As the first session of the 118th U.S. Congress comes to a close, the legislative year ended with few major accomplishments.
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118th 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.
Read MoreClimate Change / Sustainability / Environmental Justice
Second Half of Calendar Year Will Be Busy
July/Aug 2021
Calendar year 2021 is halfway over, and the Biden Administration is now more firmly in place.
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Washington Shifts to “New Normal” Schedule
Former Recycling Priorities Back On Track
May/June 2021
At this time a year ago, advocacy efforts in Washington were just starting to adjust to the realities of a pandemic-dictated virtual work environment and a mostly reactive emergency-based legislative agenda.
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FPA Plots Course With Biden Administration
Economic Recovery and Sustainability Top List
March/April 2021
Now that the Biden/Harris Administration is in place and the 117th Congress officially underway, the Flexible Packaging Association is working to support several important legislative priorities. Alison Keane, FPA President and CEO, reached out to the new administration early in the transition to communicate the association’s desire to work with the Biden team on legislative […]
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Welcome to the 117th Congress
Fresh Start Might Mean More Productive Year in 2021
Jan/Feb 2021
2020 felt like both the longest and the shortest of years. In many respects, it seemed to be never-ending—particularly when it came to the endless election cycle and continuous online meetings. At the same time, given the chaotic nature of adapting to pandemic life and the pressure to complete legislation to address the pandemic response, […]
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Advocacy in a Time of Unknowns
Planning will be difficult
Nov/Dec 2020
November is the month of the great unknowns. Questions abound, including how will the elections turn out? Who will be the president come January? Will the Senate flip to the Democrats’ control? Where will we be in fighting the pandemic and will some type of normalcy return, or will we be in the grip of new COVID-19 breakouts and […]
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With Summer Over, Advocacy Work Shifts
Sept/Oct 2020
In Washington, Labor Day is seen as the official end to summer, when Congress returns to the Capitol from its August recess and jumps into a busy legislative session as the end of the federal fiscal year approaches. After months of unceasing extraordinary situations—states reopening, police protests/riots, new COVID outbreaks, party conventions, market swings, trade […]
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