Senators Blunt & Wyden receive 'Friend of the Industry' Award

07 Oct '11

3 min read

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) presented Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) with the annual AAFA Friend of the Apparel and Footwear Industry Award during a reception in Washington, D.C. Each year, this award is presented on behalf of the AAFA Board of Directors to individuals or an organization that recognizes and promotes the issues of a competitive U.S. apparel and footwear industry that operates in the global market.

“Senator Blunt and Senator Wyden have been tireless advocates for issues important to the U.S. apparel and footwear industry” said AAFA Board of Directors Chairman Rick Darling, President of LF USA. “I applaud their leadership in promoting causes that allow our industry to remain competitive in the global market.”

“Senator Blunt and Senator Wyden have taken up the issues important to the U.S. apparel and footwear industry because of the positive impact these issues have on hardworking American families and the U.S. economy,” said AAFA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “Their proactive stance on issues like reducing barriers to trade and seeking the strongest intellectual property protections create opportunities for our industry to create and sustain jobs. I look forward to our continued work in moving the U.S. apparel and footwear industry forward.”

Over the past year, Senator Blunt has served as a cosponsor of several AAFA-supported initiatives, include the Affordable Footwear Act of 2011 (S. 1069), Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting Act of 2011 (S. 1100), Save Our Industries Act (SAVE Act, S. 1244), Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act (S. 18), Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011 (PRO-IP Act, S. 968), and a renewal of the now-lapsed Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (S.J. Res. 17).

Senator Wyden is the lead sponsor of the United States Optimal Use of Trade to Develop Outerwear and Outdoor Recreation Act (US OUTDOOR Act, S. 704) and has cosponsored several AAFA-supported initiatives, including the Affordable Footwear Act of 2011 (S. 1069), the and a renewal of the now-lapsed Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (S.J. Res. 17). Senator Wyden has also been an outspoken advocate for modernizing the rules of origin in existing free trade agreements and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Background
Friend of the Apparel and Footwear Industry Award
The Friend of the Apparel and Footwear Industry Award honors members of Congress, Administration officials, federal agency officials, or other industry stakeholders who support the key issues and priorities of a competitive U.S. apparel and footwear industry. The award recognizes those who consistently uphold the ideals for strong American and global markets that sustain and support U.S. and global economic prosperity. It is awarded on behalf of the AAFA Board of Directors.

Previousaward recipients include:
2011 Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
2010 Women's Wear Daily
2009 Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX)

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers, which compete in the global market.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)

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