AmericanHort Comments on Two Agency Moves Affecting Plant Trade
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has proposed a fourth list of imported items from China that are likely to be subject to retaliatory tariffs, unless the ongoing trade dispute with China is resolved. Imports of these “list 4” items represent an estimated $300 billion in annual imports. If the proposal is finalized, they […]
Sudden Oak Death Findings in the Midwest
Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of so-called “sudden oak death,” was detected on plant material being sold in garden centers in Indiana and Kansas this spring. The pathogen is not expected to be established in these areas but entered the states via the plant trade. One source, Kansas State Extension, reported that infected rhododendrons were found […]
Appropriations and Pesticide-Related Amendments
In mid-June, the House of Representatives began taking action on a handful of fiscal 2020 funding bills. On June 19, the House passed a package of spending bills that would fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, and Energy from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020. Several amendments were […]
Efforts Underway to Address H-2B Visas for 2020
On June 19, the House of Representatives passed an FY 2020 spending package that includes funding for the Department of Labor (DOL). The spending bill contains an H-2B provision that would allow for visas to be allocated proportionally on a quarterly basis. The House is now debating on a second funding package that includes funding for the […]
AmericanHort Officially Announces Impact Washington Summit
AmericanHort has officially announced the Impact Washington Summit, which will be held on September 16-18 in Washington, D.C. Confirmed keynote speakers at this signature horticulture industry event include: Andrew Wheeler, Administrator – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Andrew Wheeler was confirmed the fifteenth Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in February. He began his career during the George […]
Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Supporting American-grown Flowers
As the calendar flipped to July, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution designating July as “American Grown Flower Month” and encouraging consumers to buy “Certified American Grown” flowers. The resolution was introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) introduced a similar resolution in the House. American […]
2020 H-2B Relief and Appropriations Process
In advance of the House Appropriations Committee’s expected consideration of the fiscal 2020 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, a bipartisan group of 58 Members of Congress sent a letter to committee leaders asking that the bill include an H-2B returning worker exemption or other meaningful cap relief. The letter was led by Reps. Bergman (R-MI) and […]
USDA Proposes New Regulations for Genetically Engineered Organisms
USDA, Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, Biotechnology Regulatory Services (APHIS-BRS) has proposed revisions to current biotechnology regulations, which were established in 1987. This marks the third attempt by USDA to alter these regulations, previously in 2008 and 2017; however, the proposals were withdrawn in the face of substantial pushback in public comments. The changes […]
House Passes “Dream and Promise Act”
On June 4, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. The final vote tally was 237-187, with seven Republicans voting for the bill. Should this legislation become law, the bill would provide a path to legal residency for individuals brought to the country as minors, and for those holding Temporary Protected […]
FMCSA Delays HOS Proposed Rule
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has delayed proposing changes to its Hours of Service (HOS) rules. The changes, which were expected to be released on June 7 as a notice of proposed rulemaking, are still expected to be published during the month of June according to FMCSA officials. The delay stems from the […]