The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), the public policy voice of the US business and professional events industry, has congratulated the winners of the 2026 midterm elections.
“On behalf of the entire industry, congratulations to the newly elected and reelected members of Congress,” said Fernando Fischer, chair of the ECA Board of Directors. “We look forward to working with members of both parties to advance policies that strengthen our collective ability to support US small businesses, entrepreneurs, mission-driven organisations, and communities alike.”
Across the country, the business and professional events industry employs 2.6m Americans and drives more than $400bn in direct spending annually.
While ECA looks forward to working with the 120th Congress in 2027, it noted the upcoming lame-duck session of Congress presents lawmakers an immediate opportunity to support the industry.
ECA is urging Congress to take immediate action to permanently block proposed changes to federal grant rules from the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB). ECA said OMB’s proposal includes restrictions on conference attendance and changes to event security protocols that would significantly harm events and the venues that host them nationwide. The current stopgap federal spending bill restricts OMB from finalising its proposed changes, but that protection expires 11 December.
“Congress doesn’t have to wait until January to make a real difference for our industry,” said Tommy Goodwin, ECA’s president and CEO. “OMB’s proposed changes are creating unnecessary uncertainty as event organisers, planners, exhibitors, venues, and attendees get ready for 2027. When Congress returns to Washington, D.C., it should protect conference access and safeguard venue security by putting a stop to this misguided proposal once and for all.”
