The Hardwood Federation, of which the NWFA is a part, is asking its members to help oppose two amendments to the Farm Bill before the U.S. Senate. Amendment #2178 from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), dubbed the Freedom from Over-Criminalization and Unjust Seizures Act of 2012 (FOCUS Act), would remove criminal penalties under the Lacey Act for trade in illegal logging, as well as remove any reference to foreign laws. The second amendment, #2289, sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), would cut USDA Market Access Program (MAP) funding, which includes the American Hardwood Export Council, by $40 million annually to a total of $160 million per year.
The Hardwood Federation, of which the NWFA is a part, is asking its members to help oppose two amendments to the Farm Bill before the U.S. Senate. Amendment #2178 from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), dubbed the Freedom from Over-Criminalization and Unjust Seizures Act of 2012 (FOCUS Act), would remove criminal penalties under the Lacey Act for trade in illegal logging, as well as remove any reference to foreign laws. The second amendment, #2289, sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), would cut USDA Market Access Program (MAP) funding, which includes the American Hardwood Export Council, by $40 million annually to a total of $160 million per year.
The Hardwood Federation says that removing the criminal penalties under the Lacey Act would "severely reduce the ability of U.S. government to curtail the onslaught of unfair, underpriced, illegal competition such as that faced by U.S. hardwood companies before the Hardwood Federation-supported Lacey Act Amendments of 2008 were passed."
It also says that the reduction in MAP funding would likely be the first of many amendments that could eventually eliminate those programs entirely.
Those opposing the amendments are urged to contact their U.S. senators today through the U.S. Capitol operator at (202) 224-2131. The bill was stalled on the Senate floor today because senators could not agree on how many amendments would be offered, according to businessweek.com, and may be picked up again next week.
