Dealer and NextGen Members Meet With New Jersey’s Congressional Delegation During NADA Washington Conference
NJ CAR leaders and more than a dozen dealer members took the industry’s priorities directly to Capitol Hill earlier this month during the NADA Washington Conference.
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta and SVP of Gov. Affairs Magdalena Padilla, Esq. led the delegation in meetings with members of New Jersey’s Congressional delegation and their legislative staff. Discussions focused on key federal issues affecting franchised dealerships, their employees, and New Jersey consumers.
Among the issues NJ CAR raised were:
- Support for legislation to prohibit Chinese connected vehicles from entering the U.S. market
- Continued concerns surrounding so-called “Right to Repair” legislation
- Support for federal legislation addressing catalytic converter theft
Dealers Bring Their Voice to Washington
Several members of Congress met personally with the Coalition’s delegation, giving dealers an opportunity to share firsthand perspectives on how federal policies affect their businesses, employees, and customers.
The delegation met with Rep. Herb Conaway, Rep. Donald Norcross, Rep. Nellie Pou, Rep. Christopher Smith, and Rep. Jeff Van Drew.
Rep. Robert Menendez made time to personally greet the NJ CAR delegation while his staff members continued the discussion with attendees.
The delegation also held staff-level meetings with the offices of Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr., Rep. Frank Pallone, and Rep. Analilia Mejias.
These meetings provided additional opportunities for dealers to discuss the industry’s legislative priorities and share their perspectives directly with Congressional staff.
Thank You to Our Dealer Advocates
NJ CAR thanks the members who took time away from their businesses to represent New Jersey’s franchised dealership industry in Washington: Chairman Andrew Shapiro; Incoming Chairman Ed Barlow, III; former Chairman Ron Baus; NADA Director Rick DeSilva, Jr.; Treasurer David Kull; Board of Trustee member Marcy Maguire, and dealer member Peter Nogalo.
The participation of these industry leaders helps ensure New Jersey’s franchised dealerships have a strong voice in Washington and policymakers hear directly from the business owners affected by federal legislation.
NextGen Members Make Their Voices Heard
NJ CAR’s NextGen members were active participants throughout the Capitol Hill meetings, providing lawmakers and their staff with their perspective on industry issues.
Special thanks to Kaysie Baus, Jeffrey Defonseka, Gianna DiPiano, C.J. Kull, Megan Long, and Dee Skidmore-Trump for participating in this year’s Washington Conference.
Their involvement demonstrates the strength of New Jersey’s franchised dealership next generation as well as the importance of developing future industry advocates.
NJ CAR looks forward to returning to Capitol Hill with an even greater delegation next year to continue demonstrating the critical role franchised dealerships play in New Jersey’s economy and communities.
Photos from the Conference
