Editor’s note: Advocating for the floral industry’s needs on Capitol Hill is a key priority for the Society of American Florists. What issues are most likely to impact you and your business – and how? What is SAF doing about it? In this ongoing series, SAF senior lobbyist Joe Bischoff breaks down one issue at a time and outlines SAF’s advocacy work on it. This week, Bischoff talks about why it is more important than ever for SAF members to attend Congressional Action Days (virtually) this year to keep floral industry priorities top of mind in Washington, D.C. Register now to attend — and with this year’s virtual format, you can join us from the comfort of your home or business.
Why should SAF members prioritize attending CAD this year?
The last year has been highly challenging on many fronts, including federal advocacy. We’ve had success during this time, including gaining access to federal support for domestic growers of floriculture through the USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), and the addition of fresh cut roses to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). However, challenges and opportunities remain — and it’s never been so easy to fall off the radar of federal decision makers, with so many different interests competing for their attention. Making our voices heard and letting members of Congress and federal agency staff know what actions we are looking for them to take is a fundamental part of our stewardship of the floral industry. 2021 is not a year to sit back and just watch what happens. It’s a time to participate and get even more engaged. In fact, it’s never been easier to participate in CAD with this year’s virtual format.
In addition to highlighting floral research funding and agriculture labor, SAF members will also talk with members of Congress and federal agencies about access to fresh product and minimum wage during this year’s Congressional Action Days, April 13-14 — join us!
Which SAF priorities are most likely to see movement — and how might our advocacy meetings potentially help move them forward?
We expect to see activity this year on every priority issue at this year’s CAD! On labor, the House has already passed the Agricultural Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 and we need to push the Senate to take up the mantle. The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) lapsed at the end of last year and reauthorization is required so that wholesalers and retailers can benefit from price improvements. Federal spending is revisited every year through the appropriations process, which offers both the opportunity and the risk of changes to funding for the Floriculture & Nursery Research Initiative (FNRI), our industry’s cornerstone research program. Finally, in the first couple of months of this Congress, we’ve already seen a lot of activity and efforts around increasing the federal minimum wage. We should anticipate minimum wage discussions be part of the administration and congressional backdrop for the remainder of the 117th Congress.
How did SAF decide which offices and agencies to target for meetings?
In years past we scheduled meetings that emphasized geography — the SAF member’s home or business address — and their congressional representatives. This year, due to the virtual nature of these meetings, we focused on issues and used geography as a secondary filter. The congressional offices we meet with are on committees with jurisdiction over the issues we are taking to the Hill. For example, the Ways & Means Committee has authority over minimum wage, taxes and trade, and the Appropriations Committee has funding authority over federal agencies including USDA and FNRI. In addition, we’ve included more federal agency engagements to speak with the staff that work directly on GSP and FNRI. Every meeting is important in making our case on the issues we are taking to DC this year.
What should members expect from the virtual meeting format — advantages and disadvantages?
This year, the virtual format will allow us to have meetings with Congressional committee staff and federal agency officials. Normally, those kinds of meetings aren’t possible due to the difficulties in getting people to various locations throughout the DC area. In addition, the relatively small sizes of Capitol Hill offices require us to limit in-person meetings to just 4 or 5 participants per meetings. We won’t have the group size restrictions with this year’s virtual format allowing us to focus our collective attention on the offices that have regularly been our champions on many policy fronts.
What should SAF members expect to hear from our invited Congressional speaker, Rep. Dan Newhouse?
I’m excited for SAF members to hear directly from Rep. Newhouse. He’s the newest co-chair of the Congressional Cut Flower Caucus and has been a strong supporter of FNRI and farmworker labor reform since first getting to Congress in 2015. He’s a specialty crop farmer himself and, before joining Congress, was Washington’s Commissioner of Agriculture. Dan is known for his work across the aisle to get things done and I expect he’ll talk about his passion for specialty crop research and his leadership role in getting the Agricultural Workforce Modernization Act through the House earlier in March, as well as its prospects in the Senate.
What are virtual meeting must do’s — and things to avoid?
The expectations aren’t very different from a typical face-to-face meeting. Stay engaged and be prepared to be on camera — but know that some Congressional or agency staff may remain off camera. In each meeting, we will follow the lead of the staffer. We want to make sure the members and staff we engage with know we value their time and the best way to communicate that respect is by being attentive during the meeting. Another key to every virtual meeting, as we’ve all experienced: when you’re not talking, keep yourself on mute. Luckily SAF has a group of CAD advocacy meeting veterans — and the new folks don’t miss a beat. I have no doubts it’s going to be a fun and productive couple of days.
What is the most important message SAF members can share during their meetings?
As the saying goes, all politics is local. Policy discussions are happening every day with Hill and agency staff but they don’t always hear how policies can impact individual companies, particularly those in their state or Congressional district. Share your personal experience — it’s a fundamental aspect of advocacy.
Katie Butler is the senior vice president of the Society of American Florists.
