TCIA returned to Capitol Hill in September for its annual Legislative Day on the Hill. Nearly 40 TCIA members, along with TCIA staff and its government-relations team, met with the staffs of 39 Congressional offices, the Department of Labor and the White House Executive Office of the President to advocate for the tree care industry.

One of the TCIA delegations in Washington included, from left, Hans Tielmann, NJ Cranes; Caitlyn Pollihan, ISA; Jordan Tielmann, NJ Cranes; Amy Tetreault, TCIA; and Amy Burkett, TCIA director, and Tyler Burkett, both with Burkett Arbor Care.

TCIA’s Legislative Day was being held every other year for several years, but this year’s gathering was the second year in a row for what is intended to be an annual event going forward.

Day One: Advocacy prep, expert briefings and networking reception
On September 15, TCIA members arrived at the Hyatt Regency Washington, D.C., hotel to participate in the first events of TCIA’s Legislative Day. George Strout, TCIA’s new manager of grassroots and political advocacy, started the day with a workshop for attendees to help them shape their stories for Hill meetings to ensure their message was effective. That afternoon, members heard from TCIA’s government-relations team on how to navigate the Hill, approach meetings with lawmakers and effectively present serious issues and key interests by providing personal accounts of policies’ impact on their businesses.

Later, four presenters briefed TCIA members on policy issues impacting tree care businesses.

• Pat Shen, vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, discussed the Trump administration’s actions on immigration enforcement and immigration reform efforts through proposed legislation and regulations.
• Bruce Lundegren and Janis Reyes, from the Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Office of Advocacy, then briefed members on OSHA’s pending Heat and Injury Illness Prevention standard rulemaking and other regulations important to small businesses nationwide.
• Larry Minor, associate administrator for Policy at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), provided members with updates for the implementation of the National Registry II (NRII), English Language Proficiency (ELP) guidance and enforcement policies from the agency, as well as FMCSA’s deregulatory initiatives to provide relief and flexibility to motor carriers.
• Kyle Kunkler, deputy assistant administrator of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), discussed his office’s priorities with respect to the regulated pesticide community and EPA’s engagement with industry stakeholders.

After the briefings, TCIA hosted a group dinner, providing members further opportunities to network and prepare for the next day’s Hill meetings.

Day Two: Hill meetings with lawmakers
On September 16, Representative Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) and Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joined TCIA members at breakfast to discuss the political landscape on the Hill and hear from TCIA members directly about the industry’s support for a tree care-specific OSHA standard. Rep. Mackenzie serves as the chair of the House Education & Workforce Subcommittee on Workplace Protections, and Sen. Mullin serves as the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Employment & Workplace Safety. Both subcommittees have jurisdiction over OSHA-related policy issues.
After breakfast, seven groups split off to attend Hill meetings. Each group had approximately six meetings with members of Congress and their staff, DOL and the White House to advocate for policies that support the growth and safety of the tree care industry, including:

• The need for OSHA to issue a tree care-specific standard.
• The need for immigration reforms, including certainty for TPS (Temporary Protected Status) recipients and improvements to the H-2B visa program.
• The need for a federal minimum standard of care for hazard-tree pre-inspections and clarification of utility vs. contractor roles to reduce wildfire-ignition risk and improve access to insurance.
• The need to ensure pesticide regulation remains uniform under EPA and state agencies so tree health and invasive-species management are not undermined by conflicting local restrictions.

TCIA targeted meetings with lawmakers serving on committees with jurisdiction over relevant agencies and policies areas such as labor and employment, immigration, wildfire mitigation and pesticide use. Along with advocating for key interests and specific policies, members built relationships with lawmakers and staff to promote open dialogue and continued cooperation on key issues impacting the industry.

The importance of Legislative Day for TCIA’s advocacy
Legislative Day helps TCIA keep the tree care industry engaged in shaping public policy. Members bring firsthand knowledge of industry challenges to lawmakers, highlighting issues such as workforce readiness, regulatory clarity and operational safety. These direct conversations ensure policymakers understand the essential role tree care businesses play in protecting infrastructure and supporting local economies.

TCIA thanks everyone who joined the 2025 Legislative Day, and looks forward to welcoming new and returning attendees at the 2026 event. Details for next year will be announced soon.

Bailey Graves is a senior associate with Ulman Public Policy, TCIA’s Washington, D.C.-based advocacy and lobbying partner.

See a Q&A with George Strout, TCIA’s new manager of grassroots and political advocacy, on page 26 in this issue of TCI Magazine.