The 2012 Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) Aftermarket Legislative Summit will start on March 14 with a panel discussion featuring Ed Gillespie, former counselor to President George W. Bush, and Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

The panel discussion will focus on the current political climate in D.C. and what to expect in 2012.

Also speaking will be Lois Griesman, associate director of marketing practices at the Federal Trade Commission. She will discuss her department's responsibilities under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, as well as protecting consumers from unfair marketing practices that hurt the aftermarket industry.

In the evening on the first day of the summit, which takes place March 14-15, AAIA will host a reception where attendees can meet with legislators in a more informal setting. The following day, attendees will spend time on Capitol Hill attending meetings with offices of their elected officials.

There is no cost to attend the summit, and the registration deadline is Feb. 3. For more information on the summit, visit aftermarket.org or contact David Pinkham at 301-654-6664 or david.pnkham@aftermarket.org.