In an effort to counter intellectual property (IP) theft, President Obama signed into law a SEMA-supported bill that enables businesses to protect their trade secrets using federal law. Prior to the enactment of the Defend Trade Secrets Act, the only mechanism for companies to enforce valuable trade secret rights was through civil actions under state law. The absence of a uniform federal standard forced companies to navigate a patchwork of different state laws and courts to bring actions against entities that had stolen or otherwise misappropriated their proprietary trade secret information.

If you ask average Americans what they love about auto racing, you’ll find a striking similarity in the responses: speed, teamwork and passion. Since the invention of the automobile, Americans have been converting their street vehicles into race cars. Powered by this passion, most professional motorsports leagues, including NASCAR, were founded on that concept. More than a century later, the very core of this tradition is under attack.

In Washington, D.C., and state capitols across the country, it’s all about who you know. Strength is often measured by the size of your Rolodex, especially when seeking to advocate on behalf of the American automotive specialty-equipment industry. Through a variety of programs initiated over the years, the industry has connected with some of the most important contacts: politicians.

SEMA-member companies recently made connections with their elected representatives. As a result of a visit to air-conditioning manufacturer Vintage Air last summer, U.S. Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) agreed to co-sponsor the Low Volume Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015. Vintage Air executives Jack Chisenhall and Rick Love were able to catch up with Rep. Smith in San Antonio to say thank you.