The EDPA is committed to driving sustained advocacy efforts to support the exhibitions and events industry. As part of these efforts, we proudly partner with the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) and the Exhibitor Advocate
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is a coalition of leading professional, industry, and labor organizations that comprise the unified advocacy voice of the business events industry. The exhibitions, conferences, and trade shows delivered by ECA's alliance partners and their members attract exhibitors, attendees, and buyers from around the world to conduct business in the United States. This dynamic industry employs 2.6 million Americans and drives $399 billion in spending annually.
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The Exhibitor Advocate amplifies the voice of exhibitors to ensure the enduring success of exhibitions and events by collaborating with all stakeholders to promote and cultivate open communication, consistent standards, and industry best practices.
Legislative Action Day
ECA Advocacy Update
By Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance ● Jul 08, 2025
👋 Welcome to a special One Big Beautiful Bill Act edition of the ECA Advocacy Update newsletter.
On July 4, President Donald J. Trump signed this important legislation into law after months of debate on Capitol Hill.
Read on to see why it matters for you, your organization, and the U.S. business and professional events industry.
1 big thing: ECA’s top tax and workforce priorities signed into law!
Last week, years of ECA advocacy in Washington, D.C., culminated with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act being signed into law.
The big picture: The legislation includes all ECA’s 2025 tax reform and next-generation workforce policy priorities.
In their words: “The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a defining moment for the industry,” said Hervé Sedky, President and CEO of Emerald and Chair of the ECA Board of Directors.
“It protects vital tax policies and invests in our workforce by expanding Pell Grants and modernizing 529 savings plans. This bill reflects ECA’s mission to advance our industry through advocacy and smart policy.”
Go deeper: Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance Applauds the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Becoming Law [press release]
2. Pro-growth tax reform
Along with permanently extending individual tax cuts, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has three tax policies critical to the industry’s future.
Maintaining a competitive business tax rate that enables the growth of the industry and allows us to keep providing value to our customers, stakeholders, and host communities.
Preserving tax treatment of private capital investments to ensure an important source of investment in our industry’s small businesses and future growth.
Safeguarding the tax-exempt status of nonprofit associations and their events to support the work of these organizations for the industries, professions, and local communities that they serve.
In their words: “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will improve the competitiveness of the industry through tax policies that support growth, investment, and impact going forward,” said Vincent Polito, CEO of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and ECA Co-President.
“This will allow us to continue to drive economic growth, support job creation, and empower small businesses well into the future.”
3. Future workforce development
While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is tax reform legislation, it includes two important policies that will help our industry attract and train its next-generation workforce.
Allowing students to use Pell Grants to afford high-quality, shorter-term job training programs for the first time.
Transforming 529 plans from college savings plans to career savings plans by expanding eligible expenses to include certifications, like those offered by IAEE, IAVM, and PCMA.
In their words: “Our industry’s collective future depends on having a highly skilled workforce to deliver the world-class business and professional events that our customers expect,” said Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) President and CEO and ECA Co-President.
“The workforce policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will help equip our future workforce with the necessary training and credentials they need to have great careers in our industry.”
Go deeper: One Big, Beautiful Opportunity for Our Future Workforce [TSNN Experts & Opinions column]
4. Share the news
Industry leaders and advocates like you were vital to securing this advocacy win.
The bottom line: Whether you were part of Legislative Action Day or participated in our ECA Advocacy Network advocacy programs, your voice was heard in Washington, D.C.!
Help us spread the good news online using this social media toolkit.
Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of the industry! 🙏