GOVERNMENT Inside The Beltway By OABA’s Government Relations Team
OABA Highlights Two Legislative Champions Delivering Bipartisan Support for the Mobile Entertainment Industry
I
n an increasingly divided political climate, true bi- partisan cooperation can feel rare. Yet the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA) is proud to
recognize two members of Congress, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), whose commitment to the mobile entertainment industry demonstrates that meaningful, cross-party solutions are still possible. These lawmakers come from opposite ends of the political
spectrum. Rep. Lofgren, a senior California Democrat repre- senting the Silicon Valley area since 1995, is widely respected for her deep expertise in immigration policy, her steady leader- ship on the House Judiciary Committee, and her long-standing interest in practical, employment-based reforms. Rep. Edwards, elected in 2022 to represent North Carolina’s
11th District, brings the perspective of a businessman and for- mer state legislator who built his career on supporting small enterprises and rural communities. Today, he serves on the influential House Appropriations Committee, giving him a key role in shaping federal funding and policy direction. Despite their ideological differences and vastly different
constituencies, both lawmakers have emerged as essential champions for America’s mobile entertainment operators and the workforce solutions required to sustain fairs, festivals, and family events nationwide.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren: Lead Sponsor of the Carnivals Are Real Entertainment (CARE) Act As the lead sponsor of the
CARE Act (H.R. 2729), Rep. Lofgren has been the primary congressional advocate for es- tablishing a permanent, work- able P-visa solution for the mobile entertainment industry.
With decades of experience shaping immigration law, she un- derstands how outdated visa categories create unnecessary barriers for specialized, seasonal industries like ours. Her leadership has helped elevate the P-visa issue beyond
stereotypes and misconceptions, framing it accurately as a policy challenge affecting small businesses that deliver eco- nomic opportunity, cultural value, and generational traditions at fairs and festivals across the country.
PROFESSIONAL AUCTIONEERS P.O. Box 279 • Coldwater, MI 49036
www.
dan@spiethandsatow.com
517-279-9063
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Rep. Chuck Edwards: Advancing Workforce Solutions Through Appropriations Rep. Edwards has champi-
oned a complementary strate- gy. Drawing on his background as the owner of multiple small businesses and his service in the North Carolina Senate, he has consistently emphasized the importance of predictable,
legal, seasonal labor for industries operating in rural America. On the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Edwards has
worked to advance P-visa reforms through the federal funding process. His efforts help ensure that the needs of the mobile entertainment sector remain visible and prioritized even when Congress struggles to advance broader immigration legisla- tion. By pushing for P-visa clarity in must-pass spending bills, he has become a critical voice driving momentum behind the industry’s workforce needs.
Bipartisan Support Reflects OABA’s Approach While working two separate legislative paths, the efforts of
Rep. Lofgren and Rep. Edwards underscore a central truth about OABA’s legislative priorities: they are not Republican priorities or Democratic priorities, they are bipartisan, indus- try-driven priorities grounded in the real operational needs of mobile entertainment businesses.
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