New leadership will be in place for key committees that have jurisdiction involving legislative priorities for the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA). FPA has already begun preparing for what will come.
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Expect a Lot of Movement on Artificial Intelligence Policy
Sept/Oct 2024
There is a broad bipartisan understanding that the government needs to proactively work to safeguard against the risks of AI while ensuring the benefits of AI can be utilized.
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Job Training Remains in Focus as Manufacturing Rebounds
July/August 2024
Explore the employment trends and issues at the national level in the U.S.
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118th Congress Deserves Award for Least Legislation Passed
May/June 2024
This Congress—specifically the U.S. House—found a way to pass bipartisan legislation in critical times by deviating from the regular procedure and using the suspension process.
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Congress Ponders Packaging Legislation
March/April 2024
Among the issues are recycling, plastic pollutions, and extended producer responsibility.
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2024 Will Not Be a Quiet Year in Washington
Jan/Feb 2024
While it is unlikely many pieces of consequential legislation will make it to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature, we do anticipate a lot of legislative activity where FPA will advocate on behalf of the flexible packaging industry.
Read MoreChallenging Legislative Year Coming to a Close
Nov/Dec 2023
As the first session of the 118th U.S. Congress comes to a close, the legislative year ended with few major accomplishments.
Read More118th Congress Confronts Tech Issues
Sept/Oct 2023
As manufacturing floors become more integrated and companies increase investments in technology, technology oversight has become an increasing area of interest.
Read MoreWorkforce Issues Capture Attention in Washington
July/Aug 2023
The U.S. workforce is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread shifts to remote- and hybrid-work models, which does not work well for manufacturing jobs that require skilled, hands-on engagement.
Read MoreGridlock Marks Start of 2023 on Capitol Hill
FPA Continues to Monitor Congress and Biden Administration
May/June 2023
The situation in Washington, D.C., as we enter late spring and early summer is pretty much what was anticipated—a Congress that has accomplished little of meaningful substance to date.
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FPA Continues to Fight Against Unfair Aluminum Tariffs
Deadline for Final Findings Is Extended to July
March/April 2023
The Flexible Packaging Association developed and launched a broad-based outreach campaign to engage members of Capitol Hill and sound the alarm that the flexible packaging industry was once again being unfairly targeted with unwarranted trade actions on aluminum foil.
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New Congress, Biden Second Term Kick Off 2023
Jan/Feb 2023
With the midterm elections behind us, 2023 kicks off the 118th Congress and marks the second half of President Joe Biden’s first term. As the past several years have taught us, we know we need to expect the unexpected.
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Here Is a Look at Potential Impacts of the Elections
Nov/Dec 2022
Election Day on November 8 has been a date circled on the calendar for what feels like forever. From the first day of the 117th Congress on January 3, 2021, it seemed the race for the midterm elections had kicked off. Democrats focused their messaging on how to hold majority control of Congress and Republicans on how to regain leadership control. And now, here we are, with the elections upon us and at the time for assessing the impact of and planning for the next Congress.
Read MoreManufacturing Month Creates Opportunities to Focus on Workforce Issues
Sept/Oct 2022
Even before the pandemic, a workforce shortage was brewing nationwide. The shortage is particularly impactful in the manufacturing sector, as appropriately skilled workers were becoming harder to find.
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The President’s Budget Request Explained
July/Aug 2022
Every year the president and Congress engage in the annual federal budget process to fund all aspects of the federal government. This complex process seems to get more complicated every year.
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All Sides Agree: Workforce Issues Need Solutions
May/June 2022
While aspects of the economy are in recovery, workforce issues are at a crisis point. Public and private entities, large and small companies are facing unprecedented challenges in finding and retaining both entry-level and skilled workers as the labor force participation rate continues to decline.
Read MoreMidterm Elections Just Months Away
March/April 2022
These days, Washington is in a constant election cycle. A lot is at stake this November, including control of both the House and Senate.
Read MoreCybersecurity Becomes High Priority
Jan/Feb 2022
Many priorities are the same every year—plastics, tariffs, and recycling. In 2022, cybersecurity has been added to that upper echelon of importance.
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Looking Back / Moving Forward
Biden Administration provides more clarity with priorities
Nov/Dec 2021
The Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA) federal advocacy efforts continue to advance to protect the priorities of the flexible packaging industry. “Flexible” has been the word of the year again, and efforts in Washington, D.C., continued to embrace this mantra.
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National Recycling Efforts Gain Support
Congress Considers Numerous Proposals
Sept/Oct 2021
A top legislative priority for the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) continues to be an unwavering commitment to advocate for a national strategy to improve, advance, and increase plastics recycling in the U.S. From the time the Biden Administration and the 117th Congress were first sworn in earlier this year, FPA has worked with our industry partners on efforts to advance a comprehensive strategic framework to implement legislation and regulations that will create a more circular economy for flexible packaging and all plastics.
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