LEGISLATIVE LOG
Hardwood Industry Fights to Unravel Transportation Bottlenecks By DANA COLE, Executive Director Hardwood Federation
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or over two years, backlogs at the nation’s major ports, caused in large part by the refusal of international shippers to receive U.S. goods for export, have plagued members of the hardwood industry and other major manufacturers. Fortunately for the industry, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers responded relatively quickly to their constituents’ need to move products overseas and unveiled the “Ocean Shipping Reform Act” (OSRA) (H.R. 4996) in August. This important bill would prevent foreign shippers from refusing cargo at an American port, thereby leaving U.S. exports stranded on the docks.
bill, S. 3580, which passed the chamber by “unanimous consent” on March 31. This latest action has teed up the formation of a conference committee to negotiate a final bill to send to the President. During the course of the bills’ progress, the Federation delivered OSRA updates in seven of the past nine monthly newsletters, one of which included a link to the letter-writing campaign, resulting in more industry letters being sent to Capitol Hill. The newly launched “D.C. Cheat Sheet” has also delivered updates on OSRA within three of the ten editions, including “talking points” for members to deliver to their elected officials during the recent Easter break.
GRASSROOTS DRIVE QUICK PASSAGE IN THE HOUSE From the outset, the Hardwood Federation joined a coalition of nearly 80 business groups to make sure the bipartisan bill moved through Congress as quickly as possible, sending coalition letters to lawmakers urging them to sign on as co-sponsors. In October and November, Federation members sent nearly 200 letters to the U.S. House of Representatives urging co-sponsorship and quick passage of OSRA. During the course of the campaign, the number of cosponsors virtually doubled, evenly along party lines, and passed by an overwhelming majority of 364 to 60 in early December.
CLOSING THE DEAL ON OSRA, NEXT STEPS Although there is a possibility that OSRA could cross the finish line as a provision within the “America COMPETES Act,” aka, the “China bill,” industry is focusing its efforts on House and Senate negotiations related to a “stand-alone” bill finalized by a conference committee. In an April 20 letter signed by the Hardwood Federation and 89 allied groups, the industry urged congressional leadership to come together and hammer out relatively minor differences between the House and Senate versions. Such action would expeditiously address unfair trading practices, including refusals of cargo for export. Moving forward, the Federation may issue another “call to action” requesting letters to lawmakers reminding them to keep this issue on the front burner before campaign season kicks into high gear in the fall.
SENATE FOLLOWS SUIT On February 3, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (RSD) followed up on industry advocacy and introduced a companion
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