PRINCIPLES FOR REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY

MAPPS STATEMENT PRINCIPLES

FOR REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY

    WHEREAS, MAPPS’ representation and advocacy objectives are strength and unity on legislative and administrative matters impacting its member firms; and

    WHEREAS, to this end, MAPPS:

• seeks to establish and maintain a professional and positive relationship with each federal agency;
• monitors and works with Congress and each agency to promote geospatial services performed by the private sector;
•  is non-partisan; and
• values trustworthiness and credibility to maintain relationships with Congressional offices and federal agency leadership and their staff and strives to maintain a reputation based on trust, integrity, and accuracy.

NOW THEREFORE, it is the responsibility of each MAPPS advocacy professional and each MAPPS federal liaison1 representing MAPPS to strive to conduct his or her activities with the highest standards of ethical behavior according to the following principles including and especially:

• MAPPS’ federal liaisons are MAPPS members who engage directly and coordinate communications with federal agencies important to MAPPS and its members including, but not limited to the USGS, USDA, NOAA, BLM, and USACE.
• compliance with all federal and state laws, regulations, and local ordinances that apply to lobbying and related government affairs activities;
• never causing or encouraging any public official, policymaker, or another person to violate any law or rule applicable to them;
• not facilitating or otherwise participating in an apparent violation of any law or rule applicable to them;
• not bringing discredit to MAPPS, the government, MAPPS member firms, or colleagues by their conduct;
• striving to maintain professional relationships based upon honesty and integrity;
• not undertaking or continuing representations that create, or are likely to develop, conflicts of interest between MAPPS and member companies or MAPPS and any public official or policymaker;
• not, while in any capacity directly representing MAPPS, advocating on behalf of their specific firm, but rather on behalf of all MAPPS member firms;
• affirmatively, thoroughly, and timely disclosing any potential conflict of interest or violation of these principles to MAPPS board of directors and resolving it in a clearly understood and acceptable manner or otherwise withdrawing from the conflicting representation
• providing accurate, current, and factual information, whether reported to government officials or MAPPS board of directors;
• not engaging in any knowing misrepresentations;
• serving as a source of reliable information, using professional expertise and awareness to explain and assist in understanding the varied aspects of complex issues impacting the public or a federal agency;
• at all times exhibiting the proper respect for our democratic institutions and processes, public officials and policymakers, and fellow government affairs professionals;
• recognizing that informed decisions are the best and ensuring that decision-makers have balanced information from MAPPS;
• supporting and honoring full disclosure, recordkeeping, and reporting to MAPPS’ president, executive committee, and board of directors as requested, necessary, or appropriate;
• conducting relationships with fellow government affairs professionals with the highest fairness, dignity, and respect standards of conduct;
• representing MAPPS diligently and vigorously to advance the interest of its member firms;
• devoting the necessary time, attention, and resources to the interests of MAPPS and its member firms;
• making every effort to fully understand the legislative, governmental, and political processes to represent MAPPS most competently and effectively; and
• maintaining a high level of current knowledge of relevant geospatial subject areas to be an effective participant in all major policy issue conversations, briefings, or debates.