Washington, D.C. (December 13, 2024): With a change in the White House and a new Administration in 2025, manufacturers have requested the EPA re-visit regulations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances. The outgoing Administration implemented costly new PFAS rules that manufacturers deemed too costly and prohibitive.
Manufacturers pay nearly $350 billion in regulatory compliance costs annually, nearly 12 percent of manufacturers’ share of U.S. GDP. Smaller manufacturers are hardest hit as compliance costs can reach $50,000 per employee annually.
Senator Shelly Morre Capito (R-WV) and Congressman James Comer (R-KY), Chairs of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee and House Oversight & Accountability Committees respectively, have questioned the scientific basis for some of EPA’s decision-making on PFAS. Industry groups suggested considering PFAS chemicals individually rather than regulating them as a class of chemicals. The broad approach increases the risk of low-risk chemicals being forced out of the manufacturing process with no viable alternatives to replace them.
For more information, please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].
Washington, D.C. (December 6, 2024): The International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) shut down ports from Maine to Texas in October and the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) pressed for a quick resolution. SFIA was thrilled when the strike was suspended after just three days.
After receiving a significant wage increase in October, port workers returned to work while contract talks continued. Unfortunately, the ILA walked away from the negotiating table for a second time in recent weeks over a dispute on the use of automation at ports. The ILA is firm on its “no automation” position and threatening to shut down commerce flowing through East and Gulf Coast ports.
Despite the ILA and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents the ports, engaging in contract talks, the threat of a repeat strike on January 15 looms due to the breakdown in negotiations. SFIA joined more than 251 business organizations in a letter to the parties pushing for the resumption of contract talks and pressing for a new deal before the strike ‘suspension’ expires next month.
The USMX points out that union members already operate cranes using semi-automated technology to identify high-priority containers and expedite the movement of containers at ports. USMX says the U.S. needs to keep up with technology for supply chain resilience, increased efficiency and capacity, and worker safety. A study commissioned by USMX showed semi-automation created more union jobs, while a similar study commissioned by ILA found semi-automation cost union jobs.
For more information on the East Coast Port Labor Strike please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs [email protected].
Washington, D.C. (December 2, 2024): As we enter the final days of this Congress, SFIA has pushed for the re-authorization of the popular Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) tariff relief program during the upcoming lame duck session. GSP offers duty-free entry of products made in nearly 120 countries with developing economies. U.S. companies have paid an estimated $4 billion in tariffs since GSP lapsed on January 1, 2021, and SFIA is committed to seeking tariff relief to keep costs down. Despite broad bi-partisan support in Congress, the GSP has still not been renewed.
The cost increase is not limited to imports of consumer goods, as many domestic manufacturers rely on inputs from China to make products. The increased cost of inputs adversely impacts domestic manufacturers’ competitiveness on the global stage and harms job creation in the U.S. manufacturing industry.
Prior to GSP lapsing, companies were moving sourcing away from China to GSP-eligible countries to diversify supply chains and reduce tariff exposure. When GSP lapsed, U.S. investments in developing countries waned and China stepped in, investing in new ports and other infrastructure, threatening U.S. leadership on trade and overseas development.
With the new Administration and Congress starting January 2025, the letter stresses the urgency of acting now on GSP tariff relief.
For more information on GSP, please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].
WASHINGTON, DC (November 22, 2024) – With the support of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and partner organizations across youth sports, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Marc Veasey (D-TX) introduced the Youth Sports Facilities Act (YSFA) H.R.10221 in Congress yesterday. The YSFA would open a new funding source for youth sports facilities and recreational spaces using Economic Development Assistance (EDA) grants. EDAs are currently not eligible to be used for investments in youth sports infrastructure projects which is why the YSFA is so critical, as it would provide the financial support needed for communities currently lacking in facilities to receive the funding needed to develop new sports and recreation projects.
“The Youth Sports Facilities Act is a bipartisan solution designed to bring communities together, create economic opportunity, and improve the physical and mental well-being of students across the nation,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “For too long, an area code has determined whether students could have access to facilities or the resources necessary to participate and compete. I am proud to champion the Youth Sports Facilities Act because it opens the door for communities across Michigan and around the country to create new opportunities for children to develop critical skills, enhance local tourism, and foster small business growth.”
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the accessibility challenges that many Americans face when it comes to participating in sports and recreational activities. Not being able to participate in these types of activities leads to the worsening of both mental and physical health in the U.S. SFIA is committed to working with stakeholders to address the barriers limiting youth sports participation and has led the effort on the YSFA legislation, securing bi-partisan support in Congress.
“The access barrier to sports participation keeps youth off the playing field – denying them the opportunity to realize the mental and physical health benefits of activity and limiting the development of the social skills essential to a child’s growth,” says Todd Smith, President & CEO, SFIA. “SFIA fully endorses the Youth Sports Facilities Act to give communities the resources needed for investments in youth sports facilities which will lower the current access barrier to participation.”
