ASME International's government relations program is directed at affecting the outcome of issues identified by members as important to the practice of mechanical engineering in the public interest. Under the direction of the Board on Government Relations, the program is conducted through a framework of activities aimed at identifying policies and issues; informing the ASME membership; involving society members through a variety of programs for individuals and groups; preparing and presenting position statements, testimony, and technical briefs; and holding meetings with policymakers.

Policies and Issues 
Topics of interest to ASME International include energy, research and development, education, standards and environment. The Society prioritizes specific issues at the federal level to be addressed and publishes them in the Public Policy Agenda of ASME.

Government Relations Information
Information about federal bills, legislation, and regulations is available from the Washington Office.  Highlights of policy actions are published in the weekly e-newsletter, Capitol Update and monthly "Washington Hotline" column of ASME News. Board on Government Relations members and staff update other ASME International groups on relevant actions and opportunities at annual meetings and other special events.

Member Involvement
ASME International members have many opportunities to participate in the Society's government relations activities. Divisions, Sections, and Regional operating boards have government relations chairs to guide and coordinate activities.

Individual members of the Society have the opportunity to compete for federal government relations fellowships. Each year, members are selected to serve for one year on the professional staff of a U.S. senator or representative, a congressional committee, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Conference of State Legislatures, or a state legislative/executive science, engineering and technology office.

The Washington Visitation Program provides support for members to travel to Washington, D.C., to research and prepare position statements and to give ASME testimony before congressional committees.  Town Hall Meetings provide ASME members with a unique opportunity to interact directly with their members of Congress and state legislators, to discuss public policy issues relevant to engineering, science and technology.

Government Relations' volunteers and staff also provide issue briefings and training sessions at Section and Regional meetings, the Technology Executives Conference, and technical conferences.

Communicating ASME Positions
Groups, within ASME International, frequently communicate their views on public policy issues through written statements. ASME Policy P-15.1 sets out the procedures for approval and release of ASME position statements.

Position statements can be presented to policymakers orally and in writing. About a third are presented as testimony. Statements calling on the government to initiate action (rather than responding to a proposal already introduced) are often presented in personal meetings between Society leaders and legislators or government officials with jurisdiction over the issue. Monthly updates of the index of ASME International statements and general position papers are available upon request.

At crucial junctures in the legislative process, Washington Alerts are sent to inform Society members of timely opportunities to communicate the Society's views to their own elected Representatives.

For more information regarding this web page, contact ASME Government Relations at grdept@asme.org.