Last month NASBP and SFAA members participated in their first in-person federal legislative fly-in in over three years. Activities began in earnest the day prior to the Fly-in with a NASBP Political Action Committee (PAC) reception for U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman, Sam Graves (R-MO-06). Host organizations included the Associated Builders & Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association, and Lockton Insurance Companies. Pictured below is Graves with the NASBP Officers, NASBP staff, and Aaron Clark.

From left, Aaron Clark of Lockton; Robert Coon of Scott Insurance; Nick Newton of AssuredPartners of Minnesota, LLC; U.S. Rep. Sam Graves; Larry LeClair, NASBP Director of Government Relations; Patrick Pribyl of Lockton Companies; Tracy Tucker of Tucker Agency, Ltd.; and Mark McCallum, NASBP CEO. Included among those in attendance at the event for Graves were representatives from the following PACs:

-American Subcontractors Association,
-Associated Builders & Contractors (Host),
-Associated General Contractors of America (Host),
-Independent Electrical Contractors,
-NASBP (Organizer and Host)
-National Association of Roofers,
-National Association of Surety Bond Producers,
-National Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors,
-National Society of Professional Surveyors,
-Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Assoc. (Host),
-Bentley Systems, and
-Lockton Insurance Companies (Host).

NASBP organized and co-hosted a PAC fundraising event for U.S. Rep. Graves. Included among those in attendance for the Graves event were representatives from 11 construction associations and companies.

By the Numbers
Fly-in attendees participated in 88 congressional meetings where they met with either the member of Congress and/or a staff member from that Senator’s or Representative’s office. If you attended and took photos, please share them with NASBP by sending them to khoffman@nasbp.org. See some stats below.

Noteworthy Fly-in Event Numbers
The event recorded 88 congressional meetings—(46 Senate/42 House), which included 24 states.

Seven meetings were held with an actual member of Congress! They are listed below.

U.S. Senators
– Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
– Roger Marshall (R-KS)
– James Risch (R-ID)

Pictured: Nick Newton, far right, of AssuredPartners of Minnesota, LLC with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured, from left: John Sanders of Zurich Surety; Monica Donatelli of IMA Financial Group; Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS); Patrick Pribyl of Lockton Companies; and Scott Behrens of Lockton Companies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured from left: Vikki McCurdy of Amerisure with Senator James Risch (R-ID).

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. House of Representatives
– Ed Case (D-HI-01)
– Sharice Davids (D-KS-03)
– Jim Himes (D-CT-04)
– Betty McCollum (D-MN-04)

Pictured, from left: Scott Behrens of Lockton Companies; Monica Donatelli of IMA Financial Group; U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS-03); Patrick Pribyl of Lockton Companies; and John Sanders of Zurich Surety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fly-in participants also met with staff of Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD). Cardin is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Fly-in attendees were asked to address Fly-in talking points as well as those specific to WIFIA, on which they were briefed during a NASBP Virtual Seminar and received prior to their congressional meetings. The Fly-in talking points focused on gaining additional bipartisan House support for H.R. 1740 to require bonds on Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) projects and to include bonds for broadband expansion infrastructure projects funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Services as well as other federally funded broadband programs.

Wednesday evening’s Legislative Fly-in welcome reception was well attended.

Pictured on Senator Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) office balcony are, from left: Michael Baxter of L A Surety Solutions, LLC; Mark McCallum, NASBP CEO; Brian Ayres of L A Surety Solutions, LLC; and Jake Mattingly of Liberty Mutual Surety.

Vikki McCurdy, pictured center, of Amerisure met with a legislative assistant to Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID-01). Pictured, from left: Patrick Russell of SFAA; Mark McCallum, NASBP CEO; Vikki McCurdy; and Matthew Keenan, Legislative Assistant to Rep. Fulcher.

Legislative Fly-in attendees on their way to meetings in the Longworth House Office Building. Pictured, from left: P.J. Sullivan of CNA Surety; Manny Hatjygeorge of EP George Inc.; Kyle Feldenkreiss of CNA Surety; and Joe Santoro of Zurich Surety.