Washington D.C. (Sept. 27, 2019) – Independent auto dealers from across the nation came out in force to make their voice heard by the United States Congress as the 2019 NIADA National Policy Conference wrapped up with Wednesday’s Day on Capitol Hill.

More than 225 dealers and industry leaders attended the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s annual gathering in Washington D.C., meeting with more than 130 members of the Senate and House of Representatives or their legislative staff. Both of those numbers are the most since the event returned to the nation’s capital in 2013.

“I’m a very small part of this industry, but I felt like I had a voice today,” said Brenna Stansberry, owner of Park Marina Motors in Redding, Calif. “I felt like I had power today. And that’s something that’s priceless. It is really empowering.”

A record 19 teams of dealers and industry partners spread out on Capitol Hill to deliver the message of the used vehicle industry and small business.

That included teams representing NIADA’s affiliated state associations from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Ohio, Florida, the Mid-Atlantic region (MARIADA), Colorado, California, Tennessee, Virginia, New Mexico, Minnesota and Indiana, which visited all or most of their states’ representatives and senators.

“We had record attendance and reached more congressional offices than we ever have before, so our influence is growing,” NIADA senior vice president of legal and government affairs Shaun Petersen said. “But I think the real measure of success starts with the message. “When we first started coming, the message was, ‘We’re NIADA – we’re used car dealers.’ We spent time talking about who we are. Now we’re at a point where people know who we are and we can get into the weeds on issues that make a difference to our dealers.”

During the Day on the Hill’s Power Luncheon in the historic Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) was named NIADA’s 2019 Legislator of the Year.

Luetkemeyer is an influential member of the House Financial Services Committee and is the ranking Republican on the Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions Subcommittee. He is a strong proponent of reforming the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and backed bills that repealed the CFPB’s controversial guidance on indirect auto lending and Arbitration Rule. He also sponsored a bill that made the annual privacy notice procedure less burdensome for small businesses.

“It’s important that you’re here,” Luetkemeyer told the dealers, “to let your representatives know what is important to you – what issues you have concerns about. I want to hear from you. I want to hear the stories of how what we do here in Washington is impactful to your business.

“Those are things we want to know, and we want to hear it from you. Because when we hear it from you we know it’s something that’s really important to you. … This is your livelihood. This means something to you.”

The conference’s congressional engagement began Tuesday evening with the Friends of the Auto Industry Congressional Reception, a rooftop event overlooking the Capitol that allowed dealers to interact with Reps. Roger Williams (R-Texas) and Andy Barr (R-Ky.).

“As dealers, it’s easyto get tunnel vision and focus on the day-to-day operations,” NIADA CEO Steve Jordan said. “But when you get out of that and come to D.C. and talk to members of Congress about the issues that affect all of us, it’s a powerful thing.”

About NIADA

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) is among the nation's largest trade associations, representing the used motor vehicle industry comprised of more than 38,000 licensed used car dealers. Since 1946, NIADA has represented the voice and interests of used car dealers at the federal level in Washington D.C. Coupled with its state association network across the country, NIADA’s grass-roots framework provides a dual layer of advocacy unmatched in the used motor vehicle industry.

For more than 70 years, NIADA has engineered programs and leveraged technology to fulfill its mission to advance, educate and promote the independent used car dealer. NIADA members subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics of duty, honor and integrity, and believe in the advancement of small business in support of the free-market system. More information about NIADA programs and educational opportunities is available at www.niada.com and www.niada.tv