Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1456062
MARCH 2022 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 45 European Union is also craing its own Euro- pean Chips Act, including strong support for advanced packaging. Has the U.S. government ever had a strategy to propel the success of this strategically vital industry in the United States? Perhaps briefly and partially during moments like World War II and the Space Race. But generally, the answer is no. at said, the current effort to complete the biggest piece of competitiveness legislation in U.S. history is a perfect opportunity for the U.S. government to begin having a strategy. Let Them Hear You And that's where you come in, dear reader. I lead IPC's profes- s ional gover nment relations (GR) team, and we are here for you year-round. But the success of our work depends on the active engagement of IPC members. IPC's advocacy work is rooted in an ongoing dia- logue with our members. For example, IPC's North American and European GR Committees are composed of a cross-section of company executives who provide IPC with their input throughout the year. Likewise, IPC's environ- mental policy priorities are determined with input from our Environment & Health Strate- gic Management Team (ENV SMT). We also invite all members to fill out our five-question, five-minute policy survey, or just call or write us with your concerns. With member input in hand, IPC's GR staff reaches out and communicates directly with key policy makers, presenting the best case for our positions. To the extent we are persuasive, we increase the likelihood that the final poli- cies enacted will be supportive of the industry. IPC also facilitates direct communications between our members and government offi- cials, whether it is through in-person or vir- tual meetings. IPC also coordinates in-person or virtual visits by government officials to IPC member facilities—so that when IPC's inter- ests are at stake in policy debates, we already have local relationships that we can leverage to have greater influence. On the regulatory front, IPC continuously monitors the rules being developed at agen- cies like EPA and OSHA, and we provide timely information to both government offi- cials, to help inform their decisions, and to IPC members, so that you can make informed business decisions. Fi n a l l y, w e b u i l d public suppor t for our positions. For example, IPC culti- vates helpful, accu- rate news coverage by the news media, and we engage actively on social media, all with the goal of building broader public support for our policy agenda. Here's What You Can Do If you care about the shrinkage and poten- tial extinction of the U.S. electronics manu- facturing sector, if you believe like me that the U.S. government needs to be an active partner in our success and not a passive bystander to our decline, then I challenge you to take these three steps: 1. Stay informed on the issues. Subscribe to IPC's Global Advocacy Report. If you're an IPC member, you can manage your e-mail preferences and opt in to receive "Advocacy" updates. If you are not an IPC member, or you're not sure, send a note to friends@ipc.org, and our staff will add you to the list. You can also follow IPC on LinkedIn and Twitter for occasional updates.