Dear ________________________________,
As a responsible meeting and event professional and member of Meeting Professionals
International (MPI), I respectfully urge you to consider revisions to amendments passed in
two separate bills April 25 by the House and Senate that place severe restrictions on
government employees attending meetings and conferences. These amendments were
included in the “Digital Accountability and Transparency Act” or DATA Act (H.R. 2146) in
the House, and the “21st Century Postal Service Act” (S. 1789) in the Senate.
I fully support the intent of Congress to induce greater transparency and accountability in
government spending—there is little defense for exorbitant or wasteful spending of
taxpayer dollars. However, while the amendments are designed to limit spending on
government-sponsored conferences and travel expenses for federal employees, the actual
language would have a chilling effect on government employees’ participation in nongovernmental meetings and conferences as well.
The dialogue that takes place at these meetings between government and the private sector
is essential to the development of informed policymaking that facilitates economic growth
and job creation. The dangers of government operating in a vacuum—with fewer
opportunities to learn and exchange information with private industries in a conference or
meeting setting—are too great to ignore.
The language in either amendment can be easily modified to allow federal employees to
attend educational conferences held by associations and other non-governmental
organizations, without compromising Congress’s goal of enhanced federal accountability.
However well-intentioned, this amendment has broad implications for associations and
other non-governmental organizations that invite government employees to give
presentations or attend their conferences. Without modifications, the provisions could
discourage government attendance at educational conferences and hinder the necessary
interchange between government and the private sector.
For these reasons, I respectfully ask you and Congress to revise either amendment as
recommended above either before the Senate takes up H.R. 2146 or the House considers S.
1789.
Thank you for your consideration of this important request.
Sincerely,