Houston, Texas – (May 7, 2026) — The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), the leading global authority in materials protection and performance, will bring industry leaders to Washington, D.C., May 11–13, 2026, for Advocacy Days, engaging directly with lawmakers and federal agencies on policies that shape the future of U.S. infrastructure, energy reliability, and national security.
As Congress advances key legislation, including the PIPES Act, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), and the SHIPS for America Act, AMPP is focused on ensuring these investments deliver long-term performance through materials protection, standards, and workforce development.
“America is investing heavily in infrastructure, but without materials protection, those investments won’t last,” said AMPP CEO Alan Thomas. “Our role is to connect policy to real-world performance, ensuring that durability, safety, and workforce readiness are part of how these systems are built and maintained.”
Advocacy Days brings engineers, asset owners, coatings professionals, and technical experts to Capitol Hill to provide policymakers with practical insight into how corrosion prevention and materials performance impact infrastructure across sectors.
In the energy sector, discussions will focus on pipeline safety and the importance of execution in maintaining system integrity.
“Pipeline safety isn’t just about regulation; it’s about execution,” said Tim Gonzalez, Vice President of Energy Integrity Solutions at AMPP. “That execution depends on trained corrosion professionals, strong standards, and consistent oversight across millions of miles of infrastructure.”
Water infrastructure and civil works will be another priority, particularly as WRDA continues to guide federal investment in ports, dams, and waterways.
“WRDA recognizes the importance of corrosion prevention, but implementation is where real impact happens,” said Ernst Toussaint, Vice President of Civil Infrastructure at AMPP. “Ensuring long-term performance requires integrating standards and materials protection into how these projects are executed.”
In the maritime and defense sectors, AMPP will emphasize the connection between shipbuilding investment and fleet readiness.
“Shipbuilding capacity is critical, but fleet readiness depends on durability,” said Jennifer Merck, Vice President of Maritime and Defense at AMPP. “That durability comes from corrosion control, strong standards, and a skilled workforce that ensures ships and shipyard infrastructure perform over time.”
AMPP’s advocacy efforts are grounded in a unified message: infrastructure investment must account for long-term performance, not just initial construction. Corrosion and material degradation remain leading contributors to infrastructure deterioration, affecting safety, reliability, and lifecycle costs across sectors.
Throughout Advocacy Days, participants will meet with congressional offices, committee staff, and federal agencies to share industry expertise and reinforce the role of materials protection in policy implementation.
“These policies reflect the same sectors our members serve,” Thomas added. “AMPP expertise directly supports national priorities, from energy security to infrastructure resilience and defense readiness.”
To learn more about AMPP’s legislative agenda, visit Legislative Agenda - AMPP.
ABOUT AMPP
The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is a global leader dedicated to the protection of assets and the performance of industrial and natural materials. Established in 2021, AMPP brings together nearly 150 years of combined expertise from legacy organizations to advance solutions that enhance safety, security, and sustainability across industries. Serving more than 41,000 members in over 150 countries, AMPP is the largest organization of its kind, providing innovative standards, certifications, training, and resources. Headquartered in the United States with offices in Houston and Pittsburgh, AMPP also operates regional offices in Brazil, Canada, China, Dubai (training center), Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. www.ampp.org