Washington Conference
Join AMCA in Washington D.C. this May
It is vital for members of the association, like you, to impact the narrative taking place on and around Capitol Hill. AMCA leadership typically meets with federal agency staff to provide updates while in D.C. for Washington Days.
Please note: Real ID is required to enter the U.S. Capitol starting in May 2025, however it is not needed for office visits.
We need you to join us in Washington!
Gearing Up for Washington - Informational Call
If you'd like to participate in the 2025 Washington Conference but are apprehensive about meeting with congressional offices, the AMCA hosted a conference call to answer questions and prepare you for a meaningful visit to D.C.
THE CALL TOOK PLACE ON Wednesday, March 19 AT 11:00 AM PACIFIC TIME
Hear from:
- Dan Markowski, AMCA Technical Advisor
- A recorded message from Kylie Gregory from RISE on the training
- Miranda Schield from Clarke, giving a testimonial on how the training has helped their employees
- And Dr. John Goldberg, AMCA’s representation on Capitol Hill on why advocacy is important
The content of this call is new, focusing on the training we are offering in DC this year.
You can view the recording of the call here:
An additional call was held on April 7, 2025, you can view the recording of that call here:
A final call was held on April 29, 2025, you can view the recording of that call here:
The PowerPoint slide deck from this call is available here.
Learn more about AMCA’s 2025 Legislative Priorities
Resources
Take a look at the following resources:
View and Download AMCA's 2025 Position Papers
AMCA's 2025 Legislative Priorities
AMCA's Advocacy Action Center!
How to Schedule Congressional Appointments
Attendee List (as of April 25, 2025) Note: If you need to get in touch with another attendee about appointment scheduling, please contact Natalie Perry at nperry@amgroup.us
Confirmed Congressional Meetings Spreadsheet (add yours here)
Advocacy vs Lobbying
Concerned about Advocacy vs. Lobbying? Here’s What You Need to Know
Many AMCA members working in local government hesitate to engage in policy discussions, fearing it may be considered lobbying. The good news? Most of what we do at the Washington Conference falls under advocacy, not lobbying.
What’s the Difference?
Advocacy = Educating policymakers, sharing expertise, and supporting public health initiatives.
Lobbying = Asking legislators to vote for or against specific legislation.
Why You Can Participate with Confidence
- Public employees can advocate! Educating lawmakers on mosquito control is not lobbying.
- AMCA follows the rules. We use a registered lobbying firm for direct legislative influence.
- Your voice matters. Sharing real-world insights helps shape policies that impact mosquito control.
- Supporting AMCA = More impact. Your membership funds advocacy efforts while keeping you compliant.
Need more clarification? You can find more detailed information on the difference between Advocacy & Lobbying here including information on how to AMCA’s partners can provide documentation confirming that participation in the Washington Conference is advocacy—not lobbying.
Preliminary Program
Monday, May 12th
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
AMCA Board Meeting
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Registration
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Welcome Reception
Location: Outdoor Courtyard (Weather permitting)
Tuesday, May 13th
All educational sessions take place in the Grand Ballroom
8:00 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 am – 8:35 am
AMCA President’s Welcome – Herff Jones (AMCA President)
8:35 am – 8:45 am
Introductions and Recognition – Kristen Healy (Washington Conference Program Chair)
8:45 am – 9:15 am
AMCA issues overview – ESA reform, pesticide registration, NPDES, drone legislation, special districts, and funding requests – John Goldberg, PhD., (Partner, The Normandy Group) and Dan Markowski, PhD., (Technical Advisor, AMCA)
9:15 am – 9:45 am
Endangered Species Act – Lauren Bailey (Wildlife Biologist, United States Fish and Wildlife Service)
9:45 am – 10:00 am
Break
10:00 am – 10:30 am
Vector Borne Disease Network –Erin Cadwalader, PhD. (Director of Strategic Leadership and Policy, Entomological Society of America)
10:30 am – 11:00 am
CDC Regional Centers of Excellence on Vector-Borne Disease – Dr. Nolan
11:00 am – 11:30 am
Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs – Speaker to be announced
11:30 am – 11:45 am
Drone update – Joel Buettner
11:45 am - 1:00 pm
Break for lunch
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Professional Staff /House Committee on Agriculture – Speaker to be announced
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Message Training - Participants learn how to effectively deliver key messages and maintain control in a conversation. The RISE team collaborates with your group to review the latest messaging research and conducts tailored practice sessions using custom mock scenarios to ensure you feel confident applying these skills across a wide range of audiences - Kylie Gregory (Government Relations Manager, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) and Megan Provost, JD, (RISE President)
3:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Break
3:45 pm – 5:00 pm
Grassroots Training – Take your training to the next level. This course will equip you with proven key messages based on the latest research and how to effectively prepare for and set expectations with legislative and regulatory audiences. Kylie Gregory (Government Relations Manager, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) and Megan Provost, JD. (RISE President)
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Reception - Get together with your team to practice delivering your message
Location: Outdoor Courtyard (Weather permitting)
Wednesday, May 14th
7:00 am – 8:00 am
Breakfast
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Capitol Hill Office Visits - Pre-scheduled meetings with your Senators, Representatives, and Legislative Aides
Confirmed Congressional Meetings Spreadsheet (add yours here)
Thursday, May 15th
Safe travels
- For most attendees this will be a travel day. Before you go, check out all the history the area has to offer.
- Send thank you emails to Congressional offices with a review of the topics discussed.
- Add notes from your meetings to the Voter Voice App
- Let AMCA know if your Members of Congress need a follow-up visit
Hotel Reservations - Room Block is Open
Hilton Alexandria Old Town
1767 King Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
A special block of rooms has been secured for the AMCA Washington Conference attendees at The Hilton Alexandria Old Town Hotel, AMCA's official headquarter hotel for the conference.
AMCA is pleased to offer the following AMCA room block discounted hotel rates for our attendees:
Single/Double occupancy: $260.00 per room, per night
Room rates are in USD($) and DOES NOT include the state and hotel tax of 15.5% (subject to change).
2025 Travel Stipends
We are glad that you are interested in attending AMCA's Washington Conference from May 12-14, 2025.
Thank You to Sustaining Members for Supporting AMCA's Advocacy Efforts!
2024 Event Information
Resources
Take a look at the following resources:
View and Download AMCA's 2024 Position Papers
AMCA's Advocacy Action Center!
Learn how to become an advocate
Learn to become a mosquito control activist with the ability to educate key legislators and policymakers on the importance of mosquito control, the work you do, and how federal actions impact your job and the communities we all serve.
Public health agencies face various challenges due to a lack of resources, misinformation, and lack of basic infrastructure, which became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. This requires immediate attention to avoid further public health deficiencies.
Those who work in and around D.C. can help you through targeted actions that strengthen existing vector control, advance the science that allows vector control to adapt to new challenges, and equip local agencies with the tools they need to be effective. Then it’s up to us to make vector-borne disease prevention and control programs sustainable. This conference will provide a deep dive into how you can help pave the way for the vector control programs of tomorrow.
Watch the AMCA Town Hall Meeting
If you'd like to participate at the 2024 Washington Conference but are apprehensive about meeting with congressional offices, watch the following video that will answer all of your questions and prepare you for a meaningful visit to D.C.