Representatives from PMPA convened in Washington, D.C. December 9-10 to meet with members of Congress and their staff, advocating for the interests of the precision machining industry. This event and the respective meetings were made possible by (PMPA’s lobbyist) Omar Nashashibi of Inside the Beltway and our member PAC contributions.  Six PMPA company members attended, along with PMPA’s Director of Technical Services and Industry Affairs, David Wynn, and PMPA Executive Director Emily Riley.

The primary focus was on the impact of trade tariffs—especially Section 232 tariffs—on industrial machinery, steel, aluminum, copper, and specialty metals. The group highlighted that 85% of our members import equipment, with significant reliance on suppliers due to the lack of domestic manufacturing capacity for critical machinery and specialty metals. Tariffs have led to increased costs, reduced competitiveness, and forced manufacturers to pass costs onto customers or seek alternative suppliers.

They also took time to communicate workforce challenges, emphasizing the need for job training, recruitment, and how the loss of funding for Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) programs is affecting some members in their respective states. Meetings included direct engagement with Representatives and Senators, sharing data, industry priorities, and personal stories to illustrate the real-world impact of current policies. The goal was to ensure a globally competitive U.S. based precision machining industry and support the continued growth and innovation in the industry. The outcomes from the meetings indicated our voices were heard and follow-ups were activated with our legislative representatives to enable them to influence in Congress on our behalf.

Thanks to the following PMPA members who took time out of their busy schedules to advocate for PMPA in Washington:  Rich and Cathy Hoster (Smith & Richardson); John Habe, IV (Metal Seal Precision); Mike Reader (Reader Precision Solutions); Steve Sorenson (Sorenson Engineering); David Thuro (Thuro Metal Products).

If you have any questions about the PMPA PAC or want more information about our activities in Washington or would like to join the next DC Fly-In, please contact David Wynn at dwynn@pmpa.org.