To say there was a lot going on during NALP’s annual Legislative Day on the Hill, on July 18, 2017, is an understatement. There was a political storm brewing on the Hill as the Senate’s health care reform bill was withdrawn but that didn’t stop the business of lobbying for our industry on issues such as H-2B, FIFRA, Pesticide Registration Funding and more.
Not only were 80 appointments scheduled for the more than 125 landscape and lawn care pros to meet with their legislative offices, but NALP added a new component to the annual fly-in activities. A contingent of NALP leaders, state association executives, and other industry stakeholders met with senior administrative representatives of the Trump administration. Meetings were conducted with the Office of Pesticide Programs, the National Economic Council, and the Department of Homeland Security.
The meetings allowed our industry to speak in a unified voice on some of the most crucial issues that landscape professionals face. From regulatory burden, to pesticide review, to the need for H-2B reform, the NALP group related the hardships that current regulations create and also cautioned how proposed rules and regulations, such as the new “attestation” requirement in the H-2B cap – relief effort, can have unintended and profound consequences.
NALP was able to make important new connections within the federal agencies that most impact the services provided by professional landscape companies, and discuss future opportunities to interact with our members. As was noted during the meeting, “every great relationship begins with a first date”, and NALP leaders left each interaction encouraged that a strong connection had been established.
We strongly encourage every landscape and lawn care professional to join us in our year-round advocacy efforts and join us next year on the Hill for Legislative Days.
