Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1311385
PalletCentral • November-December 2020 11 Ways and Means, Natural Resource, Finance, and Appropriations Committee. The list includes Colin Peterson (D-MN) – Chair of the House Agriculture Commit- tee, Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA) – Agriculture Committee, Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) – Senate Agriculture Committee (Ranking Member), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) – Senate Finance Committee (Ranking Member), to name a few. We are a bipartisan organization and have strong roots, which makes 'grassroots' advocacy very powerful. We will see Congress this year needing to dig out of the deficit of the Payroll Protection Plan payouts and deficit spending. This will lead to higher taxes. As of November 10th, the Supreme Court has reviewed the Affordable Care Act and discussed repeal, and is still considering. Many of the relatively dormant issues like this will rise in the next four years, and possibly under different parties in the House and Senate. Under today's political dynamics, the class of senators that faced the voters in 2018 was favorable to the Republicans, while the senate class that faces voters in 2020 is favorable to the Democrats. (The senate is divided up into three classes, with roughly 1/3 of senators up for election every two years, with each term being a six- year term). The class that will face voters in 2022 is favorable to the Democrats. Yes, I know we just finished an election, but this is an ongoing process – we're in it for the long haul. Where to go from here… I can't stress enough the importance of proper planning and strategy. The leadership within the pallet industry has done their homework and implemented a plan. Rising leaders have learned from the old guard, and the "pallet fortress" is well- grounded and has a strong foundation. The NWPCA is prepared for the next four years and more. So, what do the next four years look like? I will first note that presidential campaign promises do not necessarily become the policy of the White House. In fact, candidates use political strategy and policy posturing knowing exactly what key voters in key states want to hear. Even if a campaign promise matches up with what the candidate wants, it still needs to be implemented, and that usually depends on a divided Congress. This is especially true for the concerns of small businesses about the issues of tax policy and health care. The next two and four years will be tumultuous. The most radical changes will occur in the next 18 months, so be prepared for a bumpy ride. At the end of the day, though, the industry will weather the storm. Pallets are essential businesses, critical infrastructure and are important to the economy, period. NWPCA Preparing for Farm Bill T he next Farm Bill, renewed every five years to authorize farm programs, including forests, is set to be passed in December 2023. NWPCA is already engaging in a long-term strategy, focusing specifically on invasive species. We are working closely and building lasting relationships with key players in the industry such as Dr. David Coyle, president of the North American Invasive Species Management Association. We are also part of the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition, a group of organizations that works to build broad forest and conservation support for forest policy priorities in the Farm Bill. This long-term preparation for the upcoming Farm Bill is one of the many ways that NWPCA fortifies the pallet advocacy "fortress." 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. credit