The Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT) is proud to report that representatives from the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers and HFIAW business managers from Local Unions across the country, made their voices heard at the 2026 North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Legislative Conference, advocating directly with U.S. Senators and staff in support of the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act (FMIA), Senate Bill 4312.
Representatives from the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers scheduled more than 30 meetings with U.S. Senators during the conference, including delegations from the following Local Unions:
- Local 5, Los Angeles
- Local 7, Seattle/Anchorage
- Local 12, New York
- Local 19, Milwaukee
- Local 27, Kansas City, Mo.
- Local 32, Newark, N.J.
- Local 33, Wallingford, Conn.
- Local 76, Albuquerque, N.M.
- Local 91, White Plains, N.Y.
- Local 127, Clintonville, Wisc.
Delegates engaged directly with the following Senators or Senate staff members to urge passage of S. 4312:
- Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)
- Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)
- Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)
- Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)
- Andy Kim (D-N.J.)
- Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
- John Curtis (R-Utah)
- Patty Murray (D-Wash.)
- Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.)
- Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.)
- Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)
- Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)
- Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
- Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)
- Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.)
- Mike Lee (R-Utah)
- Dan Sullivan (R-Ala.)
- Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
- Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)
- Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.)
- John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.)
Senate Companion Bill Introduced
In the days leading up to the NABTU Conference, U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced S. 4312, a bipartisan Senate companion bill to House Resolution 3474, which is currently on the House suspension calendar awaiting a final vote.
If passed, the FMIA would mandate the inclusion of mechanical insulation in the energy audits conducted every four years for all federal buildings under Section 432 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). Currently, mechanical insulation – materials used to insulate mechanical systems and piping – is not part of these mandatory audits, despite the significant energy savings and emissions reductions it delivers.
If approved, the FMIA would:
- Define “Mechanical Insulation property” as materials, facings and accessory products that are part of a mechanical system and reduce energy loss, meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements of ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
- Expand the definition of “energy and water evaluations” to include identification of energy- and water-saving measures, including installation of Mechanical Insulation property where applicable.
The Power of Local Voices
Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators LMCT, expressed appreciation for the Local Union representatives who traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with their Senators.
“The most significant influence comes from the firsthand testimony of local constituents and business leaders,” Ielmini said. “Their contributions are invaluable in advancing the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act.”
Ielmini also commended the bipartisan Senate sponsors for their leadership on the legislation.
“On behalf of the broad coalition of business interests and labor unions supporting the Mechanical Insulation industry, we applaud Sens. Cortez Masto and Daines for their bi-partisan leadership on this important legislation,” Ielmini said. “The FMIA will advance energy efficiencies in federally owned buildings, saving American tax dollars and supporting good-paying jobs with benefits across the country. We look forward to working with the Senators and all interested parties to move this commonsense legislation forward and deliver financial and energy savings to the American taxpayer.”
Why Mechanical Insulation Matters
The federal government is the single largest energy consumer in the United States, consuming more than 344 trillion BTUs of energy in Fiscal Year 2021 alone, according to the Government Accountability Office. Federal agencies are already required by statute to conduct energy and water use audits every four years — but mechanical insulation is not currently included in that assessment.
Properly installed mechanical insulation helps ensure that HVAC systems, boilers and other critical equipment operate at peak efficiency, resulting in reduced energy consumption, lower costs for taxpayers and fewer emissions.
Nearly all mechanical insulation is produced domestically, making the FMIA a win for American workers and American energy policy alike.
With HR-3474 awaiting a vote in the House and S. 4312 now in the Senate, the legislation is well-positioned to deliver meaningful benefits to the Mechanical Insulation industry and the American public.