Hardwood Floors April/May 2025

Government Affairs (Continued)

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) meets with Wil Maxwell of Maxwell Hardwood Flooring (right) and Andrew Maxwell (center) during the 2024 Hardwood Federation Fly-In.

Alex Staalner of Brookhuis America (third from left) and other Hardwood Federation advocates met with Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) during the 2024 Hardwood Federation Fly-In.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NWFA

Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) chats with Bill Joyce of Middle Tennessee Lumber (fourth from left) and other industry advocates during the 2024 Hardwood Federation Fly-In.

Network with your peers. Help us make the case for policies that work FOR the hardwood industry, not against it. The Fly-In is an excellent opportunity for members of the hardwood industry to educate members of Congress about the U.S. hardwood industry and let their members of Congress know just how businesses and employees are affected by the decisions being made on Capitol Hill. The impacts of Trump trade policies and tariffs on our sector will almost certainly be our top priority issue. A close second will be restoring important tax cuts that support our hardwood Industry leaders met with Marc Molinaro (R-NY) during the 2024 Hardwood Federation Fly-In. Lawrence Skutelsky (PID Floors), Jeff Meyer (Baillie Lumber Company), Ethan Natkin (Rowan University), Dan Natkin (Essex Finishing), Congressman Molinaro, Matthew Gutchess (Gutchess Lumber Company), and Steven Skutelsky (PID Floors).

businesses. Regulatory and transportation issues also could rise to the top. In this fast-paced environment it is difficult to say for sure, but we are confident the most current concerns will be at the top of the list. From past experience, we know that direct communication with knowledgeable industry members is key to establishing and growing legislative contacts and their awareness of the hardwood industry. Your participation is important and very much valued. Please reach out to us if you have questions or thoughts. Dana Lee Cole is the executive director at the Hardwood Federation, a Washington, D.C.-based hardwood industry trade association that represents thousands of hardwood businesses in every state in the United States and acts as the industry advocacy voice on Capitol Hill. She can be reached at dana.cole@hardwoodfederation.com.

You can find out more about the Hardwood Federation, our priority issues, and the Fly-In at hardwoodfederation.com or by visiting this story on HARDWOODFLOORSMAG.COM

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