Quick Updates from Your HF Team 

Fly-In 2024 Room Rate Ends April 17 – Sign Up TODAY! 

The Room Block at the Fly-In Host Hotel ends on Wednesday April 17.  If you plan to attend the Fly-In, don’t delay!!  Make your reservations today! The hotel is filling up and it is doubtful rooms will be available at this rate after the 17th.  Links to the reservation site will be sent in your Fly-In registration confirmation. Make plans TODAY to join us in Washington, D.C. May 21-23, 2024.  Sign up for the Fly-In and reserve your room HERE! 

Events will kick off with a welcome reception on the evening of Tuesday, May 21 followed by a full day of meetings on the Hill with your Congressmen and Senators…the Federation team will fully brief you over breakfast on key talking points and meeting logistics.  We will host a PAC reception Wednesday night for our friends on the Republican side of the aisle and celebrate the day’s achievements over dinner.  The Fly-in wraps up with a Thursday morning breakfast event recognizing the Democrats that support the hardwood industry. 

Special Session for Young Leaders:  Are you under 40? New to politics at the federal level? Interested in networking with your industry peers?  Consider joining a special session for young industry leaders during the day on Tuesday, May 21.  More information will be coming soon!

House Lawmakers Take Up “A Stronger Workforce for America Act”

On April 9, House lawmakers overwhelmingly passed H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, with a rare, bipartisan vote, going straight to the floor within a week of having passed the workforce committee.  The legislation would support “workforce education programs at community colleges that align with in-demand jobs.”  The bill also creates apprenticeship programs for work-based training targeted at younger workers. The Federation will keep you posted on possible next steps.

Contact Your Federal Lawmakers, Stop Federal Red Tape!

As Congress has been mired in gridlock, federal regulators have picked up the pace by issuing a flurry of new rules that adversely impact operations in the hardwood industry.  Whether it's misguided regulations related to old growth forests and endangered species rules, or expansion of EPA "non-attainment areas," the cumulative effect is to undermine the ability of hardwoods to provide high paying jobs while creating environmentally friendly products for American consumers.  You can help stem the avalanche of red tape by contacting your federal elected officials today.  Please click here to send a letter to your House lawmakers and Senators advocating against excessive regulatory actions. 

If you have a problem accessing the link above, please copy/paste the following URL into your browser:  https://mstr.app/73abc994-f443-41d1-af1a-f5d22cb90bc0.