Who Actually Makes the Rules? Understanding the Advocacy Process

When a new law, regulation or standard could affect your fabrication shop, you may hear a lot of different names thrown around: Congress. OSHA. A state legislature. A regulatory agency. A standards board. Local officials.

But who actually makes the rules? And where does ISFA — and your shop — fit into that process?

Understanding the answer is an important part of understanding advocacy.

Because advocacy isn't just reacting after a new rule takes effect. It's about making sure the people who understand the work have a voice while decisions are being made.

First: Laws and Regulations Aren't the Same Thing

One of the most important distinctions is between laws and regulations.

Generally, elected legislative bodies — such as Congress or state legislatures — pass laws. Those laws can give government agencies the authority and responsibility to develop more detailed regulations explaining how those laws will be implemented or enforced.

That means an issue affecting your shop might involve lawmakers, regulatory agencies, state or local officials — or several of them at different points in the process. Knowing who has the authority to make a particular decision helps determine where advocacy needs to happen.

So, Where Does Advocacy Come In?

Advocacy can happen throughout the process. 

1. It might mean educating a policymaker about how fabrication actually works.

2. It might mean providing research or data to a regulatory agency.

3. It could involve filing public comments, attending hearings, meeting with regulators, building coalitions or proposing a different solution to a problem.

That's why ISFA makes an important distinction between advocacy and lobbying.

Advocacy is the broader work of making the case for fabricators.

Lobbying is one specific tool within advocacy that involves communicating with lawmakers and certain government officials about particular legislation or rules.

Most of ISFA's day-to-day work — education, research, public comments, regulator engagement, coalition-building and telling the industry's story — is advocacy. And it starts long before someone walks into a government office.

The Process Starts With the Shop

ISFA's advocacy model begins with one principle:

Fabricators decide what ISFA fights for as we are YOUR association.

A concern on the shop floor shouldn't automatically become an ISFA position. Instead, there is a process for turning an industry concern into a documented position. It starts with fabrication shops raising issues and sharing what is happening in the real world.

Those issues can then move through the American Countertop Manufacturers Council (ACMC), the industry's consensus body. As we discussed in last week's article, ACMC provides a structured process for reviewing issues, gathering industry comments and voting on positions.

Once an industry position has been established, ISFA carries that position forward through advocacy.

Depending on the issue, specialized experts — including ISFA's federal lobbying firm — may help navigate the government process.

Ultimately, that position reaches the lawmakers, agencies, standards bodies or other decision-makers with authority over the issue.

In simple terms:

Fabrication Shops → ACMC → ISFA → Decision-Makers

That's how an issue from the shop floor can make its way into the rooms where rules are being discussed.

Who Are the Decision-Makers?

There isn't one single answer.

ISFA's advocacy work can involve many different levels of government and different types of organizations depending on the issue.

1. Congress and state legislatures may consider legislation affecting businesses, workers, trade or the industry.

2. Regulatory agencies, including OSHA, Cal/OSHA and other state agencies, may develop, implement and enforce workplace requirements.

3. State and local governments may consider requirements that directly affect businesses operating within their jurisdictions.

4. Standards bodies can influence testing, documentation and standards affecting materials and products.

Other federal entities can affect areas such as trade and tariffs.

That's why effective advocacy starts by asking:

Who actually has the authority to address this issue?

Then we determine how the industry can appropriately participate in that process.

Advocacy Is More Than Saying "We Agree" or "We Disagree"

Good advocacy isn't simply opposition or support. Sometimes the most valuable thing the countertop and surface fabrication industry can provide is context.

1. What does this proposal look like inside an actual shop?

2. How is the work performed?

3. What equipment is being used?

4. What safety controls already exist?

5. What data is available?

6. Could a proposed requirement create unintended consequences?

7. Is there another way to accomplish the same objective?

Those are questions fabricators are uniquely qualified to help answer.

Policymakers and regulators understand policy and regulation.

Fabricators understand fabrication.

Effective advocacy helps bring those worlds together.

Why Your Experience Matters

You don't have to work in Washington or understand every part of the regulatory process to participate in advocacy.

Your experience running or working in a fabrication shop is valuable information.

When ISFA asks members and other fabricators for feedback, shop information, examples or data, there is a reason.

Saying, "This proposal will affect small businesses" provides one level of information.

Being able to explain how it would affect staffing, equipment, workflow, costs, safety practices or employees gives decision-makers something much more concrete to understand.

That's how the industry's real-world experience becomes part of the advocacy process.

Nonpartisan. On Purpose.

There's another important part of ISFA's approach to advocacy: the work isn't built around a political party.

The issues affecting fabrication shops don't belong exclusively to Republicans, Democrats or any other political group. Worker health, business viability, trade, material standards and workable regulations affect shops regardless of who holds office. That's why ISFA's positions begin with fabricator consensus, not a party platform.

The goal is to bring the same facts, the same industry position and the same practical solutions to anyone willing to work on the issue.

Your Industry. Your Voice.

Advocacy can sound complicated because government can be complicated.

But ISFA's model is intentionally straightforward.

Shops raise the issues.

Fabricators build the position through ACMC.

ISFA carries that position forward.

Decision-makers hear directly from the industry their decisions will affect.

The rules affecting countertop and surface fabrication are going to be discussed with or without us.

Our job is to make sure fabricators have a seat at the table when they are.

Because having a voice isn't simply about speaking louder.

It's about knowing when to speak, who needs to hear it and bringing information worth listening to.

That's advocacy.