BANNOCKBURN, IL -- Some 29 representatives of US-based companies converged on Washington earlier this month, intent on explaining the circuit board fabrication and assembly industry to their legislators.

The companies visited 70 Congressional offices, advocating legislation on behalf of the North American electronic interconnect industry during the June 9-10 event, which was organized by IPC.

Major topics included enactment of a permanent R&D tax credit, opposing the Employee Free Choice Act, and enacting legislation requiring a Defense Industrial Base Assessment of the printed board industry and its supply chain. The latter would provide a comprehensive overview of the US printed board industry, including recommendations for ways to strengthen the DoD's domestic supply base.