Nearly 50 IIUSA Leadership Circle members traveled to Washington, DC this week for IIUSA’s Annual Leadership Summit and Q3 Capitol Hill Fly-In. The three-day gathering combined strategic planning discussions among IIUSA’s most engaged members with what turned out to be the largest lobby day in the association’s history.
A Record-Breaking Day on the Hill
The group set a new benchmark for IIUSA advocacy, with 50 congressional meetings scheduled — more than any previous fly-in. Teams fanned out across the Senate and House with a focused strategy, prioritizing members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee, senators representing states with high levels of EB-5 investment, and House leadership. The breadth of the meetings reflected the urgency with which IIUSA is treating the coming months and the importance of the reauthorization conversation.
The ask was straightforward: reauthorize the EB-5 Regional Center Program for another five years, through fiscal year 2032, by including it in a federal funding bill or a stopgap measure to be negotiated in December. That is a concrete, achievable ask with a clear deadline, and IIUSA members delivered it consistently and compellingly across nearly 50 offices in a single day.
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Why December Matters
The U.S. federal government is operating under a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that funds federal agencies through December 11, 2026. Once both chambers of Congress return after the upcoming midterm elections, a federal funding package will be negotiated to ensure the government continues to operate. The December timeframe presents a realistic near-term opportunity for EB-5 reauthorization. IIUSA has been building toward this moment through consistent advocacy all year, from the Q1 and Q2 fly-ins to the data and economic impact messaging developed to support conversations on the Hill. This week’s meetings put that work directly in front of the members of Congress who will be in the room when the federal funding bills are finalized before the end of the year..
With 50 meetings completed and a clear legislative target identified, IIUSA is better positioned than ever to make the case for reauthorization on behalf of the industry.
Leadership Summit
Alongside the fly-in, IIUSA’s Leadership Circle convened for the Annual Leadership Summit. This gathering of the association’s most dedicated members is dedicated to setting strategic priorities and shaping the organization’s direction. The conversations from the Summit will inform IIUSA’s advocacy and programming agenda heading into 2027.
Two of EB-5’s most committed champions joined the Summit to speak directly with members. Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) both took time to address the group, reinforcing their support for the program and the push for reauthorization before year’s end. Their participation underscored the relationships IIUSA has built on Capitol Hill and the bipartisan goodwill that continues to surround the EB-5 program.
The Summit also included an IIUSA PAC fundraiser honoring Senator Chuck Grassley, the architect and the driving force behind the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. Senator Grassley’s commitment to the program has been foundational to its existence and its future, and IIUSA was proud to recognize his leadership.
IIUSA is grateful to every Leadership Circle member who made the trip to Washington this week.
Showing up matters, and nearly 50 members showing up at the same time — with the same message — is exactly the kind of coordinated industry presence that moves the needle on Capitol Hill.
Not a Leadership Circle member but want to be involved? Join the Leadership Circle today!
