Nearly 100 IFPTE Members Attend 2025 IFPTE Legislative Conference

IFPTE members from across the United States travelled to Washington, DC this week to attend the Union’s annual legislative advocacy conference.  The conference included a Veterans Committee sponsored event at Arlington Cemetery on Sunday where IFPTE members Melvin Dwyer (Veteran, Local 195), Heather Thompson (Veteran, EA/Local 1937) and Matthew Joyce (SPEEA, Local 2001) jointly participated in a ceremony to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

On Monday, participants met to review all of the 2025 issue briefs, hear from various speakers, including Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R – PA 1) and Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly (D – VA 11) and discuss issues of particular interest to their Locals.  Tuesday say Federal Local participants participate in the Federal Caucus and the annual IFPTE Capitol Hill reception.  And the remainder of the week IFPTE members spanned Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and their staff. 

IFPTE President Matt Biggs said, “this year’s conference comes at a very pivotal time in our nation’s history, as we have an administration that is attacking IFPTE membership, particularly our federal members, on all fronts and, sadly, illegally – fortunately IFPTE’s members were here on Capitol Hill this week to inform their lawmakers of these attacks and implore them to exercise their oversight responsibilities of the executive branch.” 

Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson also weighed in, noting that, “while we are all laser focused on mitigating the damage coming from the administration while also pushing the other legislative concerns impacting IFPTE members, which there are many, the week-long conference was very productive and full of Solidarity among the Locals. 

This week’s conference and hill meetings are just the start of our yearlong efforts to push the legislative priorities of our members on Capitol Hill.” 

See conference pictures below.