We Have Issues - And So Do You

The Aeronautical Repair Station Association’s (ARSA) robust legislative program works to protect industry interests and improve markets for civil aviation products and services. The goal is to prevent unnecessary legislation from becoming burdensome regulation. This is done both by educating Congress and through direct lobbying.

ARSA's platform covers several issues of import to its membership:

ARSA’s regulatory knowledge and access to technical expertise is used to educate Congress on the effect legislation will have on the aviation community, from airlines to repair stations to mechanics. This expertise also allows ARSA to remain non-partisan in an increasingly political environment.

The key element of ARSA’s legislative program is education, which we accomplish by:

• Working with industry allies to advance the goals of the aviation design, production and maintenance industry.
• Conducting an annual "Legislative Day" that allows ARSA members to meet personally with members of Congress and staff.
• Keeping members up to date through alerts, publications and the Web sites.
• Facilitating member communications with representatives and senators.
• Encouraging visits by members of Congress and their staff to member facilities in order to better understand how the industry operates.
• Maintaining a grassroots Web site, www.ARSAaction.org, where members can send notes to Capitol Hill on important topics in just minutes.
• Managing ARSA PAC, which supports candidates who share the maintenance industry’s policy objectives.
• Printing articles in the hotline to educate members about important legislators and how Congress works.

The other critical element of the legislative program is our direct lobbying effort. Federal law prohibits ARSA from using tax-deductible trade association dues to engage in lobbying activities. Therefore ARSA has a separate account used to support lobbying.

ARSA’s lobbying efforts have become even more important as Congress more closely scrutinizes the aviation maintenance industry, and pushes for increased security and oversight of repair stations domestically and overseas. ARSA’s lobbying activities include:

• Working with congressional staff to minimize harmful effects of legislative proposals on the industry.
• Sending out special alerts urging members to communicate with their congressional representatives.
• Directly communicating with lawmakers and staff in an attempt to advance, or prohibit, legislation from being passed.