Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
Reps. Fischbach, Budzinski Applauded for Legislation That Will Diversify Corn Demand
CHESTERFIELD, Missouri, April 1 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news:
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Reps. Fischbach, Budzinski Applauded for Legislation that Will Diversify Corn Demand
Author: Bryan Goodman
Reps. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) and Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) introduced H.R. 8137 the Biobased Materials Investment and Production Act to incentivize the production of biobased chemicals and materials, which will create new markets for American farmers..
NCGA is working closely with Congress and a coalition of organizations to support and expand the ag bioeconomy. In response to
... Show Full Article
CHESTERFIELD, Missouri, April 1 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news:
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Reps. Fischbach, Budzinski Applauded for Legislation that Will Diversify Corn Demand
Author: Bryan Goodman
Reps. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) and Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) introduced H.R. 8137 the Biobased Materials Investment and Production Act to incentivize the production of biobased chemicals and materials, which will create new markets for American farmers..
NCGA is working closely with Congress and a coalition of organizations to support and expand the ag bioeconomy. In response tothe introduction of the tax legislation, Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower released the following statement:
"Corn growers are very appreciative of Reps. Fischbach and Budzinski for introducing this legislation that will diversify demand for our farmers, strengthen rural economies and support domestic manufacturing. Boosting market opportunities for bioproducts made from agricultural feedstocks creates new revenue streams for growers of many different crops, which is particularly helpful during difficult economic times."
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Bryan Goodman
Sr. Director of Policy Communications / Media Relations
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Original text here: https://www.ncga.com/stay-informed/media/in-the-news/article/2026/03/reps-fischbach-budzinski-applauded-for-legislation-that-will-diversify-corn-demand
[Category: Agriculture]
NCBA and PLC Participate in Grazing Roundtable, MOU Signing
CENTENNIAL, Colorado, April 1 -- The National Cattlemen's Beef Association posted the following news release on March 31, 2026:
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NCBA and PLC Participate in Grazing Roundtable, MOU Signing
Today, public lands ranchers joined Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, as the secretaries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch their Grazing Action Plan.
National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) leaders and members then participated in a roundtable discussing cooperative work to address longstanding challenges for
... Show Full Article
CENTENNIAL, Colorado, April 1 -- The National Cattlemen's Beef Association posted the following news release on March 31, 2026:
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NCBA and PLC Participate in Grazing Roundtable, MOU Signing
Today, public lands ranchers joined Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, as the secretaries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch their Grazing Action Plan.
National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) leaders and members then participated in a roundtable discussing cooperative work to address longstanding challenges forfederal lands grazing permittees. PLC President Tim Canterbury, PLC Past President Mark Roeber, and Industry Issues Committee Chairman Nate Thomson were joined by NCBA President-elect Kim Brackett, American National CattleWomen (ANCW) Past President Nikki Weston, Washington ranchers Stephanie and Nick Martinez, Arizona permittee Dan Bell, and Colorado rancher Nancy Roberts in raising critical ranching issues to be addressed.
"Public lands ranchers are resilient by nature, but we still need significant relief from the burdensome federal regulations that make it harder to do our jobs every day. This MOU will make it easier to ranch on public lands and will help improve the health of western landscapes," said PLC President and Colorado permittee Tim Canterbury. "By speeding up the permitting process and expanding the use of targeted grazing, the federal government is ensuring that more ranchers will keep ranching and that rangelands will face less degradation and destruction from wildfires and mismanagement. PLC appreciates USDA and the Interior Department standing with livestock producers in the West and putting this MOU and grazing plan into action."
The MOU outlines cooperation between the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on the Grazing Action Plan, released by USDA last year. This plan focuses on boosting rancher resiliency by assessing vacant allotments, unifying permitting frameworks between agencies, expanding the use of targeting grazing to prevent wildfires, and establishing a rancher liaison program for wildfire incident command centers.
"When you raise cattle on federal lands, it requires a great deal of work to sort through the government red tape. This plan will cut bureaucracy by streamlining the permitting process, expanding grazing access, and optimizing targeted grazing in areas that are the most vulnerable to wildfires," said NCBA President-elect and Idaho rancher Kim Brackett. "This MOU will provide much needed regulatory relief to ranchers and make it easier for us to carry out the voluntary conservation essential to maintaining these working lands. NCBA thanks USDA and the Interior Department for listening to ranchers in the West and to advance much needed coordination between the agencies."
