Following the industry’s hard-fought and successful effort to reauthorize the EB-5 Regional Center Program, the IIUSA Leadership Circle celebrated and quickly turned to the next challenges: strengthening the program further and preparing for the next authorization. IIUSA Vice President Bill Gresser said it plainly: “We are a creature of statute. We must maintain our presence in Washington, DC.”
In late August 2022, IIUSA President Bob Kraft and First Pathway Partners hosted the inaugural IIUSA Leadership Summit in Milwaukee, WI. The two-day event was invigorating and productive. Among its many accomplishments was deciding to establish the association’s first-ever political action committee (PAC) and reaffirming a commitment to IIUSA’s federal advocacy.
IIUSA has retained its government affairs consultants, Commonwealth Strategic Partners, for the last 4+ years. They were critical to the passage of the RIA last year and they have continued engagement for our federal advocacy beyond the Reform and Integrity Act (RIA). But last week, the association began executing the Leadership Summit decision to have a member-led presence in Washington, DC as well. Twelve members of IIUSA’s Leadership Circle convened in the nation’s capital for the year’s first Capitol Hill Fly-In and the association’s first post-RIA step to maintain its presence in DC.
On February 7th, the IIUSA PAC delivered its first campaign contribution to our RIA champion, Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona. During a group dinner that evening, IIUSA staff and lobbyists briefed Leaders on the nature of the next day’s Capitol Hill meetings.
Although many meetings covered very specific issues with those staff familiar with EB-5 programming, most were designed to educate staff who were not. In those meetings, IIUSA Leaders flattened the EB-5 learning curve and educated staff on who we are, how EB-5 visas and the Regional Center Program are so impactful, and why they are so important to job creation and economic development.
The morning of February 8th, the group split into three teams to cover more ground in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Leaders were thoroughly prepared with appropriate materials and talking points. Collectively, the groups met with:
- The House Judiciary Committee Staff (majority and minority);
- The Senate Judiciary Committee Staff (majority and minority);
- 10+ House of Representatives offices; and
- 5 Senate offices.
Plans are already in the works for the next Leadership Fly-In on April 25th and 26th. Our message about economic development and job creation is clear and persuasive, and as we look toward the next authorization debate, we will be sure many more Congressional policymakers hear it. We are a creature of statute. We will maintain our presence in Washington, DC.
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If you are interested in joining IIUSA’s Leadership Circle to participate in these advocacy events and to support the future success of the EB-5 Program, contact info@iiusa.org for more information.
