Together We Make a Difference

Member engagement is critical to ELFA’s government relations strategy.

ELFA IS THE PLATFORM for the equipment finance industry to advocate for public policy issues at the federal level. This platform effectively takes the interest of more than 575 member companies and creates one voice that strengthens our impact on policy issues.

ELFA's annual Capitol Connections event is just one component of the association’s government relations strategy. This strategy is a three-legged stool with the legs of that stool being direct advocacy, grassroots mobilization and political involvement. By merging all three into our government relations strategy, we create a united voice.

Direct Advocacy

Direct advocacy, often called lobbying, is the expression of our First Amendment rights to petition our government. ELFA’s direct advocacy falls into two broad categories: education and advocacy.

Elected officials come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and because of that, they do not always know the subtle details essential to operating an equipment finance company. A large portion of ELFA’s direct advocacy efforts focus on education about the industry, because if elected and appointed officials don’t understand how equipment finance benefits the economy, they are unlikely to support changes that would benefit our industry.

When determining whether or not to advocate on any given matter, ELFA legislative staff engage with ELFA members to determine how current policy is working for the equipment leasing and finance industry. Additionally, ELFA staff works with member companies to review proposed laws and rules.

Once an issue with current policy or proposed legislation is identified, ELFA staff, often in coordination with member company volunteers, engage directly with Members of Congress and their staffs in order to educate them about the issue. Once that base level of education is achieved, we are then able to advocate for the path that will lead to best results for the equipment leasing and finance industry and, accordingly, the U.S. economy.

Grassroots Mobilization

Lobbying by ELFA staff is not always enough to convince government officials that a policy is right or wrong for the industry. It often takes a local voice, or industry expert, to relay the message. This is where ELFA’s grassroots network comes into play. ELFA’s grassroots programs—such as Advocacy Champions—are geared toward bringing the voice of our industry to elected officials and giving firsthand accounts to policymakers on matters that affect the everyday lives of member companies. Sharing your voice by inviting elected officials to meet with your employees who work in their districts increases the volume and helps us stand out.

Political Involvement

Political involvement is knowing which candidates understand and support the equipment finance industry and then helping these members get elected. Civic engagement can go beyond voting. Running a campaign takes volunteers. Perhaps a candidate in your area needs someone to help introduce him or her to other community members. Alternatively, a candidate may need help walking your neighborhood, and meeting your neighbors. These activities can help push a candidate into an elected position and make the candidate recognize you as a valuable resource to them when they need to know how a policy will affect the local economy.

Just like growing a successful business takes capital, running a campaign takes funding to pay staff, run political advertisements and travel around the district. To help create that stronger, united voice, ELFA formed its political action committee, LeasePAC, to collect voluntary contributions from hundreds of employees at ELFA member companies and pool those funds to make contributions to candidates who share our values. The LeasePAC committee is composed of employees from ELFA companies and oversees all LeasePAC activities. To find out more about LeasePAC, please visit the LeasePAC website at www.elfaonline.org/advocacy/leasepac.

Get Involved

Reach out to the ELFA Federal Government Relations team to start planning to host a Member of Congress at your office. Developing relationships with those who make policy decisions helps us to be a stronger voice when we need to find advocates to hear our side in the debate.

It is critical that we engage those who represent us, so our policy priorities are known and acted on. An informed and engaged membership is the core of ELFA and its government relations strategy. ELFA works to provide a variety of resources to our members to keep you current on policy issues and events. We need your participation to help us effectively deliver the equipment finance message to policy makers. Together we make a difference.