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Original text here: https://www.ncba.org/news-media/news/details/47425/ncba-and-plc-participate-in-grazing-roundtable-mou-signing
[Category: Agriculture]
Grazing Agreement Cuts Red Tape for America's Ranchers
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 1 -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following news release on March 31, 2026:
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Grazing Agreement Cuts Red Tape for America's Ranchers
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on a memorandum of understanding between USDA and the Department of the Interior to strengthen public lands grazing and the partnership between ranchers and the agencies.
"Farmers and ranchers appreciate USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum for their work to improve access to public lands for grazing.
... Show Full Article
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 1 -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following news release on March 31, 2026:
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Grazing Agreement Cuts Red Tape for America's Ranchers
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on a memorandum of understanding between USDA and the Department of the Interior to strengthen public lands grazing and the partnership between ranchers and the agencies.
"Farmers and ranchers appreciate USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum for their work to improve access to public lands for grazing.Public lands offer quality grazing grounds for livestock, which in turn reduces wildfire risk and contributes to the vitality of rural communities across the West.
"The MOU will reduce delays, enhance transparency and streamline the approval of grazing permits to help ranchers raise livestock to meet the protein needs of America's families."
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Original text here: https://www.fb.org/news-release/grazing-agreement-cuts-red-tape-for-americas-ranchers
[Category: Agriculture]
Equipment Leasing & Finance Association: Equipment Demand Remained Elevated
WASHINGTON, April 1 (TNSrep) -- The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association issued the following news release:
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New Equipment Demand Remained Elevated
The latest CapEx Finance Index (CFI), released today by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA), shows that equipment demand stayed strong through the middle of the first quarter. New business volumes (NBV) in January and February saw record-breaking growth, fueled by a surge in activity among independent providers. With stable financial conditions, the industry is well-positioned even if the Fed continues to hold rates at current
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 1 (TNSrep) -- The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association issued the following news release:
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New Equipment Demand Remained Elevated
The latest CapEx Finance Index (CFI), released today by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA), shows that equipment demand stayed strong through the middle of the first quarter. New business volumes (NBV) in January and February saw record-breaking growth, fueled by a surge in activity among independent providers. With stable financial conditions, the industry is well-positioned even if the Fed continues to hold rates at currentlevels.
* Total NBV among surveyed ELFA member companies was $11.0 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis.
* Year-to-date NBV rose by 22.2% relative to the same period in 2025.
* Year-over-year, NBV increased by 14.2% on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.
"The February CFI report is a clear signal that equipment demand isn't slowing down," said Leigh Lytle, President and CEO at ELFA. "Every industry segment saw healthy growth over the last year, with independent providers leading the way with another surge in February. This survey was conducted before the conflict in Iran and the March FOMC meeting, and those could cause more bumps in the first half. However, financial conditions and credit approvals remain strong. These are signs that the sector can withstand additional shocks."
Equipment demand remained strong. Total NBV grew by $11.0 billion in February. While that is a 4.7% decline from January, which was an all-time high, it's only the second time new activity has ever hit $11.0 billion. Year-to-date activity in January and February grew at the second-fastest pace ever, and new volume growth adjusted for inflation continued to rise. The total new volume series tracks the amount of new activity added by banks, independents, and captives in a given month.
Small ticket volume growth tracks broader economic conditions and is an important barometer of aggregate demand for equipment. Small ticket deals grew by $4.4 billion, down 14.7% from January, but were still above their 12-month trailing average of $3.5 billion.
Activity at banks and independents rose by 11.7% and 12.7% from the prior month, respectively. New deals at captives dropped by 17.5% but were in line with their average over the last year. Post-pandemic activity continues to be driven by deals at captives and independents.
The overall credit approval rate rose for the first time in three months. The industry-wide average increased to 77.1% in February, up 0.3 percentage points from the prior month. Over the last year, the credit approval rate was up 1.7 percentage points. The average small ticket approval rate dropped for a third consecutive month, to 79.2% in February. The rates at banks and independents rose by 0.9 and 1.9 percentage points, respectively. The approval rate at captives dropped by 2.5 percentage points.
The delinquency rate dropped to its lowest point in years, while the loss rate rose. The overall delinquency rate declined to 1.8% in February, its lowest point in 32 months. The delinquency rates at banks, captives, and independents all fell and are either flat or down over the last year.
