Page 23 - Nov-Dec2017 Vol35 No5

NATIONAL By Andrea Eales

APWA Adopts Public Policy Priorities

The key to successful advocacy is having a clear message. This belief is View online at tnpublicworks.com 23
behind the recently approved national American Public Works Asso-
ciation’s public policy priorities. During the June and August meetings
of APWA’s Board of Directors, a total of five policy documents were
reviewed and approved, and are now officially in effect as the primary
advocacy documents for national APWA to use in communicating with
Members of Congress, the White House, and the Executive Branch agen-
cies. To keep the policies relevant, timely, and effective they are tied to the
Congressional cycle, and are to be reviewed every two years by the APWA
Government Affairs Committee. The five adopted documents include
a policy overview statement, and the following national APWA public
policy priorities:
• Infrastructure financing and funding;
• Provide for transportation infrastructure;
• Support water resiliency;
• Recognize and support emergency management and response.

The above listed policies are in effect for the remainder of 2017 and
all of 2018 for the current 115th session of Congress. The documents
may be found in the Government Affairs section of the APWA website,
www.apwa.net.

The public policy priorities are also an important component of sup-
port for the newly adopted APWA strategic plan for 2017 through 2020.
The plan focuses on the following strategic goals for the association:
• Value—Define the value of Public Works and enhance its visibility/

awareness;
• Voice—Be the voice of Public Works to government leaders and media;
• Education and Credentialing—Ensure excellence in education and

credentialing;
• Membership and Chapters—Create a dynamic membership and chap-

ter model.
Specifically, the public policy priorities are intended to support the stra-
tegic goal of being “the voice of Public Works to government leaders and
media.” The policies are important tools that help to provide an overall
consistent message to policymakers, the media, and the public. For those
APWA chapters and members who are making advocacy a priority, these
policy documents and the strategic plan offer guidance and can assist
with identifying an issue(s) to coalesce around and promote.
The public policy priorities were intentionally drafted by the Govern-
ment Affairs Committee to broadly address Public Works challenges and
needs, which are fairly universal. Moreover, the utility and flexibility of
the policies are meant to be useful to chapters and individual members
in discussing Public Works, its functions, and essential elements with a
layperson outside of the Public Works industry.
APWA strives for excellence in providing our more than 30,000 mem-
bers with professional support, and useful educational tools and informa-
tion to most benefit the hardworking and dedicated men and women in
Public Works. In order to garner strong backing for Public Works, it is
imperative that elected officials, policymakers, and citizens are properly
informed about how Public Works delivers the quality essential services
necessary to healthy, thriving communities. Whether you are involved at
the chapter level, the national level, or both, the policies outlined above
can be great resources to you.
If you have any questions about APWA’s advocacy activities, need assis-
tance, or would like to provide feedback, please contact Eales at aeales@
apwa.net Thank you for your time and commitment to APWA.