By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office
SEMA and PRI members traveled to Washington, DC, to advocate for the interests of the specialty automotive aftermarket and motorsports parts industries as part of the 2024 SEMA & PRI Washington Rally. Members and industry leaders held nearly 150 meetings with their elected officials and congressional staff, advocating for their lawmakers to support legislation to protect the future of the industry. The Washington Rally kicked off with a congressional dinner where TV presenter and car builder Ant Anstead hosted an engaging panel discussion with industry champions from the U.S. Representatives, including Reps. Marie Glusenkamp Perez (D-WA), Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Mark Amodei (R-NV), and included a lunch at the exclusive Capitol Hill Club with U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus.
The event also featured the "Cars at the Capitol" event, which showcased a curated offering of customized cars, trucks and SUVs that exemplify the spirit of innovation and craftsmanship that drives the specialty automotive aftermarket. The car show put our industry on display just beyond the steps of the Capitol with a vehicle lineup that included everything from classic cars, including a '67 Chevrolet Chevelle and a '69 Ford Mustang Mach 1, to late-model vehicles such as a '15 Nissan GT-R, a '22 Gladiator 4xe and a Toyota Tundra.
From left to right: Auto industry personality Ant Anstead and U.S. Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Mark Amodei (R-NV).
Congressional meetings provided SEMA and PRI members with an opportunity to advocate for protecting the right to repair and modify vehicles with advanced technology, stopping vehicle technology mandates that limit consumer choice, protecting motorized access to federal government lands, making permanent business tax incentives for race tracks and extending business tax incentives that will be expiring or be reduced in 2025. This year's Washington Rally marked the 17th time that SEMA and industry members have traveled to our nation's capital to advocate for the industry. The event plays a pivotal role in SEMA and PRI's advocacy efforts at the federal level, providing our members with an opportunity to develop and strengthen relationships with key members of Congress.
SEMA and PRI encourage those who weren't able to attend the 2024 SEMA & PRI Washington Rally--which included the "Cars at the Capitol" event seen here--to get involved by writing their members of Congress on issues of key importance to their business and the industry.
SEMA and PRI welcome our members who weren't able to attend the Rally to get involved by writing their members of Congress on issues of key importance to their business and the industry. We also encourage you to host your members of Congress at your business. Our government affairs team makes this easy by coordinating the logistics and participating in lawmaker visits to member companies. Click here to sign up to host your members of Congress.