Decisions made in Washington affect the print industry every day—whether it’s workforce policy, supply chains, trade, or sustainability.

The challenge is that print isn’t always top of mind when those decisions are being made. It’s not that print isn’t important – it’s an essential industry, as we know. Yet, because print is often the silent partner powering other verticals – food & beverage, hospitality, financial services, for example – to the economic forefront, it’s easy for Congress to overlook it.

Fortunately, we have an effective way to ensure our industry stays visible on Capitol Hill through something called the Congressional Printing Caucus. If you’re not familiar with it, you’re not alone – but it plays an important role behind the scenes in helping lawmakers better understand the scope and impact of print.

The idea is straightforward: a group of Members of Congress who have raised their hand to learn more about the printing industry and, crucially, committed to spreading that knowledge among their lawmaker peers. In essence, they become your industry’s ambassadors inside the US House of Representatives.

And right now, the caucus represents one of our biggest opportunities to punch up print’s influence on Capitol Hill.

As the professional lobbyist representing PRINTING United Alliance before Congress and the White House, here’s what I’d love for you to know about the Congressional Printing Caucus:

  • It’s how print stays on the radar in a crowded policy environment. In Washington, attention is limited. The Congressional Print Caucus helps ensure that print isn’t an afterthought by creating a group of lawmakers who are actively learning about- and talking about – the industry’s economic and societal relevance.
  • It turns awareness into advocacy inside Congress. Members of the caucus don’t just understand print—they help champion it. That means the industry already has a roster primed to go to bat to support legislation that advances print – or stand up to ask questions and hit the pause button when a policy may be detrimental to print’s future.
  • It only grows—and works—when industry professionals engage. Members of Congress join caucuses because their constituents ask them to.  Conversations during fly-ins, facility tours, and building constituent relationships back home in the district are what ultimately drives a lawmaker to join the caucus.
  • It’s an opportunity to showcase the full, modern workforce—including women in print. Showing that women are thriving in print and manufacturing helps reinforce that this is a dynamic, inclusive field. That visibility matters, especially when policymakers are considering workforce development initiatives and how to attract the next generation of talent.

Yet, at the end of the day, the Congressional Printing Caucus is only as strong as the number of Members who choose to be part of it. And that matters – because the more voices we have amplifying print inside Congress, the harder it is for the industry to be overlooked.

How do we create this momentum? We actively invite our US Representatives into the conversation.

That’s where you come in. One of the most impactful – and easiest – grassroots advocacy actions you can take is to invite your lawmaker to join the Congressional Printing Caucus. This simple ask can make a big difference – and grow the reputation of print as the innovative, economically vital industry we know it is.

Ready to take action and invite your US Representative to join the Congressional Printing Caucus? Utilize PRINTING United Alliance’s online legislative action center to locate your lawmaker, access contact information, and make your ask via email or phone today.