The YSFA will allow for more kids to be active and healthy, while also providing participants with important leadership, team building, and social skills. Youth sports organizations are united in their support for YSFA and appreciate the leadership of Congressman Huizenga and Congressman Veasey on this legislation.
“As the leading nonprofit provider of youth sports programs, YMCA of the USA supports the Youth Sports Facilities Act. Youth sports facilities often lead to growth in local economies as families attend sporting events and support local businesses, hotels, and restaurants”, says Jeffrey Britt, Chief Government Affairs Officer, YMCA of the USA. “Youth sports programs create a space for families and the community to belong, improve health outcomes, and strengthen the fabric of the economy and the community.”
In 2024, almost half a billion dollars in EDA grants were used to pay for small business loans, workforce training, and infrastructure projects – but no funding went to the development of youth sports facilities, which can spur additional investments in a community. New youth sports and recreational facilities can lead to additional investments in surrounding businesses such as convenience stores, restaurants, fueling stations, and grocery stores, as well as the construction of new hotels and housing communities.
“A great many children are denied the benefits of sports and exercise due to the shortage of athletic facilities,” says Jon Executive Director, Pop Warner Little Scholars. “In other cases, too many participants practice on limited areas which is unsafe as teams overlap. The Youth Sports Facilities Act will provide for more facilities being available for our children, our most precious commodity. As childhood obesity numbers rise, it is our duty to get kids off their sofas and enjoy getting healthy exercise.”
“Youth sports are a vital part of America’s fabric and a significant part of the work done by local parks and recreation departments,” says, Kyle Simpson, Director of Government Affairs, National Recreation & Parks Association (NRPA). “On behalf of our 60,000 members, the NRPA is proud to endorse the Youth Sports Facilities Act. This critical legislation will expand access to high-quality youth sports programs nationwide.”
With strong Congressional leadership behind the Youth Sports Facilities Act (YSFA), today’s introduction of the legislation is an important step in getting more resources for youth sports facility development in communities that lack them. SFIA will continue to build support for the YSFA and work with stakeholders to move the YSFA through the legislative process for increased investments in youth sports and recreation facilities to get more kids active.
For more information or questions regarding the YSFA, please contact Bill Sells, SVP, Government Relations & Public Affairs, at [email protected].
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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit sfia.org.
Washington, D.C. (November 13, 2024): After less than a week of renewed negotiations on a new labor contract for dockworkers at East and Gulf Coast Ports, the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) has walked away from the bargaining table on November 13 over the use of automation at the ports. The ILA suspended their strike last month after receiving a 62 percent pay raise for dockworkers; the strike pause will lapse on January 15, 2025. The Unions have not started accepting increased wages because that would require signing a no-strike clause.
The U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents the Ports, issued a press release committing to negotiations to resolve the remaining issues for a Master Contract. The USMX views technology as key to improving efficiency at the ports for increased capacity, supply chain resilience, and enhanced worker safety. The USMX does not plan to use technology to replace union jobs. The ILA is firm in its position that technology is a threat to union jobs and issued a statement calling on the USMX to “alter its unwinnable strategy and resume negotiations.”
The strike suspension will end five days before Donald Trump is sworn as President and ILA President Harold Dagget says Trump “promised to support the ILA in its opposition to automated terminals.” Union members are firmly behind the fight on automation, setting up the potential for a resumption of a labor strike at East Coast Ports in January.
SFIA will continue to press for resolution of the outstanding contract issues, and government intervention if needed, to avoid an unnecessary disruption in supply chains.
For more information, please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].
Washington, D.C. (October 4, 2024): Following an October 2 letter to President Biden, signed by SFIA and 300 organizations requesting the Administration engage in the East Coast Port labor contract talks, the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) agreed to a 62 percent wage increase for dockworkers and suspended the strike on October 3. The ports will need time to get back up to speed as they deal with the backlog from the strike, but supply chains are safe now.
The strike ‘suspension’ expires on January 15, providing a temporary reprieve during the Holiday season. The two sides will continue to negotiate on outstanding issues including benefits, sharing container royalties, and automation at the ports. Automation at the ports is likely to be the most contentious issue as the ILA seeks to protect union jobs threatened by new technology. SFIA will continue to press for resolution of the outstanding issues prior to January 15 to avoid any disruption in U.S. supply chains.
The ILA was seeking a 77 percent pay increase and USMX was offering a 50 percent increase. Secretary of Labor Su, Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg, and National Economic Council Director Brainard worked with the parties to come to an agreement to end the strike. SFIA commends the Administration for engaging the ILA and USMX to find common ground to keep the ports open and U.S. supply chains operating at full capacity.
For more information, please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].
Washington, D.C. (October 3, 2024): On October 1, the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA), representing 45,000 workers at East and Gulf Coast Ports walked off the job due to contact demands not being met. The Ports represented by U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) have offered a 50 percent pay raise and increased benefits. The ILA is holding out for a 77 percent pay raise, a guarantee not to move to any form of automation that threatens union jobs, and a share of container royalties. With roughly half of U.S. commerce flowing through East and Gulf Coast Ports, a prolonged strike will disrupt supply chains during the critical holiday season.
