Driving Federal Momentum: Highlights from AVIA’s 2025 Federal Advocacy Day
On May 20, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) hosted its most impactful Federal Advocacy Day to date—bringing AVIA members face-to-face with the leaders shaping the future of transportation policy in the United States. The day reflected not only the growing reach of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, but also the rising urgency to establish a strong, unified federal framework to support safe and scalable deployment.
A Seat at the Table with Policymakers
The week began with high-level meetings between AVIA member companies and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and senior officials at the U.S. Department of Transportation. These conversations focused on the opportunity to build on DOT’s recently announced AV Framework—and the critical role the Agency must play in setting national standards that support innovation while ensuring safety.
From there, AVIA members engaged directly with bipartisan members of Congress and key committee staff, emphasizing the importance of federal legislation that enables deployment, fosters public trust, and strengthens American competitiveness in the global AV race.
These discussions were guided by AVIA’s federal policy roadmap, which lays out clear recommendations for modernizing FMVSS, enhancing safety reporting, supporting domestic manufacturing, and ensuring equitable access to AV benefits.
Celebrating Congressional Leadership
The day culminated in an evening reception on Capitol Hill, where industry leaders and lawmakers gathered to celebrate progress and reaffirm a shared commitment to advancing AV technology responsibly.
At the event, AVIA proudly recognized two congressional leaders as 2025 AV Champions:
- Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), for his steadfast support of AV innovation and efforts to advance thoughtful, bipartisan policy solutions.
- Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ), for his leadership in championing smart AV regulation and recognizing the technology’s benefits for communities and supply chains across Arizona and beyond.
Their recognition reflects the broad, bipartisan support for AVs in Congress and the growing consensus that America must lead—not lag—on this transformative technology.
A Call to Action
AVIA’s Federal Advocacy Day made one message clear: the future of autonomous mobility must be supported by smart federal policy. As AVs continue to operate safely across the country, now is the time for national leadership that matches the pace of innovation.
We thank all AVIA members who participated, and we look forward to building on this momentum to drive meaningful policy progress in 2025.
Learn more about AVIA membership by emailing info@theavindustry.org.