Twenty-two IFDA member companies sent leaders to Capitol Hill in April to participate in the IFDA Insight & Advocacy Conference. The opening day of the conference provided IFDA members with an important opportunity to hear directly from regulators, lawmakers, and others who shape federal policy. The second day of the 2012 conference included the IFDA Thomas Jefferson Awards breakfast reception where 60 lawmakers came by for a photo op with IFDA members. The reception was followed by Capitol Hill appointments where IFDA members visited with their legislators.

INSIGHTS: The lineup for the recently completed 2012 conference included regulators from the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, which has stepped up auditing of employee classification issues, and the Food and Drug Administration, which is writing far reaching regulations to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act.

ADVOCACY: On the second day of the conference, attendees visited Congressional leaders to discuss what lawmakers should do to support business and job growth. These visits provide an important opportunity for IFDA members to discuss their businesses with lawmakers and to let them know what policies are hindering job growth.

IFDA THOMAS JEFFERSON AWARDS: Attendees at the 2012 Conference presented the IFDA Thomas Jefferson Awards to legislators that take a pro-business stance and advance positive economic policies. Our thanks to all the IFDA members who helped honor Members of Congress who have demonstrated their commitment to free enterprise and who worked to reduce the federal budget deficit, overturn NLRB regulations, and repeal Obamacare.