U.S. supply chains are seriously threatened if ports are not operating at full capacity to keep goods flowing through the 14 East and Gulf Coast ports (Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Wilmington (NC), Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, New Orleans, Mobile, and Houston). With President Biden indicating he is not ready to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to force port workers to return to work, SFIA joined 180 business interests across America on October 2 in a letter to President Biden requesting he intervene in the labor dispute. The SFIA/U.S. business letter follows a request from Congressional Republicans asking the President to intervene and prevent a work stoppage at the ports. SFIA successfully engaged the Biden Administration for help on the West Coast Port Strike, the Rail Strike, and the UPS Strike to keep supply chains operating at full capacity.
The President has directed the ILA and USMX to return to the negotiating table and USMX met with Administration officials, but the ILA has declined to engage without a new contract offer. USMX has filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board alleging the ILA is not negotiating in good faith. With U.S. elections a month away, there is additional political pressure to resolve the strike and not have supply chain disruptions leading up to Election Day.
For more information, please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].
Washington, D.C. (Sept 17, 2024): On September 17, SFIA joined other business interests on a letter to President Biden asking the Administration to work with the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) on resuming stalled contract negotiations as the September 30 deadline approaches. SFIA seeks to avoid any unnecessary and preventable supply chain disruptions created by a labor strike or slowdown at the East Coast Ports, which account for 43 percent of U.S. imports.
The Administration has previously helped with stalled labor talks for the West Coast Ports, Railroads, and UPS. SFIA appreciates the Administration’s previous engagement to keep supply chains operating at full capacity and implores them to do the same for East Coast Ports as the strike rhetoric ramps up. The ILA recently convened its leadership, who approved a strike if no contract agreement is reached, and launched preparations for a strike. The ILA is seeking a 77 percent pay raise; the West Coast Port Workers received a 32 percent raise in their 2023 contract and the sides remain far apart. Automation at ports is another sticking point, with the ILA wanting guarantees that union workers will not lose jobs to automation.
The USMX has stated it is prepared to return to the negotiating table, but the ILA has declined to return until better contract terms are offered. The letter seeks the Administration’s help in forcing the parties to the negotiating table to hammer out a deal and keep ports operating during contract talks.
For more information, please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].
Washington, D.C. (Sept 6, 2024): Almost 300 unions representing port workers from Maine to Texas met yesterday to discuss current labor contract negotiations and reaffirm their demands. The International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) is seeking an 80 percent increase in wages and concessions on the use of automation at the ports. At the conclusion of the two-day meetings, ILA’s Wage Scale Delegates from the 13 port areas in negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), voted unanimously to support a strike beginning October 1.
After sharing an update on Contract negotiations, ILA President Harold Dagget called for the October 1 Strike, saying “…if we are without a Master Contract to replace the current one, we must be prepared if we have to hit the streets at 12:01 AM on Tuesday, October 1st”. ILA EVP Dennis Daggett laid out the union’s Stike Mobilization plan for ports to help unions plan for a potential strike.
The USMX and ILA have not met to discuss the new contract in more than a month and both sides filed a “Notice to Mediation Agencies with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FCMS)” to alert them of the dispute between the parties. USMX remains committed to reaching an agreement with the ILA unions and hopes to re-open dialogue with the dockworkers to discuss contract demands.
SFIA is working with business interests to engage the Administration in the dispute to avoid a strike and unnecessary disruptions in supply chains at the end of the month.
For more information, please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].
Washington, D.C. (Aug 14, 2024): To keep steel and aluminum from China, and other countries under sanctions, out of the U.S. market, President Biden issued dual proclamations to discourage the transshipment of goods with steel and aluminum from China, Russia, Belarus, and Iran from reaching the U.S. market via Mexico. The new tariff rates went into effect on July 10 and imports already in free-trade zones are not exempt from the new tariffs.
Under the new proclamations, a 25 percent tariff would be collected on any steel or steel derivative products imported from Mexico under Section 232 tariffs if the steel is not poured or melted in a USMCA country (U.S., Mexico, or Canada). In addition, products containing aluminum or aluminum derivatives are hit with new Section 232 tariffs of approximately 10 percent if the primary smelt, secondary smelt, or most recent cast was performed in China, Belarus, or Iran. A 200 percent tariff would be applied to aluminum imports if smelts and recasts were performed in Russia.
Steel, aluminum, and derivative products not subject to the new tariffs will retain their exempt status with stricter reporting requirements. Importers must include a ‘Certificate of Analysis’ to receive a tariff exemption for steel and aluminum. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) now requires additional information on the source of smelting and pouring of steel or casting of aluminum to verify tariff-exempt status.
SFIA supports U.S. sanctions on steel and aluminum from bad actor countries but prefers a non-tariff solution to close the Mexico loophole.
For more information, please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].