“Small businesses have the ability to straddle the ideological divide and influence issues.”

That’s what speaker Mike Cuzzi told four dozen floral industry members who had committed to advocating on behalf of their industry attendees when SAF’s 41^st annual Congressional Action Days kicked off yesterday. And attendees took it to heart as they met with Hill offices and federal agencies to talk about agriculture labor, floriculture research funding, renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences and minimum wage.

The event began with a session of Capitol Hill know-how from lobbyists, political operatives, and a member of Congress. SAF senior lobbyist Joe Bischoff and Alice Gomez set the stage for attendees with key messages to deliver when meeting with Congressional and agency offices. Chris Hodgson, former director of legislative affairs for Vice President Mike Pence, and Mike Cuzzi, former New Hampshire political director for President Barack Obama’s presidential primary, dove into the current environment in Washington, D.C., and what it means for floriculture industry issues.

Jobs – including the ability to attract and retain employees – and the economy are two main drivers for the industry right now. Cuzzi noted that both sides of the political aisle care about these issues, which puts florists in a strong place to advocate for their point of view without the “traditional baggage that might come along with more partisan groups and organizations.”

Hodgson concurred, saying “small businesses in particular, all of you truly have the ability to bridge that partisan divide when you’re in there talking to (congressional) offices.” Being able to put a local, small business context around the issues is “critically important, because you all are the heartbeat of all of these districts and States across the country.”

Giving the broader context of what’s happening back in a representative’s state and district is critically important to “shape their viewpoint and how they look at legislation, not only as it relates to what you all are talking about, but also other pieces of legislation that might come up in front of them,” Hodgson said.

Congressional Cut Flower Caucus co-chair Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) rounded out the morning’s sessions talking about two floral industry priority issues: increasing funding for floral research, and reforming agriculture labor.

Rep. Newhouse called the need for a reliable and legal workforce one of his biggest challenges and highest priorities in Congress. “Coming from one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, there simply isn’t enough interest or enough of that domestic workers to get the jobs done.”

As a farmer, Rep. Newhouse also indicated he was aware of how important research is to the work the floriculture industry does. “We must constantly innovate to address the ever-changing and ever-present challenges,” and he noted that he is working to ensure the funding priorities of our agricultural communities are met, especially when it comes to agricultural research.

FNRI is a federally funded program through USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS). It was initially conceived by the industry in the 1980s with the intent to help guide and support floriculture and nursery research priorities. SAF members asked Congress during their visits to increase its financial support for FNRI by $1 million to respond to pest and disease challenges, enhance the efficiency and sustainability of our production practices, and broaden the message of the positive environmental and social impact of our crops.

Check out more coverage of Congressional Action Days in next week’s issue of SAF NOW.

Katie Butler is the senior vice president of the Society of American Florists and Jennifer McNally is the interim editor of SAF NOW.