The Real Work is Done in Committees
By Seth Maiman
While working in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress, people often asked me for some insight into what really happens. Even people who read or watch the news wanted to know where important decisions are actually made. Often, my response was, “People don’t always realize that the devil is in the details and that the real work is done in committees.”
In any legislative body, bills are introduced and then assigned for consideration to the committee of jurisdiction. That committee then reviews, discusses, debates and amends the bill. The fate of the legislation depends on the committee’s decision. They could approve it and send it to the floor for consideration or kill it right there in committee. A committee’s decision sometimes predetermines the floor vote because congresspeople defer to the group’s expertise and insights.
Legislators who serve on committees become experts in the subject matters under the committee’s jurisdiction. Leadership usually assigns legislators to committees where they have a previous substantive background on the issues involved or where the issues particularly affect the legislators’ constituents. Committees are much smaller than the whole body, so members tend to form more individual relationships and perform their tasks in a more bipartisan manner.
The same applies to any organization, especially nonprofit organizations such as the Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC). The president, executive committee and board make the final decisions, but the committees perform the detailed work. AGSC members serve on committees they’re particularly interested in or knowledgeable about. Some committees, such as the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS) Standards Committee, are open to non-AGSC Members. This complies with the American National Standards Institute’s process for a broad-based membership of relevant stakeholders in adopting and amending the AGRSS Standard.
Since I started with AGSC, I have worked closely with the Public Affairs Committee. This Committee reviews legislation nationwide and helps determine what position, if any, the AGSC might take on a bill. The committee helps guide the use of AGSC resources and expertise in the public policy arena.
The Public Affairs Committee includes auto glass experts and representatives of companies large and small from many regions. The committee members are well-versed in the implementation of the AGRSS Standard. They also understand how law and policies affect an auto glass business’s daily work.
My role is to assist the committee members by providing details, background and the nuances of the legislative and public policy processes. Committee members already have the requisite technical and business expertise. Trust me, I have learned much more from them than they have learned from me.
Josh Schwermer of Utah currently serves as chair of the committee after participating for several years as an extraordinarily valuable committee member. When the previous chair retired from the auto glass business, Schwermer was a logical choice to lead the committee.
The Committee meets in person at the AGSC Winter Meetings and at Auto Glass Week™. It also gathers by teleconference or video conference two to four other times a year. An occasional emergency meeting is necessitated by the legislative calendar or other events.
Mr. Schwermer is working to expand committee membership to bring additional expertise and ideas to the process and to broaden the committee’s geographical base. Since most of the legislation affecting auto glass safety is at the state level, it is essential to have committee members representing as many regions and states as possible. AGSC welcomes your participation.
Seth Maiman is the director of public affairs for the Auto Glass Safety Council.
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