After two weeks of recess, Congress reconvenes today for a seven week stretch of work that will run up until Memorial Day Weekend. The passage of health care reform legislation last month clears the top item from the Democrats agenda, opening up space for any number of initiatives.

This is also the time of year that Congress begins work on the federal budget and various appropriations bills. The budget sets broad, long term expectations for revenues and spending looking forward ten years and more. The appropriations bills set specific agency and program spending levels for Fiscal Year 2011 which begins October, 1, 2010. In the past, when Congress has not completed work on the 13 appropriations bill by then, it has been forced to pass a “continuing resolution” in order to keep the government open.

You can expect more partisan fireworks between now and September when Congress is scheduled to adjourn ahead of the November elections. The Supreme Court nomination process will take months and distract the Senate for much of the summer. Aside from the spending bills mentioned above, we are likely to see debate on financial regulatory bills, climate change legislation in the Senate, and maybe even an immigration reform bill.

And since this is an election year, Democrats will want to make points with their constituencies so we could see the Employee Free Choice Act come to the floor of the House and Senate.

But Congress doesn’t work in a vacuum. Your messages to Capitol Hill through ACCA’s Grassroots Action Center do make a difference. In the past year, ACCA members have sent thousands of messages to their elected leaders on health care, climate change, energy bills, card check, and other important bills.

Letters and email messages are a great way to get your point across but nothing beats a face to face meeting with your lawmaker. Attend next month’s ACCA Washington Action Days Fly In and you’ll have the chance to meet your Representatives and Senators and promote and protect the interests of HVACR contractors across the country.

ACCA makes it easy to make your voice heard on Capitol Hill. The two day event includes briefings on the relevant issues and a training session on how to be an effective “citizen lobbyist”, a private dinner and keynote address with Tucker Carlson of TheDailyCaller.com and Fox News, and remarks with various Congressional leaders from the House and Senate.

All participants will get a customized briefing book with information sheets for you to leave behind with your representatives. You don’t even have to schedule any meetings; we’ll take care of that for you once you register.

We’ve kept costs low this year – the $250 registration fee covers the dinner with Tucker Carlsonl, the breakfast briefing with Capitol Hill leaders, transportation to an from Capitol Hill and all your briefing books. And we negotiated a great rate at the Liaison, just a few blocks from the Capitol Building and all the Congressional offices. Just ask for the HARDI/ACCA room block.