ICSC Members Gather in Washington, DC for 35th Annual Federal Fly-In

More than 125 ICSC members and guests gathered in Washington, DC for the 35th annual Federal Fly-In on April 20-22. During the event, members from 29 states met with 149 Congressional offices.

Prior to Hill meetings, members attended briefings on top ICSC issues, including Organized Retail Crime, Adaptive Reuse/Federal Redevelopment Incentives and Terrorism Risk Insurance.

The meeting also featured a “State of the Industry” briefing by ICSC President and CEO Tom McGee and a “fireside chat” with award winning journalist John Harwood, former White House correspondent for CNN.

During the three-day event, ICSC’s Government Relations Chairs, the ICSC PAC Management Committee and the Economic and Environmental Committees also held sessions to share information about ongoing and emerging issues.

Ed Eickhoff (Agree Realty Corp.), who serves as vice chair of the ICSC PAC, met with the offices of Representatives Tom Barrett (R-MI-7), John James (R-MI-10), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Rashia Tlaib (D-MI-12), and Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

“The meetings this year went very well. The staff understood and appreciated our main issues of Organized Retail Crime, renewal of Terrorism Risk Insurance and providing meaningful legislation to promote redevelopment of older, underutilized commercial properties into new housing,” Eickhoff said. “Telling our real-life stories as constituents is what moves the needle.”

ICSC Environmental Committee Chair Larry Falbe (Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone, PLC) met with the offices of Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Gary Palmer (R-AL-06), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Darren Soto (D-FL-09) and Greg Landsman (D-OH-1).

“The Federal Fly-In continues to be an amazing event, which combines industry updates and great professional networking with the chance to meet directly with elected representatives and their staff,” Falbe said. “Such direct discourse is a terrific opportunity to promote our industry and shape policy, as well as get the inside glimpse into how critical decisions are made at the highest levels of government. I highly recommend the annual Fly-In to all ICSC members, especially those who have not yet attended.”

Other Fly-In activities included an ICSC PAC reception, which was attended by Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA-6), Lou Correa (D-CA-46), Blake Moore (R-UT-1), Linda Sanchez (D-CA-39), Darren Soto (D-FL-9), Bryan Steil (R-WI-1), William Timmons (R-SC-4), Marc Veasey (D-TX-33) and Tony Weid (R-WI-08).

“There is no substitute for industry practitioners visiting Washington to share their first-hand experiences with members of Congress,” ICSC Executive Vice President, Public Policy, Moutray McLaren said. “When our members bring an issue to their representatives, it transforms the issue from an ‘industry issue’ to something that impacts the very communities elected officials represent. And I’m glad to say that still matters in Washington.”

Next year’s Federal Fly-In will be held on April 5-7, 2027, in Washington, DC.