Press Release:
News for Immediate Release

ACMA Holds First Congressional Composites Caucus Event

July 20, 2009 (Arlington, Va.)—The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) held its first Congressional Composites Caucus event in Washington, D.C., July 15-16, 2009. During the two-day event, 30 ACMA members participated in more than 40 meetings with Members of Congress and their staff to educate them on the benefits of using composite materials to improve our nation’s transportation infrastructure.  The well-attended kick-off reception in the Rayburn House Office Building included member company displays showing how composites are used to repair and build bridges.

“Our nation’s infrastructure is crumbling. Composites can improve longevity and reduce life-cycle costs of building and maintaining our nation’s bridges and highways,” said ACMA President Monty Felix. “ACMA took this message to Capitol Hill, where our members were well received by their Representatives and Senators.  This is just the first step in increasing awareness and advancing the use of composite materials.”

ACMA is committed to helping state departments of transportation build bridges using composites and supports language in a new surface transportation bill that would favor the use of innovative materials.  The Composites Caucus is a growing organization of Representatives interested in the composites industry and offers ACMA members an opportunity to meet with Members of Congress and their staff to build support for the industry. To date, there are 20 members of the Composites Caucus, which is co-chaired by Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina and Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher.

ACMA will be holding its next Congressional Composites Caucus event in October. For more information about the Congressional Composites Caucus, including guidance on encouraging Members of Congress to join, visit http://www.acmanet.org/ga/about-composites-caucus.cfm.

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With more than 850 member companies, The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) is the world’s largest trade group representing the composites industry. ACMA publishes a quarterly magazine, Composites Manufacturing, offers a universal, comprehensive training program for fabricators - Certified Composites Technician - and provides strong, proactive leadership in technical, government and regulatory affairs. In addition, ACMA hosts COMPOSITES, the largest tradeshow in North America with supplier and fabricator representatives from all market segments. For membership information, call 703-525-0511, or email:Info@acmanet.org. Visit ACMA’s website at www.ACMAnet.org