ST. LOUIS — The Equipment Dealers Assn. (EDA) presented its second annual Legislative Leadership Award to Congressman Jason Smith of Missouri in Washington D.C. as part of a joint legislative fly-in hosted by EDA and Associated Equipment Distributors (AED). The Fly-In ran from March 20-22 and was attended by nearly 100 agriculture and construction equipment dealers from around the country.

One of the EDA’s core functions is advocacy for federal legislation which positively impacts the way equipment dealers and their customers do business. In recognition of the important role that our legislators play in promoting and protecting our members’ interests, EDA established the Legislative Leadership Award and is proud to present this award to Mr. Smith.

Smith operates a 4th generation farm in Salem, Missouri and received a degree in Ag Economics before attending law school. Smith’s dissatisfaction with government overreach and its negative impact on the U.S. economy prompted him to run for office. Smith was first elected to the Missouri General Assembly in 2005 and was elected to the House of Representatives in 2013.

Congressman Smith is an advocate for tax reform, education and rural development. He voted “Yes” for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and championed an exemption for EDA members from a harmful “cap” on business interest deductions. Furthermore, he authored the Upward Mobility and Enhancement Act in 2017 that will help working students afford their college tuition. “This act allows an employer to offer up to $11,500 of tax-free assistance to their employees,” says Smith. “This means students entering the workforce are able to earn money while getting a portion of their tuition covered by their employer.” This bill and Smith’s efforts fall in line with one of EDA’s most pressing agenda items, Workforce Development.

“We are privileged to present Congressman Jason Smith with the Equipment Dealers Association Legislative Leadership Award during the Fly-In,” said Kim Rominger, President and CEO of the EDA. “The purpose of this award is to recognize leaders in Washington who promote legislation that benefits our industry and advances EDA’s mission of building the best business environment for equipment dealers. Congressman Smith is the epitome of an advocate for agriculture and we thank him for his efforts.”

Additional information about Congressman Smith and EDA’s Legislative Leadership Award is available here.