This August, Invite Your Member of Congress for a Visit

Adam Pugh

By Adam Pugh, NSSGA

 

When Congress goes on its break for August recess, there is a valuable opportunity for our industry to invite lawmakers to aggregates facilities in their districts for an on-the-ground look at the industry in action. These visits are one of the most effective tools to not just tell but show our story.

 

When a member of Congress walks through your plant or quarry, sees your team at work and hears about challenges or issues directly from employees, it makes a lasting impression. It turns our industry’s paper talking points into real-world examples showing the true impact. And with big issues like reauthorizing the infrastructure bill, codifying tax cuts and emphasizing the Trump administration’s regulatory rollback, now’s the time to help shape their perspective.

How to Set Up a Tour


Scheduling a visit with lawmakers is simpler than you might think. The first step is to contact your lawmaker’s district director or chief of staff by email or phone, as they manage the member’s calendar and can help coordinate local events. When sending your invitation, keep your communications clear and straightforward. See our tips and letter template for help.

 

If you need help finding your member of Congress and their staff’s contact information, please reach out to Adam Pugh at apugh@nssga.org or Evan Bender at ebender@nssga.org to help connect you directly.

 

Once you have your tour details scheduled, please share the details with Ashley Taylor at ataylor@nssga.org.

 

What to Talk About


Every visit is a chance to reinforce the priorities that matter to our industry. This fall, Congress will be dealing with several major issues where aggregates play a critical role:

  • Infrastructure Investment: A new infrastructure package is in the works. Use the visit to stress how long-term infrastructure funding helps your business grow and supports good-paying jobs in the local area. The more lawmakers understand what it takes to build roads, bridges and runways, the better. Use this opportunity to explain why legislating a fix to the Highway Trust Fund is critical to our industry and the nation’s infrastructure.
     
  • Tax Policy: If the tax bill hasn’t passed by August, it’ll be a key focus in September. Discuss the importance of percentage depletion, bonus depreciation, R&D tax credit, corporate tax rate, small business deduction (199A), capital gains tax and estate tax for your businesses. Congress needs to hear directly from business owners about what works and what doesn’t.
     
  • Regulatory Environment: The Trump administration will likely continue rolling back regulations and streamlining federal processes. That’s good news, but we need to keep the pressure on. Share your experience with permitting delays, duplicative reviews or anything else that slows down your projects. As part of this discussion, talk about the impacts of closing NIOSH and how that will directly impact on the health and safety of our industry’s workforce.

 

Contacting Lawmaker Tips:

  • Let them know you’re a constituent who employs workers in their district/state. Also, share that you are a member of NSSGA.
     
  • Mention that your facility plays a key role in the local economy.
     
  • Offer a few date options for them to visit during August.
     
  • Emphasize that this is a chance to see first-hand how aggregates support infrastructure and job creation.


Sample Email Template:

Dear [LEGISLATOR],

 

As someone who has represented our facility for several years, we at [COMPANY’S X LOCATION] would like to invite you to visit our facility for a tour and meet and greet our employees. We would be honored to provide you with an update on our operations and introduce you to new employees. Please let us know what a convenient time for you and your staff to visit, and we can arrange a tour. We appreciate your continued support of the aggregates industry, and we look forward to seeing you.

 

Sincerely,

[Name and Contact Information]

 

We’re Here to Help


If this is your first time inviting a member of Congress to visit, NSSGA has your back! Our team can provide more email templates, talking points and a simple checklist to help you plan a great visit.

 

There’s no better time to engage your lawmakers than when they’re back home. A few hours on-site can make a huge difference in how they understand and support the aggregates industry. Let’s make the most of August recess and send your invites today!
 

Originally published in July/August 2025 NSSGA REVIEW.