Trade Associations & Lobbying

Trade Associations

Like many companies, Emerson participates in industry trade organizations to enhance our industry's public image, promote best practices and standards, and improve products and technologies. While we generally support the goals of these organizations, they may also engage in legislative activity and we do not necessarily support all of their lobbying efforts or political goals. We pay dues or make contributions to these organizations which are not necessarily related to their lobbying efforts. The Emerson Board of Directors periodically reviews major contributions and a listing of trade association memberships as part of the Environment, Social and Governance report review process.

Find a list of Emerson’s primary trade associations here.

Lobbying

Emerson’s shareholders, employees, and customers are keenly affected by public policies at all levels of government. To protect shareholder value, Emerson maintains a small office in Washington, D.C. to engage with public officials at all levels of government to educate them on our company’s operations, emerging technologies and markets. This office also follows and, when necessary, seeks to influence public policy decisions that impact the company and its shareholders.

These activities are governed and regulated by federal and state laws. With the help of knowledgeable employees throughout the company, Emerson’s government affairs team identifies and follows issues of importance to Emerson’s continued well-being. When those issues lend themselves to public policy solutions at the federal level, Emerson’s government affairs team sometimes reaches out to policymakers on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch to raise awareness and educate them as to potential effects of policies under consideration. Under federal law, that process is considered “direct lobbying.” Sometimes, rather than reaching out directly to policymakers, Emerson engages with policymakers on issues through one or more trade associations to which Emerson belongs and who share our concerns and interests. That is considered “indirect lobbying.” Emerson engages in both direct and indirect lobbying. Emerson does not engage in “grassroots” lobbying. All decisions about which government policies Emerson seeks to shape are based upon what is in the best interests of our industry, our company, our employees and, most importantly, our shareholders.

Emerson’s federal lobbying activity is reported in our Lobbying Disclosure Act filings, which are publicly available at two websites: