Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1266845
PalletCentral • May-June 2020 11 "No Worker Left Behind: Supporting Essential Workers." • A June 10 House Financial Services Committee hearing entitled, "The Rent Is Still Due: America's Renters, COVID-19 and an Unprecedented Eviction Crisis." • A June 10 House Small Business Committee hearing entitled, "The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program: A View from Main Street." • A June 11 House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing entitled, "Assessing VA's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: 90 Days Later." NWPCA members and staff are actively engaging with Members of Congress and their staff on a regular basis. We are using every tool we have to reach out to Congress, including the NWPCA Pallet Political Action Committee "PalletPAC." For example, NWPCA joined the Hardwood Federation PAC and International Paper for a forestry and forest products virtual event with Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson (15th District, PA, Committee on Agriculture, Committee on Education and Labor). This was a "2-for-1" event, with an in-person event to follow the virtual meeting. Ben Remmey, President, 'Remmey the Pallet Company', and Vice Chair of the NWPCA Government Affairs Committee, participated on the call. NWPCA asked that the Congressman include pallets as part of his Ag Chain legislation to help agriculture (tax relief to essential businesses that were in operation during COVID-19). The "powerful pallet lobby" was born out of an idea by NWPCA leadership to create a five-year strategic plan to build the association with Advocacy as one of the three legs of the stool; the other two being Web and PDS. Subsequently, Congressional fly-ins were held in Washington, D.C. which prepared industry members to educate Members of Congress and their staff about the pallet industry. We quickly discovered we had one of our own as a Member of Congress, Representative Rick Nolan from Minnesota's 8th District and many other supporters. These relationships proved invaluable as well as the financial resources and human capital dedicated to build this influential group – the pallet industry. Every Little Bit Helps As a government affairs professional, I hear too often, "but what can I do?" or "why should I do anything, other people are doing it for me." I will be honest, there is no golden number or perfect number of people to advocate for the industry. You might be able to get away with what you have and get a win, but why take that risk when the stakes are so high? So what can you do? You'd be surprised at how every little bit helps: • Respond to NWPCA Grassroots Advocacy. You may have received a text or e-mail from NWPCA, asking you to write your Member of Congress. It is a very simple process, click a few buttons on your phone, or e-mail and a letter is sent. For the campaign to get pallet companies listed as essential and critical infrastructure, we had over 3,000 virtual letters sent to Congress. Keep an eye out for these requests, and more importantly, respond! • Learn more about the NWPCA Political Action Committee – "PalletPAC." Take the time to understand what the PalletPAC does for the industry. You can always give us a call, either myself, Patrick Atagi, or Grace Johnson. We are your resources and we are here for you. • Be informed! Subscribe to the NWPCA Government Affairs weekly newsletter and monthly Advocate if you haven't already. These updates also contain OSHA updates and other regulatory news that is beneficial to your business. Now more than ever in our nation's history, is the time to be informed, educated, and involved in our nation's political process and dialogue. Be a part of the powerful pallet lobby. People like winners, and you and the pallet and container manufacturing industry have created a winning association. Patrick Atagi is vice president, advocacy and external affairs at NWPCA. He also serves as executive director of the NWPCA PAC. He may be reached at 703-519-6104 or patagi@ palletcentral.com.