Interviews
KORUS may bring challenges to specialty fabrics industry
20 Apr '11
4 min read
Said Rich Lippert, a member of the group from Glen Raven Technical Fabrics, LLC: "Working with USIFI to meet with the elected officials has helped our company convey the importance of defeating the Free Trade Agreement. Ultimately KORUS is not 'free' and if passed as written, will mean the loss of jobs, not the creation of jobs."
The USIFI group's secondary message to Congressional leaders concerned the erosion of parts of the Berry Amendment. Work is being done to ensure that language will be inserted into the law which defines components of military spec tents. This effort is similar to the 2006 Berry Amendment change in which the military uniform industry succeeded in spelling out non-textile uniform components, requiring that these components, too, be domestically sourced.
Several USIFI members had never come to Washington D.C. to advocate for issues, but most of the group was familiar with the process. USIFI designated "rovers" (experienced Hill people) to help the newcomers, and according to Ehmke Manufacturing CEO Bob Rosania, "USIFI's Lobby Days gave us the unique experience of interacting directly with the Members of Congress whose votes have a direct impact on our industry and businesses."
USIFI member companies also joined representatives from the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC) for a meeting to discuss the pending legislation important to the textile and manufacturing industries, including both groups' opposition of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement; as well as their support of H.R. 679, the Berry Amendment Extension Act, which Kissell reintroduced in January. The bill would permanently require the Department of Homeland Security and all of its agencies to purchase and procure textiles made entirely in America.
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The USIFI group's secondary message to Congressional leaders concerned the erosion of parts of the Berry Amendment. Work is being done to ensure that language will be inserted into the law which defines components of military spec tents. This effort is similar to the 2006 Berry Amendment change in which the military uniform industry succeeded in spelling out non-textile uniform components, requiring that these components, too, be domestically sourced.
Several USIFI members had never come to Washington D.C. to advocate for issues, but most of the group was familiar with the process. USIFI designated "rovers" (experienced Hill people) to help the newcomers, and according to Ehmke Manufacturing CEO Bob Rosania, "USIFI's Lobby Days gave us the unique experience of interacting directly with the Members of Congress whose votes have a direct impact on our industry and businesses."
USIFI member companies also joined representatives from the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC) for a meeting to discuss the pending legislation important to the textile and manufacturing industries, including both groups' opposition of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement; as well as their support of H.R. 679, the Berry Amendment Extension Act, which Kissell reintroduced in January. The bill would permanently require the Department of Homeland Security and all of its agencies to purchase and procure textiles made entirely in America.
Click here for more details
Industrial Fabrics Association International
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