Making the Playoffs! If I were to bet (typically I don’t) and NIA was a sports team, I would say that we would be making the playoffs this year. With each opportunity we are running the best play we can. Leadoff batter on base When we were called up to the plate we answered! We are not just gaining recognition anymore, but are leading Capitol Hill Briefings. See page 8 for details on the High-Performance Building Caucus briefing on “Advancing the Building Industry.” During this briefing, several high-level speakers touted mechanical insulation as an energy saving technology that needs to be included when revising building codes. Another Successful Inning Just like hitting can be contagious, we stepped up and answered the call again by testifying at a Congressional hearing. The hearing was on the effectiveness of Energy Service Performance Contracts, held jointly by the Subcommittees on Energy and Oversight, of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Chairman Paul Broun (R-GA) asked us to provide testimony on behalf of mechanical insulation. We successfully showcased mechanical insulation and the benefits of its increased use. See page 9 for more details on this hearing. It Takes a Team to Win the Game We have excellent players, but some still need to step up to the plate. More than 600 NIA member constituent letters have reached Congress asking them to support H.R. 184 and the High-Performance Building Caucus. While this is a great many letters, they were generated by only 26 companies. We need all of you to write letters if you want to change the way Congress thinks. Go to NIA’s website, www.insulation.org, for instructions on how to write to your Congressional Representative. Bases Loaded Our luck continued with some favorable language in the Farm bill. Congressman Michael Grimm (R-NY), also the sponsor of H.R. 184, has successfully included language in this agriculture bill that stipulates mechanical insulation assessments for all United States Department of Agriculture buildings. Turn to page 10 for more details on the Farm Bill. This bill is very close to being passed—very similar to having bases loaded with one out—the odds are definitely in our favor to score. Stay tuned and cheer us on as we hope to keep our offense going and finish on top with a big win in D.C.! Regards, Michele M. Jones Executive Vice President/Chief Executive Officer