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January-February 2020

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10 PalletCentral • January-February 2020 palletcentral.com POLICY PLAY AT O n February 4, 2020, President Trump gave his State of the Union address in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives. It was his final address of his current four-year term. We are now in the thick of a presidential election year. Democratic debates are concluding and primary elections imminent. For the wood packaging industry, what does that mean beyond the political analysis and 24/7 news feed? Politically, the state of the pallet industry is strong. You have, for the first time in the history of the wood packaging industry, an NWPCA Political Action Committee (PalletPAC). Thanks to industry participation and funding, PalletPAC is well resourced and active. We have $50,000 in reserves coming into this election cycle, and it is a strong base for 2020. PalletPAC is also thriving because of guidance from industry leaders on giving clear direction on advocacy, issues specific to the wooden pallet and container industry, and supporting elected officials, democrats and republicans, who support our issues. NWPCA has hosted Congressional Fly- ins year-after-year. These visits have raised our profile, leading members of Congress to be proactive in helping our industry. As an example, NWPCA is currently negotiating with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a rule that effectively prohibits the use of wooden pallets in pellet fuel. Without asking, Congressman Bradley Byrnes (AL-1st District) took it upon himself to reach out to the EPA on the pallet industry's behalf to urge action on this issue. Senator Byrnes is running for the Alabama senate seat, and we support his campaign. In 2020, NWPCA is taking the fight to the states. In place of a Congressional Fly- in Washington, D.C., NWPCA members are hosting congressional mill tours in their respective states this year. If you have an interest or can organize a tour of your facility, please get in contact with NWPCA staff. We can help facilitate a member of Congress, state or federal, to tour your facility. Presidential Election – 2020 and beyond We are now two months into 2020, and we're still standing. In 2019, there were some major changes within the industry with consolidation and more private equity coming into the sector. But that shows the profitability and strength of the wooden pallet and container industry. If we went back to 2009 and the Great Recession, well, we have come a very long way—from bailouts to bull markets, from shuttered factories to shattered economic growth and profitability. So, where do we stand at the beginning of this new decade? At the time this issue hits your desk, the Iowa Caucuses will have The State of the Pallet Industry An opinion piece from advocacy staff on the state of the industry, the 2020 elections, and what to expect in this new decade. By Patrick Atagi Patrick Atagi is vice president, advocacy and external affairs at NWPCA. He also serves as executive director of the NWPCA PAC.

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