WASHINGTON, DC — The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), also known as the Construction Alliance, held its annual National Issues Conference here in Washington April 30 to May 2.

The group said attendance this year reached 300, up 20% from last year’s conference. Alliance participants took policy and position papers to more than 200 office visits with lawmakers and key staff.

MCAA president Smitty Belcher, president-elect Robert Fitzgerald, vice president-assistant treasurer Anthony Marandola, and Government Relations Committee chairman Lonnie Coleman led MCAA’s delegates in meetings with Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, who sits on the Senate Banking and Labor Committees; Louisiana Rep. Jim McCrery, a member of the House Appropriations Committee; and Rhode Island Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee.