AWFS® was honored to host some special guests at the 2021 AWFS®Fair. AWFS’ advocacy agency, Lobbyit, invited staff from Nevada legislators’ offices: Dane Hudson, Special Projects and Grants Director for Senator Jacky Rosen (NV), and District Director Terry Care from the office of Representative Dina Titus (NV-1). Read more…
To our dear volunteers…we can’t do it without you! We exist for YOU! AWFS® recognizes and thanks the volunteers who we serve and make our work possible! Read more…
Twelve members of the AAWFS® Public Policy Committee and the wood industry called on the offices of twenty DC legislators and committee staff in March to encourage support for apprenticeships and workforce development legislation. Read more…
For quite some time, the woodworking industry has suffered from a perception problem. Ask anyone that does not have any experience in our industry, and I am willing to bet they still think of woodworking as something that took place in their grandfather’s garage. Read more…
THE AWFS® PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR THE AWFS® 2021 VIRTUAL DC FLY-IN! Read more…
Happy #CTEMonth! In February, we celebrate Career Technical Education (CTE) and highlight ways to engage with CTE programs, teachers, and students! Read more…
Want to know how to use the new YouWood industry-wide career awareness campaign to strenghten our industry’s future workforce? Read more here…
The Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers® is in support of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021. AWFS® has officially signed on as a supporter of the Act. Read more…
The Wood Industry Resource Collaborative (WIRC) is excited to announce the launch of their industry-wide career awareness campaign, “You Wood.” Read more…
The House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Susan Davis’s (CA-53) legislation to reauthorize the National Apprenticeship Act that would create nearly one million new Registered Apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and pre-apprenticeship positions over the next five years. Read more…
AWFS is happy to learn that the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, for which we advocated earlier this year, has passed out of the House Education and Labor Committee…read more…
As the White House and Congress continue negotiations on the next Covid-19 relief package, Business Leaders United sent a letter to Congressional leaders in both parties, urging them to invest in digital skills training for workers. Read more…
The U.S. Department of Labor took a range of actions to aid American workers and employers as our nation combats the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Read more…
The Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. Read more…
The following is an update from AWFS’ legislative advocacy partner LobbyIt Read more…
This evening, the Treasury Department and the Department of Labor jointly announced the outlines of guidance, to be released next week, on the new tax credits available to small businesses to cover the costs of the paid sick and family leave requirements that were just signed into law through the enactment of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.. Read more…
On March 18th, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and President Trump signed it into law shortly after receiving the legislation from Congress. Read more…
AWFS® is in support of the “Counseling for Career Choice Act”, which would provide grants to states to establish a comprehensive school counseling program. Read more…
This is your chance to open your doors, welcome students, and make a positive impact on career awareness (and your future employee pipeline)! Read more…
Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV-1) will speak at the Student Awards Ceremony, open to all registered AWFS Fair attendees and
exhibitors…Read more…
Recap of the 2019 AWFS DC Fly-In: Ten members of the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS®) Public Policy committee called on the offices of 21 legislators and agency staff in Washington on March 27…read more…
Legislation will help small businesses develop work-based learning programs. Read more…
Watch the webinar on AWFS public policy (recorded on Dec 4, 2018)…read more…
Seventy CTE professionals from the U.S. and China came together to share ideas…Read more…
The long-awaited update to the Manufacturing Industry Skills Gap Study has been published…read more…
AWFS supports the proposed amendments to the EPA rule for better alignment with the CARB ATCM. Read more…
CARB adopts blueprint for statewide community air protection…Read more…
Is your company impacted by the recent tariffs and trade policy changes? Read more…
AWFS and several other industry associations have come together to address the industry’s skills gap…read more…
The key legislation with supports Career Technical Education (CTE) programs passed quickly through Congress…Read more…
The blueprint provides a proposed policy and regulatory framework for a new program to “reduce air pollution and improve public health…read more…
The CPA (Composite Panel Association) offers information and resources on the EPA’s formaldehyde emissions ruling. Read more…
SCM, a world-leading producer of woodworking machinery, welcomed at its Duluth, GA branch Congressman Rob Woodall, the U.S. Representative for Georgia’s seventh congressional district. Read more…
Watch the webinar about how you can host a MFG Day event (and why you should) Read more…
The focus of the productive event was support for Career Technical Education (CTE) Read more…
Jan 9, 2018
Each month LobbyIt prepares a report for AWFS on public policy and legislative updates. The Dec 2017 report address the tax bill, the upcoming AWFS/WMMA DC fly-in and skilled workforce-related legislation. Read more…
Dec 6, 2017
You may be seeing a lot of news and information about apprenticeships. Legislators, industry and education are recognizing how critical apprenticeships are to strengthening our skilled workforce. Read on for some recent developments…
Nov 3, 2017
The PARTNERS Act of 2017 is a bipartisan bill that would support partnerships between business and local workforce stakeholders Read more…
March 29, 2017
“Closing the Skills Gap and Boosting U.S. Competitiveness” Read more…
March 1, 2017
“Providing More Students a Pathway to Success by Strengthening Access to Career and Technical Education” Read more…
February 28, 2017
Members of the AWFS Public Policy Committee, along with nearly 40 other individuals from wood products manufacturing trade associations and their member companies, flew to Capitol Hill the week of February 13, calling on over three dozen legislative offices…Read more…
December 13, 2016
Woodworking Network (12/12) reports that “The federal regulation that definitively addresses formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products sold in the United States was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 12, 2016, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.” Read more…
August 2, 2016
Woodworking Network (7/29) reports that “Ecovative’s formula for biofabricating MycoBoard panels as an innovative alternative to the traditional manufacturing of particle board and other composite wood products” Read more…
July 28, 2016
Woodworking Network (7/27, Esler) reports that “the EPA moved to reduce exposure to formaldehyde vapors from laminate panel and engineered wood products produced domestically or imported into the United States.” Read more…
June 7, 2016
The Washington Post (6/7, Eilperin) reports the Senate on Tuesday evening, through a voice vote, “unanimously” passed legislation updating the 40-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA, clearing the way for President Obama’s signature. Read more…
Sept 15, 2015
Members of the AWFS Public Policy Committee and two staff called on the offices of 16 legislators in Washington on September 15, to encourage support for Career Technical Education (CTE), federal formaldehyde legislation that is in sync with the California Air Resources Board and balanced decision making related to Combustible Dust. Read more…
See the PPT Presentation (PDF)
AWFS® is dedicated to public policy efforts reflecting the specific interests of its members and those of the broader wood products manufacturing industry. Members of the AWFS Public Policy Committee stay abreast of emerging trends and take action to neutralize potential threats. The association is active at the state and federal level through participation in coalitions focused on Career Technical Education and skilled workforce development.
Through an annual “Public Policy Fly-In” to Washington, D.C., Members meet with their representatives to advocate around issues that keep the U.S. manufacturing base strong and competitive and to express support for Career Technical Education programs and funding to ensure tomorrow’s workforce.
Are you impacted by current legislation? Would you like to join the public policy committee, attend a fly-in, or otherwise learn how to get involved?
Contact:
Tovi Spero, AWFS Education Director
tovi@awfs.org
(323) 215-0311
