Hey, U.S. House Members, You've Got Mail
by Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Coordinator Dec 11, 2023

What is a "Dear Colleague" letter, and why should you care? Named for their opening salutation, "Dear Colleague" letters are official correspondence widely distributed to congressional offices. Members, committees, and officers of the House of Representatives often use "Dear Colleague" letters to encourage their colleagues to support, cosponsor, or to oppose a bill or an issue. They can also be used to invite members to join a Congressional Member Organization (CMO or caucus).

Right now, PRINTING United Alliance is fortunate to have dedicated champions in Congress who lead our cause. Our champions are currently circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter in the House led by Representatives Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Jared Golden (D-ME), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Mark Pocan (D-WI). The letter is an invitation to join the first-of-its-kind Congressional Printing Caucus. Here is the invitation that is circulating in the lower chamber:

Dear Colleague:

We are delighted to invite you to join the bipartisan Printing Caucus in the 118th Congress. The Caucus was recently established to highlight the unique contributions and significance of the U.S. printing industry to our economy, as well as to facilitate discussions concerning the influence of federal policies on this crucial sector.

From publishing and packaging to marketing materials and educational resources, the printing industry serves as a cornerstone of our economy, enabling the dissemination of information and ideas across the nation. It underpins the success of countless sectors, including education, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, sports marketing, and more. The intricate network of businesses within the printing sector collaborates to produce essential materials that drive economic growth and facilitate efficient communication. 

The Caucus will highlight the importance of the printing industry in our nation’s capital and encourage constructive dialogues about the distinctive impacts that government policies can have on the diverse communities within the sector. Through informative discussions, we can collectively shape policies that foster growth, innovation, and sustained success for our nation’s printers and the vast array of industries they support. In 2021, the U.S. Census reported that commercial printing and its related support activities employed over 350,000 people, with 22,580 establishments generating nearly $78 billion in combined sales.

We hope that you will join us as a member of the Printing Caucus.

Sincerely,

Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Member of Congress

Jared Golden
Member of Congress

Claudia Tenney 
Member of Congress

Mark Pocan
Member of Congress

The Alliance thanks the four co-chairs for encouraging their colleagues to join the bipartisan Printing Caucus. We look forward to working with a robust group focused on promoting and protecting the printing industry in 2024. 

In this article, Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Coordinator, PRINTING United Alliance, addresses the "Dear Colleague" letter and growing the Congressional Printing Caucus. More information can be found at Business Excellence-Legislation or reach out to Steph should you have additional questions specific to how these issues may affect your business: sbuka@printing.org.

To become a member of the Alliance and learn more about how our subject matter experts can assist your company with services and resources such as those mentioned in this article, please contact the Alliance membership team: 888-385-3588 / membership@printing.org.


Advocacy Business Congressional Updates
Stephanie Buka Government Affairs Coordinator
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Stephanie Buka is the Government Affairs Coordinator for PRINTING United Alliance. In this role, she supports Ford Bowers, CEO, the Government Affairs team, and coordinates efforts with lobbying firm, ACG Advocacy. She manages all aspects of grassroots advocacy campaigns, including facilitating timely call-to-action alerts and updates to The Advocacy Center on key federal and state legislative issues. As a member of the Office of Corporate Communications, Buka manages the content and audience building responsibilities for the Government Affairs team. She is also responsible for the administration of the Alliance's political action committee, PrintPAC.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Buka served as a senior legislative researcher, and later as a constituent services coordinator, for the 15-member legislative body representing 1.3 million residents of Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition to drafting legislation and addressing constituent concerns, Buka cultivated strong relationships with appointed and elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels of government.

Buka holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). She also earned a master's degree in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, along with a Certificate in Forensic Science and Law from Duquesne University.

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