When leaders from across the print industry arrived at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., last week for the second annual Printing Industry Legislative Fly-In, they made sure the industry’s needs were heard loud and clear.

“Since many of the people in the printing and the promo world are small businesses, I think it’s really important that their voice is heard here,” says Stephanie Cohn Schaeffer, co-chair of the board at ASI. “I think it’s important that we’re here lobbying for them, so there will be a future.”

Cohn Schaeffer and Andy Cohen, senior vice president of media, events & marketing services, represented ASI at the event, which took place March 25-26. Organized by PRINTING United Alliance, the event gathered more than 60 participants from across the printing industry, including representatives from Book Manufacturers Institute Inc., Foil & Specialty Effects Association, Flexographic Technical Association, Pharmaceutical Printed Literature Association, Promotional Products Association International, and Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute.

Attendees of the 2026 Printing Industry Legislative Fly-In gathered on the steps of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Participants met with more than 60 congressional offices to discuss key issues affecting the industry, including extended producer responsibility (EPR), the U.S. Postal Service, tariffs and the “Patients’ Right to Know” legislation.

“As a third-generation family business, I feel a deep responsibility to represent not just ASI, but the thousands of small businesses that make up the promotional products industry,” Cohn Schaeffer adds. “Joining our partners at Printing United on Capitol Hill was an important opportunity to advocate together for policies that support growth, innovation and long-term sustainability – so that the many family businesses that make up the fabric of this industry can continue to thrive for generations to come.”

Ford Bowers, CEO of PRINTING United Alliance, said that these conversations are critical to driving meaningful change. “During these meetings, lawmakers were also asked to join the Congressional Printing Caucus and to visit their constituents’ printing operations,” he notes.

PRINTING United Alliance CEO Ford Bowers addresses the crowd with welcoming remarks.

A Collective Voice for Printing

The fly-in took place over the course of two days with the first day dedicated to prepping the attendees for what to expect during the congressional meetings. Bowers took the stage to welcome attendees to the second annual event. Shortly after, Tim Monahan, vice president and managing director of government affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, provided attendees with the State of Play in Washington and the bipartisan issues that are top of mind.

“You know the old saying in DC is, ‘If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu,’ and the fact that you guys have come here means you have a seat at the table,” he said. 

ASI’s Andy Cohen (right) and Stephanie Cohn Schaeffer (left) met with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as part of the 2026 Printing Industry Legislative Fly-In.

Bowers then presented a legislative policy briefing that outlined three key priorities: the need to establish a federal framework for EPR; support for an exclusion process for critical printing industry inputs to support American manufacturing, jobs and supply chain stability; and the desire for members of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 5133, or the “Patients’ Right To Know Their Medication Act,” a bipartisan bill introduced to require one-page standardized, FDA-approved printed patient medication information to accompany every prescription dispensed in outpatient settings.

In addition, Lisbeth Lyons Black, director of Women in Print Alliance, welcomed more than two dozen women to a breakfast and advocacy summit on the day before the congressional meetings.

Finally, attendees were provided with a role-playing session led by ACG Advocacy’s Julie Philp, senior partner, and Patrick Grant, strategic partner. They walked attendees through what a “good” meeting and a “bad” conversation would look like during the congressional meetings.

A Unique Industry Experience

When the day on Capitol Hill commenced, attendees joined small groups to meet with representatives from their home state or district. Attendees were given a fact sheet that illustrated the power and magnitude of the printing industry.

Cohen of ASI believes he and his industry partners and colleagues were successful in convincing legislators of the importance of print.

“It’s the third-largest U.S. manufacturing industry – by number of establishments – and works to impact nearly 8 million jobs in the country,” he explains. “I think they were surprised to learn about the sheer size and impact of the print and promotional products markets.”

When combined with the mailing industry, print is responsible for 7.9 million jobs and $1.9 trillion in annual revenue.

But the work doesn’t end there. Cohen added that he plans to follow up with the congressional and Senate staff throughout the year on these issues.

“The connections we are forging and the influence we are building will have lasting benefits for tens of thousands of companies we represent,” says Bowers. “This is advocacy in action, and it’s central to our mission.”

The Alliance is already planning next year’s Printing Industry Legislative Fly-In, taking place in spring 2027.