Legislative Log

Hardwood Industry Fights to Unravel Transportation Bottlenecks

By DANA COLE, Executive Director Hardwood Federation

For 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.

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.

SENATE FOLLOWS SUIT

On February 3, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (RSD) followed up on industry advocacy and introduced a companion 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.

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.

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.

INDUSTRY FIGHTS DUAL TRANSPORTATION BATTLES, ADVOCATES FOR MORE DRIVERS

Compounding the backlog created by ocean shipping woes is the lack of truck drivers due to an aging workforce, difficulties attracting new drivers, and burnout due to the impacts of Covid. Action to address these shortages has been undertaken at the Federal level.

The “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” enacted in the fall of 2021 included Hardwood Federation provisions to address driver shortages, including the DRIVE Safe Program, which facilitates apprenticeships for drivers under the age of 21. In January of this year, the hardwood industry and other stakeholders submitted comments on the proposed implementation of the DRIVE Safe Program. While industry commended the Administration for timely implementation and commitment to mitigating the trucker shortage, industry cautioned against establishing requirements that would discourage participation in the program. These include, for example, stringent reporting requirements that would require the submission of data to the Federal Motor Carrier Administration every 30 days. tion workforce shortages, the Departments of Labor and Transportation initiated the following actions:

• Expedite issuance of Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs)

• Unveiled a “90 Day Challenge” to jump-start apprenticeships

• Outreach to the veteran worker pool

• Unveiled the “Driving Good Jobs” initiative

Congress and the Administration have come together, all too rarely, on some important tactics to untangle the nation’s complicated transportation challenges during the past year. The Federation will keep you posted on substantive legislation that crosses the finish line during the weeks ahead and the implementation of key programs supported by the industry as part of the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.”