USTMA Ambassadors brings industry leaders to Capitol Hill

Washington, DC – The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), representing tire manufacturers that produce tires in the U.S., hosted its annual Tire Manufacturing Ambassadors program from June 24–25, bringing industry leaders to Capitol Hill. The program provided an important opportunity to spotlight the critical role of the U.S. tire manufacturing sector and its impact on the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and national security.

“The U.S. tire manufacturing industry was a vibrant engine of innovation, enabling safe and sustainable mobility for consumers and businesses. Our industry was a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, supporting more than 800,000 jobs and keeping up with evolving consumer expectations on reliability, safety, and environmental impact,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO. “Our Ambassadors represented the manufacturing workers who power the industry every day, and we were honored by their advocacy for the tire manufacturing industry and the communities it supports.”

This year’s Ambassadors brought a strong range of industry expertise across USTMA’s 11 member companies, from engineering and business management to marketing. The ambassadors engaged with Members of Congress and their staff to advocate for policies that enhance road safety, support tire innovation, create and preserve domestic manufacturing jobs, and more. These policies included strengthening domestic manufacturing and job creation through tire retreading, and promoting tire safety through a congressional resolution in support of National Tire Safety Week. USTMA Ambassadors lived in the communities where they worked and brought valuable, personal perspectives on how industry-related legislation impacted their work and local economies.

USTMA had sent a letter to Congressional leadership in February, outlining the industry’s legislative priorities to support continued advances in tire safety and innovation, domestic job growth, consumer transparency, and infrastructure innovation. USTMA member companies operated 55 tire-related manufacturing facilities in 16 states. U.S. tire manufacturing had an annual economic footprint of $170.6 billion and was responsible for more than 291,000 U.S. jobs in manufacturing, distribution, and retailing. The industry also supported more than 510,000 additional U.S. jobs in supplier and induced activities.

This year’s event underscored USTMA’s support for American jobs, global competitiveness, and commitment to advancing industry priorities by fostering dialogue between policymakers and the people who were driving the tire manufacturing sector forward.