Amid all the wrangling over President Donald Trump’s massive budget bill in Congress, crowds of lobbyists filled the U.S. Capitol including a dedicated team from the woodworking industry.

Eight members of the Wood Industry Association, an association staff member, and the association’s Washington lobbyist, Pat Rita, were involved in the fly-in effort that secured two dozen appointments with Congressmen, Senators, and staff in a single day of face-to-face meetings challenged by logistics, timing, and even 100-degree heat on June 25.

 

WIA participants represented a diverse group from the Northeast, South, and Midwest regions of the country:
  •    Andy Turner, chair of the WIA National Affairs Committee, president and CEO of Burkle North America, North Carolina;
  •    Joe Berry, CEO Bacci America, North Carolina;
  •    Robert Williamson, vice-president of technical solutions and business development at Nederman Corporation, North Carolina;
  •    Jessica Freeseman, director of sales, Wood Machinery Systems Inc., Minnesota;
  •    Brandon Koetter, president of Northtech Machine, Indiana;
  •    Jamison Scott, president, Air Handling Systems, Connecticut;
  •    John Schultz, owner of Super Thin Saws, Vermont;
  •    William Sampson, editorial director, Woodworking Network, Maine;
  •    Daniel Whitehead, WIA director of education and advocacy, Maryland.

Scott was also accompanied by his daughter Caroline, a college student who also does marketing work for Air Handling Systems. 

 

Pat Rita of Orion Advocates, lobbyist for the WIA, handled logistics for the fly-in, dividing the group into three regional units to cover legislators from the Northeast, Midwest, and Carolinas. Rita also equipped the groups with handouts on the WIA, and position papers to share topics of concern to the association, its members and their customers, representing the entire woodworking industry.

Key issues discussed included: trade and tariffs; workforce development; tax policy; and sustainable wood buildings. Some of these issues, such as workforce development and tax policy, were directly related to the big spending bill, but others, such as trade and tariffs had more to do with building awareness of real and potential impacts on the woodworking industry. 

Meetings included some direct face-to-face discussions with Members of Congress and Senators, while other meetings involved Congressional staff representatives. Typical meetings were about 15 to 20 minutes. Participants reported that virtually all of the officials and staff they met with were largely sympathetic to the concerns of the industry. It was also obvious that conversations were more fruitful when WIA members had already established a relationship with the officials involved.

 

For example, when John Schultz got to speak with Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Welch warmly remembered visiting the Super Thin Saws plant in Vermont. WIA lobbyist Pat Rita has often recommended that WIA members seek out their regional representatives, invite them to their facilities for photo opportunities and to get a better understanding of industry concerns.

Schultz, who has participated in previous fly-in efforts agrees that contact is key.

“Once in a while our lobbying efforts may actually have changed minds, but I think the bigger benefit has been having more of our members see how the system works,” he said. “Of course, there is also a benefit to having your own Members of Congress know you, your business, and our industry, a little bit better. Even when they don’t change their mind about whatever issues we are presenting, perhaps knowing you/us will make them a little more receptive next year, for the next issue you bring to their attention.”

 

Rob Williamson reported on the effort from the Carolinas: “The Carolinas team met with four Representatives and three Senate offices from North and South Carolina. The overall reception was highly positive. Notably, four Representatives and one Senator met with us in person. They confirmed that our tax priorities — full expensing, the R&D tax credit, and Section 199A — are included in the OBBBA and expected to move through the reconciliation process intact.”

 

Jamie Scott, another fly-in veteran, was also enthusiastic about the effort.

“I continue to be impressed with the level of engagement Members of Congress and their staff show toward constituents and the issues that impact our industry,” he said. “In particular, the Senators we met with demonstrated a genuine interest in learning about the challenges manufacturers like us are facing. Their attentiveness and willingness to listen made it clear that our voices matter in Washington.”

 

One of those Senators was Angus King (Ind.-Maine), who met directly with the Northeast group, and showed a surprisingly detailed knowledge of some of the issues affecting the industry. Sampson, who lives in Maine, was pleasantly surprised when King mentioned specific factories and facilities in the area and inquired about updates on the status of ongoing initiatives. 

 

Jessica Freeseman was impressed to receive a handwritten postcard from a Congressman following the fly-in. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who is the Majority Whip in Congress, took the time to thank her for the meeting and offer to visit her facility.

Following the meetings, Pat Rita reported that much of what the WIA members were asking for that was included in the reconciliation bill did pass and was signed into law by President Trump. Other initiatives the fly-in team discussed still await action by Congress.