Case Study 03 | Legislative Rollout
Client: The SAF Coalition
Campaign: Securing America's Fuels Act — Federal Legislative Communications
Focus: Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Policy Advocacy
The Goal
Support the introduction and advancement of the Securing America's Fuels (SAF) Act in both chambers of Congress, in an effort to build public momentum, generate earned media, and activate coalition members to directly engage with House and Senate offices. The campaign required a coordinated, phased communications strategy that moved in lockstep with the legislative process across both chambers.
The Work
The campaign was executed in three coordinated phases designed to build momentum as the legislation advanced.
Phase one launched with the House bill introduction. A press release was drafted and distributed announcing coalition support for the House version of the Securing America's Fuels Act, establishing the coalition's position publicly and on the record from day one.
Phase two activated earned media. Working directly with Representative Mike Flood of Nebraska's 1st District — one of the bill's lead House sponsors — a ghostwritten op-ed was developed and placed in Agri-Pulse, Washington's premier agriculture and food policy publication. The op-ed made the case for sustainable aviation fuel as a critical economic opportunity for rural America, positioning Rep. Flood as a leading voice on the issue and putting the coalition's message in front of the most influential agricultural policy audience in the country.
Phase three followed the Senate introduction. When Senator Jerry Moran introduced the Senate companion bill, a press release was issued, as well as a second ghostwritten op-ed was developed and coordinated for placement, ensuring the coalition's voice was represented in both chambers of the legislative record. Simultaneously, a Coalition Fly-In to Washington, D.C. was organized — bringing coalition members directly to Capitol Hill for meetings with House and Senate offices to personally advocate for both versions of the bill.
The Placements and Reach
Agri-Pulse is Washington's most influential publication covering agriculture, food, and energy policy. Its audience of more than 10,000 subscribers includes federal legislators and congressional staff, state governors and agriculture department officials, C-suite executives in agribusiness and energy, and farm bureau leadership from all 50 states. With 58,000 unique monthly visitors and 210,000 monthly page views, and a daily newsletter reaching more than 8,000 agriculture decision-makers at a 55 percent open rate, placement in Agri-Pulse puts a message directly in front of the people who shape and vote on agricultural policy. The op-ed placed on behalf of Rep. Flood is publicly archived on both Agri-Pulse and the Congressman's official House website.
Representative Mike Flood Op-Ed, Agri-Pulse
AgWeek is the agricultural news leader across Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, the country's most productive agricultural region and home to leading producers of spring wheat, durum wheat, sunflowers, canola, dry edible beans, and more. With a total readership of more than 40,000 including 8,200 print subscribers and nearly 24,000 digital replica readers, AgWeek delivers the coalition's message directly to the farm operators, agribusiness professionals, and rural community leaders whose livelihoods are most directly impacted by sustainable aviation fuel policy. Placement of the commentary in AgWeek extended the campaign's geographic reach into the upper Midwest farm community — ensuring the SAF Act message landed with the agricultural producers and rural stakeholders who stand to benefit most from expanded biofuel markets.
Senator Jerry Moran Op-Ed, AgWeek
The Coalition Fly-In brought members directly to Capitol Hill, providing face-to-face advocacy with both House and Senate offices — the most direct and high-impact form of legislative communication available.
The Coalition and Legislative Support
The Securing America's Fuels Act was introduced with strong bipartisan backing, co-sponsored by Representatives Sharice Davids, Mike Flood, Troy Carter, and Tracey Mann in the House. The bill drew endorsements from major industry and agricultural organizations including the National Corn Growers Association, SAF Coalition, Airlines for America, Delta Air Lines, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Kansas Farm Bureau, and more than a dozen additional coalition members. The legislation aimed to reinstate the SAF bonus credit under the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit, with the potential to support 33,000 construction jobs over five years and 60,000 agriculture and logistics positions by the end of the decade.
The Result
The campaign successfully coordinated a multi-phase earned media and direct advocacy strategy across both chambers of Congress simultaneously. Coalition members were activated and engaged at the highest level of federal policymaking. Ghostwritten op-eds by two sitting members of Congress were placed in the country's most-read agricultural policy publication, creating a documented public record of legislative support. The fly-in delivered direct, personal coalition advocacy to Capitol Hill offices during the critical window of legislative momentum.