The overall loss rate increased by 0.09 percentage points to 0.55% in February, offsetting the 0.1 percentage point decline in January. The average loss rate for small ticket deals also rose to 0.68% and remained near its two-year high. The average loss rate for all three industry groups increased from the prior month.
Industry Confidence
The Monthly Confidence Index (https://www.elfaonline.org/research/capex-finance-index/elfa-capex-finance-index-february-2026) tracks the sentiment of executives in the industry. The index in March is 61.0, a decrease from 67.6 in February, but within the range of index levels over the past nine months.
"The commercial equipment finance industry is starting 2026 off well," said David Normandin, CLFP, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wintrust Specialty Finance. "While there is abundant uncertainty, our customers continue to invest in capital equipment. We remain steady in our commitment to serve the U.S. business community and are finding ways to meet their needs and deliver value. I expect that 2026 will have challenges to overcome and opportunities to execute successfully that will enable continued growth."
Technical Note
New business volume data are concurrently seasonally adjusted each month to capture the latest seasonal patterns. Data in previous months and years may change due to updated seasonal factors.
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Original text here: https://www.elfaonline.org/newsroom/cfi-february-2026
[Category: Facilities Management]
CTA Announces First Industry Standard to Advance Women's Health
ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 1 -- The Consumer Technology Association issued the following news release on March 31, 2026:
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CTA Announces First Industry Standard to Advance Women's Health
New framework addresses long-standing data gaps and provides guidance for designing digital health technologies that better serve women.
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The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards body, announced the first women's health standard for the consumer technology industry. The standard, "Best Practices and Performance Requirements for Women's
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 1 -- The Consumer Technology Association issued the following news release on March 31, 2026:
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CTA Announces First Industry Standard to Advance Women's Health
New framework addresses long-standing data gaps and provides guidance for designing digital health technologies that better serve women.
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The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards body, announced the first women's health standard for the consumer technology industry. The standard, "Best Practices and Performance Requirements for Women'sHealth Technologies (CTA-2134)," sets best practices and voluntary technical guidance to help digital health technologies better account for women's physiology, health conditions, and life stages.
CTA announced the standard during today's event at the CTA Innovation House on Capitol Hill, where it convened physicians, health technology companies, and policymakers to discuss the future of women's health innovation and the role technology can play in improving outcomes. Panels highlighted how the standard addresses gaps in health innovations, supports inclusive design and validation and strengthens ethical data collection.
"Technology is transforming how people understand and manage their health," said Kinsey Fabrizio, President, CTA. "But for too long, many technologies have relied on data sets that do not fully capture women's physiology and experiences. By bringing industry leaders together to establish clear standards, CTA is helping ensure the next generation of digital health technologies delivers more insights and better outcomes for millions of women."
Women represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the digital health market, yet many devices and algorithms have historically been designed using data that underrepresents women. This affects the accuracy of health insights, symptom recognition, and treatment recommendations.
"Technology has enormous potential to help people better understand and manage their health," said Kerri Haresign, Senior Director, Technology and Standards, CTA. "Developed in collaboration with industry leaders, this new standard provides a clear framework for building digital health technologies that account for women's physiology and lived experiences."
CTA developed the standard through its open consensus process with participation from leading organizations across the health technology ecosystem.
Sheena Franklin, Founder and CEO of K'ept, and Fabrizio opened the program by emphasizing the importance and timeliness of integrating women's health considerations into mainstream technology development. Franklin co-chairs CTA's Women's Health Standard Working Group and previously spoke at the Digital Health Summit at CES(R) 2026.
"Traditionally, technologies have been built on assumptions centered on male physiology, data, and needs that don't always hold for women or across different life stages," said Franklin. "By bringing industry, clinical, and technical perspectives together, this standard creates a concrete way to evaluate how technologies are designed, tested, and communicated."
CTA has long convened the technology and healthcare communities to advance digital health innovation. The organization's work in health technology spans research initiatives, a Technology & Standards portfolio with 37 published health standards, and the Digital Health Summit at CES(R), where global leaders in healthcare, technology and policy come together to explore the future of health innovation.
CTA provides essential ANSI-accredited industry standards that enable interoperability between new products and existing devices. This accreditation demonstrates that CTA's procedures for developing technical standards meet ANSI's rigorous requirements for openness, balance, consensus, and due process.
For more information and to see all of CTA's digital health research reports and standards, visit CTA.tech/topics/digital-health.
