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Public Policy Advocacy

TECNA represents over 60 IT and technology trade organizations that, in turn, represent more than 22,000 technology-related companies in North America. TECNA empowers regional technology organizations and serves as their collective voice in helping grow the North American technology economy.

TECNA is dedicated to empowering and mobilizing the grassroots tech community to impact legislative and regulatory issues important to growth, innovation and job creation.

United States

TECNA’s membership is inclusive of nearly 50 U.S. technology trade councils/associations. Through their collective efforts, our U.S. members develop and implement a policy agenda that successfully supports their members.

To this end, TECNA seeks to promote:

AlexCurtis_200x200
U.S. Public Policy Chair

Alex Curtis
TECNA U.S. Public Policy Committee Chair
VP, Public Affairs & Communications, Nashville Technology Council

Canada

TECNA’s membership is inclusive of nearly 20 Canadian IT and technology related councils/associations. Through their collective efforts, our Canadian members develop and implement a policy agenda that successfully supports their members.

In so doing, our Canadian members support efforts to affect provincial policies that encourage Technology Based Economic Development (TBED), workforce development and STEM education.

Congressional Testimony

Jennifer G. Young, CEO of TECNA, was invited in 2021 to testify on behalf of TECNA before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship (Judiciary) at a hearing which occurred on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. ET titled, "Oh, Canada! How Outdated U.S. Immigration Policies Push Top Talent to Other Countries."

The hearing’s focus was centered on the United States’ antiquated highly skilled immigration policies (i.e. H1-B visas), and how the Unites States is losing these highly skilled workers to other countries and fast.

Watch the testimony below and click here to download the written testimony from Jennifer G. Young on behalf of TECNA.

R&D Amortization Webinar with Tri-Merit & TECNA

SECTION 174 CAPITALIZATION FOR R&D EXPENSING | WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS?Recent changes in the U.S. tax code eliminated the immediate deduction of R&D expenses and requires them to instead be amortized over 5 years. This has created uncertainty for companies' tax departments. Congress is currently considering provisions which will delay the new tax treatment, but what can companies do now to prepare for the possibility of Section 174 coming into effect?Watch a webinar recording of Barry Devine, Regional Director at Tri-Merit, and the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) as we dig into details of Section 174 capitalization to help you better understand how the new rules affect your business.

Committees

Interested in Advocacy and Policy? Join our US Policy Committee! 

Whether you want to raise your advocacy profile or just interested in learning more about the state(s) and national legislative landscapes, join us on our Policy Committee calls.  We meet on the third Monday of every month at 2:00pm.  For more information, please contact Lindsay Ries at Lries@tecna.org.

 

TECNA AI Advisory Committee  

Given these initiatives and the TECNA membership’s stated interest to be on the forefront of AI policy, we formed a TECNA AI Advisory Committee comprised of experts in Canada and the U.S. with a broad and interdisciplinary range of AI-relevant experience.

The purpose of the committee is to anticipate and discuss AI policy issues in North America as it relates to the innovation community and to provide recommendations and guidance on topics (e.g. AI competitiveness and AI workforce issues) to inform TECNA's AI Policy. If you or one of your members are interested in serving on the AI Advisory Committee, please contact Lindsay Ries at lries@tecna.org.

Strategic Advocacy Partner