Making Government Work for Textile Rental
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., March 22, 2011— The call by TRSA to make politics part of the business of everyone in the textile services industry regardless of their job duties was heard by 125 executives from member companies as they participated in the association’s largest Washington conference ever.
Most who made the D.C. trip serve on TRSA committees on various facets of commercial laundry operations (plant production, marketing, environmental compliance) or such groups that plan TRSA programs including education and membership recruiting. These committees met Tuesday morning, but by afternoon these participants were immersed in government relations seminars.
As nightfall approached, they found themselves in the thick of the national political scene as Gov. George Allen (R-VA) roused them with an endorsement of their efforts. Now seeking his second term in the U.S. Senate after losing his 2006 re-election campaign, Allen called for “regulating regulators” and described those currently in power in Washington as “sanctimonious.”
He praised TRSA attendees for coming to D.C. on behalf of their companies to try to change this. Observing the textile services industry, he credited companies for providing their people with jobs at a pay rate they might not receive through employment elsewhere. Allen added that while industry operators correctly highlight the pro-environment virtues of their operations to promote their services, “the ‘green’ that people really care about is money.”
A TRSA Political Action Committee members-only fundraiser at the conference for his campaign preceded his meeting with participants at-large.
Allen’s attempt to return to the Senate is widely viewed as pivotal to Republican efforts to retake the majority of that body. Because his 2006 election was so close, counting that election’s ballots took longer than any other such race, effectively determining the new Democratic majority in the Senate.
Allen pledged to help swing control back to the GOP by promoting core values of freedom, greater opportunity for all and personal responsibility. His platform also emphasizes energy independence and calls for better use of U.S. resources (such as oil drilling) to enhance American competitiveness and improve the balance of trade. Allen praised TRSA operators for playing a role in building efficiency through water and energy conservation.
Conference presentations focused on industry advocacy began earlier Tuesday with a session on influencing federal rulemaking by Charles Maresca of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBA accepted TRSA’s invitation to participate because the textile rental services industry consists largely of small businesses that serve local markets. This government agency assists groups such as TRSA to help them ensure fair, balanced regulation of their industries and work with Congress to enact pro-business tax and labor policies.
Maresca provided insights on how federal agencies implement regulations, preparing attendees to better respond to TRSA staff’s increasingly frequent calls for their involvement in grassroots political activity. TRSA beamed the presentation to members in the association’s first-ever webcast from one of its national meetings.
Also speaking at the conference Tuesday afternoon was Stephanie Vance, Advocacy Associates, Washington, who guided the group on how to properly frame their issues in constituent meetings with legislators. This set the tone for the following day’s activities at the conference, when attendees would leave the host hotel (Gaylord National Resort) and conduct such meetings on Capitol Hill.
About the Textile Rental Services Association of America
The Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA) represents the $15 billion commercial laundry industry, which employs nearly 200,000 people at more than 1,500 facilities nationwide, including every major business and industrial region, Congressional district and city in the country. Most Americans benefit at least once a week from the cleanliness and safety provided by the industry—through its laundering and delivery of reusable linens, uniforms, towels, mats and other products for the healthcare, hospitality and industrial/manufacturing sectors. TRSA member companies’ services minimize environmental impacts on air, water and solid waste disposal while reducing costs for millions of customers.
To serve members, TRSA advocates for balanced regulation and facilitates information-sharing and education in the industry. The association assists members in streamlining production, increasing productivity and improving the safety of their people and the environment.