The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) and the American Supply Association (ASA) successfully joined forces with the 2026 PHCC-ASA Joint Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., with contractors, distributors and industry leaders delivering a unified message to lawmakers on workforce development, energy policy and regulatory certainty.
Held May 5-6 at the YOTEL Washington D.C., the conference brought together members from across the plumbing, heating, cooling and piping industries for direct engagement with federal legislators and staff on issues impacting contractors, suppliers and consumers nationwide.
Throughout the conference, attendees advocated for policies designed to strengthen the skilled trades workforce, preserve consumer energy choice and modernize federal energy regulations in a way that supports innovation and affordability.
“Our industry depends on practical policies that support workforce development, regulatory consistency and reliable energy solutions,” said Mark Valentini, PHCC Vice President of Legislative Affairs. “This conference gave contractors and industry stakeholders the opportunity to bring real-world perspectives directly to Capitol Hill and demonstrate the essential role our industry plays in the American economy.”
Conference attendees urged lawmakers to support workforce initiatives that strengthen career and technical education, registered apprenticeships and employer-driven training solutions to help address the ongoing skilled labor shortage affecting contractors and suppliers nationwide.
Participants also advocated for policies that preserve consumer energy choice and provide consistent federal energy regulations for manufacturers, distributors and contractors. Attendees emphasized the importance of maintaining access to multiple energy sources while supporting modernization of federal efficiency standards in a way that promotes affordability, innovation and long-term market stability.
The conference featured issue briefings from industry advocacy leaders, political analysis from nationally recognized pollster and government affairs strategist Brent Buchanan, and advocacy coaching sessions designed to prepare attendees for meetings on Capitol Hill.
Networking and collaboration remained a key part of the event, including evening events that brought together contractors, distributors, and manufacturers to discuss the future of the industry.
“Partnering with PHCC for this event was an exceptional opportunity to bring a vital segment of our industry’s supply chain to Washington, D.C., ensuring lawmakers on Capitol Hill remain informed about how critical workforce and energy legislation impacts our businesses, our customers, and the communities we serve,” said Steve Rossi, ASA Vice President of Advocacy.
The PHCC-ASA Joint Legislative Conference concluded May 6 following congressional meetings and a closing reception with industry leaders.
About PHCC
The PHCC—National Association, formed in 1883, provides legislative advocacy, education, and training to approximately 3,500 plumbing and HVACR businesses and 65,000 technicians. Members of PHCC have access to a wide variety of services designed to increase their professionalism, grow their business, and improve profitability. For more information about PHCC, visit phccweb.org.
About ASA
The American Supply Association is the industry’s national trade association representing distributors and their manufacturers and manufacturer representative agencies serving the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Piping (PHCP) and Industrial Pipe-Valve-Fitting (PVF) channel. ASA serves as the industry’s advocate in the legislative and regulatory arena, provides economic analysis, forecasting and data, innovation trends, employee recruitment and development, and peer-to-peer networking. Learn more at ASA.net.
The American Supply Association is the industry’s national trade association representing distributors and their manufacturers and manufacturer representative agencies serving the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Piping (PHCP) and Industrial Pipe-Valve-Fitting (PVF) channel. ASA serves as the industry’s advocate in the legislative and regulatory arena, provides economic analysis, forecasting and data, innovation trends, employee recruitment and development, and peer-to-peer networking. Learn more at ASA.net.
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