Why is Advocacy Important to the NIADA Membership?
NIADA members are faced with a myriad of policy issues that impact their businesses.
The government, both the legislative branch and the executive branch, have very little idea of what it takes to run an independent car dealership. Instead, they are focused on protecting consumers and running the government. Ensuring small businesses, specifically independent auto dealerships, run successfully is not their top priority, but it is NIADA’s top priority.
Advocacy, run by the NIADA government affairs team, is a pillar of NIADA.
While NIADA members are busy running their businesses, it is important that they have a voice on Capitol Hill and with federal agencies. NIADA is the only advocate for the independent auto industry in Washington D.C.
We have seen time and time again Congress and federal agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), institute imprudent and burdensome regulations, such as the FTC Safeguards Rule, and pass laws negatively impacting the industry.
Congress and federal agencies need NIADA advocating on behalf of members, just as much as members need NIADA advocating on their behalf. Congress and federal agencies must be continually educated on what it takes to run an independent auto dealership and the impact that their policies and regulations have on these dealerships. This advocacy in the form of continual education goes a long way toward strengthening the voice of independent auto dealers before Congress and federal agencies.
The stronger NIADA’s relationships and voice, the less likely Congress and federal agencies are to enact policies that will negatively impact members and the more likely they are to enact policies that will benefit members. That’s how advocacy works.
This relationship building process is critical to advocacy. The stronger NIADA’s relationships and voice, the less likely Congress and federal agencies are to enact policies that will negatively impact members and the more likely they are to enact policies that will benefit members. That’s how advocacy works.
It’s about building relationships and educating so that harmful policies are not enacted and beneficial policies are enacted. That is the primary purpose of NIADA’s government affairs team. They are constantly on Capitol Hill, before federal agencies, and at political events building relationships and educating on the independent auto industry.
The government affairs team understands the importance of advocacy and representing the independent auto industry on Capitol Hill and before federal agencies. That’s why we never stop advocating for NIADA members. We even invite NIADA members to Washington D.C. to join the advocacy process during the National Policy Conference each year. That way, Congress and regulators can hear first-hand from independent auto dealers, not just from NIADA government affairs staff.
To learn about NIADA advocacy efforts, sign up for our email list. For information, contact: Christina Perez at christina@niada.com or 508-272-2592.
