VISA PROCESSING IMPROVEMENT ACT INTRODUCED

Last month, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced the new Visa Processing Improvement Act.

• This important legislation that would increase consular office flexibility and capacity, improve accountability and transparency, revise in-person interview waiver eligibility, and improve the service experience for visa applicants at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world

ECA’s view: “The legislation opens the doors to welcome back international exhibitors, attendees, and buyers to U.S. events, revitalizing access to essential customer bases and unlocking opportunities,” said Hervé Sedky, Emerald’s President and CEO and Chair of the ECA board of directors.

• Go deeper: ECA Applauds New Legislation to Address Visa Delays (press release)

Read more coverage from Trade Show Executive, MeetingsNet, TSNN, Exhibition World, & EXHIBITOR.

CALIFORNIA FINAL DRAFT FORKLIFT RULE DUE IN OCTOBER

On October 20, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will release the final draft of its zero-emissionforklift rule, which will phase out the use of spark-ignite engine forklifts.

• ECA has seen the most recent draft, which maintains the phase-in delay until 2028 to betteralign environmental goals with industry feasibility, but still has various areas of concern withregard to key definitions, implementation and compliance protocols, and more.

Timeline: Once the draft is released, a 45-day feedback period begins. After that, CARB staff will makerevisions before submitting to the full board for final approval on May 23, 2024.

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH

This September, ECA will mark National Workforce Development Month by highlighting the importance of Congress taking action on bills that increase opportunities for skills-based training.

• This fall, ECA expects the Senate to mark-up the JOBS Act, which would allow students to use Pell Grants for high-quality short-term job training programs for the first time.
• Meanwhile, the ASAE-led Tomororw’s Workforce Coalition now has 560+ members (including) supporting legislation to allow 529 plans to pay for workforce training and credentialing.

Check out ECA’s LinkedIn page this month for #WorkforceWednesdays, where industry leaders will share their views on why skills-based training is critical for our workforce of today… and tomorrow.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• Join industry leaders and advocates by signing up for ECA’s social influencer program here.

• Subscribe to the new EXHIBITOR Now Association Focus podcast, featuring biweekly advocacy updates from ECA, here

• Read this article highlighting ECA as a positive example of cross-industry collaboration here.