AMAC Industry Day Preview
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AMAC Webinar Series
March 18, 2014
AMAC’s Industry Day on Capitol Hill
When: Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Where: The Reserve Officers Association Building on Capitol Hill
in Washington, DC
Why:
 Forum to Engage with and Educate Policymakers
 Explain AMAC’s Priorities, Protect Current Programs, and
Expand Federal Contracting Opportunities for AMAC’s
Membership
Format:
 Morning Sessions with Policy Panels/Speakers from Capitol
Hill and the Administration
 Afternoon Meetings in Congress
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Agenda
1. AMAC Legislative Agenda
2. Lobbying 101
3. Political Outlook in Congress
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AMAC Legislative Priorities
Top Priorities for Industry Day

Continue to Expand AMAC’s Profile on
Capitol Hill

Expand Business Opportunities

Protect Existing Opportunities

Educate on Threats to the Program

Request FAA to Fully Assess Benefits of
the DBE/ACDBE Programs and Potential
Impacts of Funding Shifts

Introduce the Rental Car Policy Proposal

Seek Opportunities at TSA

Work with Airport Community to Push for
More Opportunities Locally
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AMAC Legislative Priorities
Who Are We Meeting With?

Congressional committees of jurisdiction

AMAC membership’s congressional
representation

Congressional caucus leaders
Why These Offices?

Oversight and control over aviation and
M/W/DBE issues

Offices that represent AMAC members
have a stake in our issues

Caucus leaders can spread our message to
a large group of congressional members
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Build AMAC’s Brand
Key Highlights
 AMAC is the only national, non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting:

The full participation of minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprises
(M/W/DBEs) in airport contracting; and

The inclusion of minorities and women in employment.
 AMAC and its affiliates include airport operators, government officials,
corporations, and M/W/DBE entrepreneurs.
 Since its inception, AMAC has been at the forefront of nearly every national policy
initiative impacting the participation of disadvantaged businesses in airport
contracting.
Messaging Points
 Supports Local Jobs
 Supports Local Development
 Supports Our Communities
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Protect the DBE/ACDBE Programs
The FAA’s DBE/ACDBE Program
 Airport agencies receiving financial assistance from
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are
required to establish goals for the participation of
minority-owned, women-owned and
disadvantaged business enterprises (M/W/DBEs)

Annual M/W/DBE Contracting Goals

Subcontracting Goals

Certification of M/W/DBE Firms
 Statutory 10% Aspirational Requirement for
Federally Allocated Funds

Annual M/W/DBE Contracting Goals

This includes airport funding from the FAA’s Airport Improvement
Program (AIP)

This DOES NOT including airport funding received through federally
authorized passenger facility charges (PFCs)
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Protect the DBE/ACDBE Programs
Current Status: Two Major Federal Programs
 The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) ($3.2 billion)
 The Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Program ($2.8 billion)
Dollars in Millions
AIP vs. PFC Funding Streams
$8,000
70.00%
$7,000
60.00%
$6,000
50.00%
$5,000
$4,000
40.00%
AIP Authorized
AIP Allocated
30.00%
PFCs Allocated
$2,000
20.00%
Total Allocated
$1,000
10.00%
$3,000
$0
Percent AIP
0.00%
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Why Is This Important?
Downward Pressure on Federal AIP Monies
 Airport Infrastructure Needs More,
Not Less, Funding
 The Administration and Large Airports
Have Proposed PFC Increases in
Exchange for Cuts to AIP
 Cuts to AIP = Cuts to M/W/DBE
Opportunities
 AMAC Supports Increases to PFCs
 But, Airport Infrastructure Funding Must
Continue to Recognize the Role of M/W/DBEs
 Increases Must be Tied to the Expansion of
M/W/DBE Requirements to PFC Funding
Streams
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Protect the DBE/ACDBE Programs
President’s FY15 Budget
 Proposes cuts to AIP (M/W/DBE Reqs.)
 Cuts are to be made up by increases
to PFCs (No M/W/DBE Reqs.)
Our Response
 Educate Congress on the negative effects
of such a funding shift
 Organize a letter from Congress
expressing concern and urging the FAA to
conduct an economic impact study
 Grassroots outreach to policymakers urging their support for the expansion of
M/W/DBE protections
 This will:

Let the Administration know that M/W/DBE protections must be continued

Build a data-driven base of support for the importance of the DBE and ACDBE programs
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Rental Car Policy Proposal
The Problem: Key aspects of the ACDBE/DBE rules undercut the ability of
airport agencies and car rental firms to find and work with firms who can meet
current certification standards and who can provide goods and services on the
scale dictated by the unique aspects of car rental purchasing.
The Answer: AMAC and car rental industry reunited for new thinking to
effectively address the issue. Together, a Policy Proposal has been created to:

Implement new regional ACDBE contract goals / maintain 10% national and local ACDBE
annual contract goals

Mandate uniform ACDBE goal-setting methodology

Modify ACDBE certification standards

Modify counting rules

Establish uniform reporting format and schedule for car rental companies to report ACDBE
and DBE participation to airports / airports obligations remain unchanged
This Policy Proposal will be presented to the Administration but we want to
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educate and ensure the support of congressional allies
Lobbying 101
Introductions: The Team Leader should begin by introducing him
or herself and AMAC as an organization. Following the introduction
of AMAC, the Team Leader should invite the members of the AMAC
team in attendance to introduce themselves.
All Politics is Local: If you are a constituent or do business in the
district of the office you are meeting with, make mention of this as
you introduce yourself.
Always Remember: Meetings with staffers can often be just as
important, if not more important, than Member meetings. Staff are
often the ones making policy recommendations and guiding
decisions for the Members.
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Lobbying 101
Team Leader / Team Member Roles

The Team Leader should feel free to
delegate any of these responsibilities to
specific Team Members
Team Leaders Can:
 Initiate the introductions
 Briefly describe AMAC
 Outline our legislative priorities
 Document any follow up
Team Members Should:
 Introduce themselves and briefly describe their work
 Offer information and context on the importance of
AMAC’s legislative priorities in operating their
businesses on a daily, monthly, and annual basis
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Lobbying 101
Format of Each Meeting

Assume that each meeting will not last longer than 30 minutes

The up front messaging should be limited to no more than 10 minutes
to enable dialogue and questions to follow
Messaging

Communicate in a way that allows for input from other members of the
team, and provides the opportunity for Members or staff to interject
questions in the dialogue
 Being concise is helpful in getting the message across
 If you don’t know the answer to something or need to double check the facts, offer
to follow-up
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Political Landscape
Republican House – Democratic Senate
Election Year!
 Members of Congress are extra cautious
 Partisanship
FAA Reauthorization is Coming Up
 Current bill expires end of FY15
Tax Reform Continues to be Discussed
 No concrete path forward at this juncture
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In Summary
Have Fun! Be Conversational!
Introduce AMAC and your Organization
Touch on AMAC’s Priorities

Continue to Expand AMAC’s Profile on Capitol Hill

Expand Business Opportunities

Protect Existing Opportunities

Educate on Threats to the Program

Request FAA to Fully Assess Benefits of the DBE/ACDBE Programs
and Potential Impacts of Funding Shifts

Introduce the Rental Car Policy Proposal

Seek Opportunities at TSA

Work with Airport Community to Push for More Opportunities Locally
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Questions?
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