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About Consumer Technology Association (CTA)(R):
As North America's largest technology trade association, CTA is the tech sector. Our members are the world's leading innovators - from startups to global brands - helping support more than 18 million American jobs. CTA owns and produces CES(R) - the most powerful tech event in the world. Find us at CTA.tech. Follow us @CTAtech.
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Original text here: https://www.cta.tech/press-releases/cta-announces-first-industry-standard-to-advance-women-s-health
[Category: Electronic Products]
Air Transport International Pilots Ratify Tentative Agreement
MCLEAN, Virginia, April 1 -- The Air Line Pilots Association International issued the following news release:
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Air Transport International Pilots Ratify Tentative Agreement
Air Transport International (ATI) pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), voted to ratify a Tentative Agreement worth $114 million in increased value to the pilot group. The agreement comes after almost six years of bargaining.
ATI pilots ratified the four-year agreement by an 87 percent margin, with 94 percent of the group's active ALPA members casting ballots.
Capt. Mike Sterling, chair
... Show Full Article
MCLEAN, Virginia, April 1 -- The Air Line Pilots Association International issued the following news release:
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Air Transport International Pilots Ratify Tentative Agreement
Air Transport International (ATI) pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), voted to ratify a Tentative Agreement worth $114 million in increased value to the pilot group. The agreement comes after almost six years of bargaining.
ATI pilots ratified the four-year agreement by an 87 percent margin, with 94 percent of the group's active ALPA members casting ballots.
Capt. Mike Sterling, chairof ATI's ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC), said he was pleased that a majority of pilots agreed that the deal provides real value for the pilot group.
"It includes 22 percent raises over four years, with an 11 percent increase in year one. It substantially raises retirement contributions, drastically improves our scheduling policies, and gives us a new and improved vacation system. This is truly a quality-of-life contract, and we are glad to have reached the finish line after many years at the bargaining table," Sterling said.
The new contract also retains home-basing and includes a one-time ratification bonus, as well as a one-time bonus contribution to the pilots' 401(k) plan.
"I'd like to thank all the ATI pilots who have stood with us in solidarity throughout our lengthy negotiations," Sterling said. "We are proud to be Amazon's largest airline, and we hope this new contract will strengthen our relationship with them and our company for years to come."
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Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines, including the 550 ATI pilots. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on X @ALPAPilots.
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Original text here: https://www.alpa.org/press-room/2026/03/air-transport-international-pilots-ratify-tentative-agreement
[Category: Transportation]
APA Statement on the Supreme Court Decision in Chiles Vs. Salazar
ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 1 -- The American Psychiatric Association issued the following statement on March 31, 2026:
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APA Statement on the Supreme Court Decision in Chiles Vs. Salazar
Washington, D.C. -- The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is deeply concerned that the Supreme Court's decision in Chiles v. Salazar will potentially harm many LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly minors, who will no longer be protected by state laws against conversion therapy.
Being LGBTQ+ is not a mental illness or disorder. Conversion therapy -- efforts to change sexual orientation and gender identity
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 1 -- The American Psychiatric Association issued the following statement on March 31, 2026:
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APA Statement on the Supreme Court Decision in Chiles Vs. Salazar
Washington, D.C. -- The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is deeply concerned that the Supreme Court's decision in Chiles v. Salazar will potentially harm many LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly minors, who will no longer be protected by state laws against conversion therapy.
Being LGBTQ+ is not a mental illness or disorder. Conversion therapy -- efforts to change sexual orientation and gender identity-- is not a legitimate therapeutic treatment. Leading health care entities, the APA among them, have concluded that these are potentially harmful, discredited practices and are not supported by scientific evidence.
We urge the families of LGBTQ+ individuals, faith-based institutions, and therapists to avoid these harmful practices.
More information on LGBTQ+ mental health and other resources:
* APA's Diversity & Health Equity Education: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning (https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/diversity/education/lgbtq-patients)
* Mental health crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ individuals (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/)
* APA Position Statement on Conversion Therapy and LGBTQ+ Patients (https://www.psychiatry.org/getattachment/3d23f2f4-1497-4537-b4de-fe32fe8761bf/Position-Conversion-Therapy.pdf)
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American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 40,400 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. APA's vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.
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Original text here: https://www.psychiatry.org/News-room/News-Releases/APA-on-Supreme-Court-Decision-Chiles-v-Salazarr
[Category: Psychiatry/Psychology]
