IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1544975
74 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2026 on the criticality of PCBs, participating in PCB trade shows, activating members to write opinion editori- als in regional newspapers, appearing on influential podcasts, writing and submitting draft legislative language for major bills, and drafting and manag- ing the introduction of the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates (PCBS) Act in the House of Repre- sentatives which will soon have a Senate compan- ion bill. PCBAA executives have met with the Senate Armed Services Committee staff and Department of Defense (War) officials responsible for the health of the Defense Industrial Base to provide factual data to inform policy. PCBAA has also made signifi- cant inroads with the Department of Commerce to educate and advocate for supportive policy for our industry by inviting staff to visit member companies to get a firsthand look at what happens on the front lines of the PCB industry, and by providing access to our members to participate in extensive studies by the Department of Commerce. We have grown from the original five members to almost 100 because the value proposition of PCBAA membership is worth the investment. We provide members with weekly industry intelligence, periodic video meetings with government officials, a monthly newsletter, and help with their outreach with elected officials. PCBAA holds a first-class annual meeting in Washington each year, featur- ing high-level speakers from Congress, think tanks, and government agencies, along with a day on Capitol Hill meeting with our members' representa- tives. This year's Annual Meeting is June 16–18, and we encourage you to join our team and attend. This year, PCBAA collaborated with the Alliance for American Manufacturing to produce "The New Frontier," a documentary film on the PCB industry, which has drawn more than 3,000 viewers, gained significant notice in the trade press and has been submitted for several awards. Our movie premiere in Washington, D.C., at The Miracle Theatre was well attended by Congressional staff, media, and members. The business and political environment is in the midst of radical change. There are strong tailwinds for Defense as we support restocking the muni- tions expended in the Iran war. Advanced PCBs are also critical for AI data center servers, and there is significant interest and analysis ongoing by our government to assess our nation's PCB manufac- turing capacity to support these initiatives. Challenges remain, and through the efforts of our PCBAA staff and dedicated members, we have seen significant traction for our call to reshore and restore the PCB industry to support our national and economic security. To learn more about our mission and consider joining this growing coalition, I encourage you to visit pcbaa.org. I-CONNECT007 Shane Whiteside is presi- dent and CEO of Summit Interconnect and current chair of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America. To read past columns, click here. A M E R I CA N M A D E A DVO CACY