR profitability. Here are some ways you can help us succeed pushing SMACNA’s priority issues to the President’s desk:  

• Get to know your Senators and Representatives interested in our industry’s issues.  
• Amplify our messaging for legislative action on priorities important to our members.  
• Reach out to our Capitol Hill staff (202-547-8202 / advocacy@smacna.org). 
• Ask for guidance from the DC staff in setting up meetings with your Members of Congress.   
   

As SMACNA’s President and a SMACPAC Premier Pacesetter, I want you to know how important it is to our organization that you become an active political and legislative advocate for SMACNA, and as part of your chapter’s legislative and political team. Join me in committing to building an outstanding legislative and regulatory record throughout the 119^th Congress. A record that serves your business and makes us all proud as SMACNA contractors. Thank you. 

Sincerely, 

Tom Martin 
SMACNA President