WASHINGTON — Speaking out against proposed changes to the Lacey Act, and calling the current rule “good for American business,” a coalition of wood industry and environmental representatives voiced their continued support for the environmental legislation in a teleconference call held Wednesday.
Targeted specifically in comments was H.R. 3210, the Retailers and Entertainers Lacey Implementation and Enforcement Fairness (RELIEF) Act, sponsored by Representatives Jim Cooper, Marsha Blackburn and Mary Bono Mack. According to the conference call participants, the RELIEF Act, currently in committee under House Natural Resources, undermines efforts to reduce illegal logging while giving a “free pass” to imported items made from pulp, paper, composites and other non-solid wood products. The RELIEF Act also reduces fines to “a negligible” $250 for the first offense.
The RELIEF Act has already garnered support by a number of organizations, including the National Association of Music Merchants, the American Home Furnishings Alliance, the International Wood Products Association and the National Association of Home Builders.
However, a number of groups and individuals say that rather than “weakening” the Lacey Act, it needs to be enforced more vigorously. “Anything that makes the playing field unlevel, we’re against,” Don Finkell, president of Anderson Floors said during the conference call. Noting that a lot of imports in the flooring industry use questionably obtained wood, “it’s definitely hard to be competitive,” he added.
“The Lacey Act not only protects indigenous forest overseas, but also jobs for U.S. workers,” said Roy Houseman of the United Steelworkers, which includes pulp and paper manufacturers.
Also participating in the conference call, organized by Climate Advisors, was Lisa Handy, senior policy advisor for Environmental Investigation Agency, Jake Schmidt, International Climate Policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Jameson French, CEO of Northland Forest Products and a board member of the Hardwood Federation.
More on Lacey Act and Gibson Guitar
Battle Lines Drawn for Amending Lace Act (Blog)
Music Group Joins Fight to Amend Lacey Act
Group Opposing RELIEF Act Voices Concern
Seven Trade Groups Support Lacey RELIEF Act
U.S. Reps Call for Lacey Act RELIEF
Gibson Guitar Raid: The Lacey Act Runs Amok (Blog)
Wood Industry Groups Rally to Support Lacey Act
Gibson Guitar petitions Obama to end investigation
EU Parliament acts to ban illegal wood imports
Piano firm's CEO pleads guilty to Lacey Act violations
Karen M. Koenig has more than 25 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As Editor-in-Chief of Wood & Wood Products, Karen’s primary responsibilities include spearheading the writing, editing and coordinating of the editorial content of the publication, along with the Red Book resource guide and the Red Book online source and supply directory (
COMMENTS (1)
mickeywhite
Report AbuseMarsha Blackburn Voted FOR:
Omnibus Appropriations, Special Education, Global AIDS Initiative, Job Training, Unemployment Benefits, Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, Agriculture Appropriations, FY2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations, U.S.-Singapore Trade, U.S.-Chile Trade, Supplemental Spending for Iraq & Afghanistan, Flood Insurance Reauthorization , Prescription Drug Benefit, Child Nutrition Programs, Surface Transportation, Job Training and Worker Services, Agriculture Appropriations, Foreign Aid, Debt Limit Increase, Fiscal 2005 Omnibus Appropriations, Vocational/Technical Training, Supplemental Appropriations, UN “Reforms.” Patriot Act Reauthorization, CAFTA, Katrina Hurricane-relief Appropriations, Head Start Funding, Line-item Rescission, Oman Trade Agreement, Military Tribunals, Electronic Surveillance, Head Start Funding, COPS Funding, Funding the REAL ID Act (National ID), Foreign Intelligence Surveillance, Thought Crimes “Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, Peru Free Trade Agreement, Economic Stimulus, Farm Bill (Veto Override), Warrantless Searches, Employee Verification Program, Body Imaging Screening, Patriot Act extension., Supplemental Appropriations, Patriot Act Extension.
Marsha Blackburn Voted AGAINST:
Ban on UN Contributions, eliminate Millennium Challenge Account, WTO Withdrawal, UN Dues Decrease, Defunding the NAIS, Iran Military Operations defunding Iraq Troop Withdrawal, congress authorization of Iran Military Operations, Withdrawing U.S. Soldiers from Afghanistan, Libya Troop Withdrawal.
Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman.
See her “blatantly unconstitutional” votes at :
http://mickeywhite.blogspot.com/2009/09/tn-congressman-marsha-blackburn-votes.html
Mickey