Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
Southern Shrimp Alliance: U.S. Shrimp Industry, Food Producers Raise Alarm in Section 301 Investigations on Forced Labor and Excess Capacity
NEW PORT RICHEY, Florida, April 24 -- The Southern Shrimp Alliance issued the following news release on April 23, 2026:
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U.S. Shrimp Industry, Food Producers Raise Alarm in Section 301 Investigations on Forced Labor and Excess Capacity
Last week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative ("USTR") closed the public comment period in two of its Section 301 investigations examining:
(1) Forced Labor: The failure of certain trading partners to prohibit and effectively enforce bans on imports produced with forced labor, which provides foreign producers with an artificial cost advantage
... Show Full Article
NEW PORT RICHEY, Florida, April 24 -- The Southern Shrimp Alliance issued the following news release on April 23, 2026:
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U.S. Shrimp Industry, Food Producers Raise Alarm in Section 301 Investigations on Forced Labor and Excess Capacity
Last week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative ("USTR") closed the public comment period in two of its Section 301 investigations examining:
(1) Forced Labor: The failure of certain trading partners to prohibit and effectively enforce bans on imports produced with forced labor, which provides foreign producers with an artificial cost advantagethat distorts competition in the U.S. market; and
(2) Excess Capacity: Structural excess capacity and production in key sectors, where foreign government interventions have supported production "untethered from the incentives of domestic and global demand," leading to overproduction, persistent trade surpluses, and the displacement of U.S. production.
The investigations focus on whether these acts, policies, and practices are "unreasonable or discriminatory" and burden or restrict U.S. commerce. USTR's initiation notice for the excess capacity investigation specifically identified "processed food and beverages" among the sectors "plagued by excess capacity and production," noting resulting "loss of domestic production capacity."
The Southern Shrimp Alliance, together with the American Shrimp Processors Association, submitted joint comments in both investigations on behalf of the U.S. shrimp industry. These submissions demonstrated that foreign governments' acts, policies, and practices are "unreasonable" under Section 301 with respect to both (1) the failure to prohibit forced labor in upstream supply chains and (2) subsidy-driven excess capacity in aquaculture and seafood processing. The submissions explained how these unfair practices harm the U.S. shrimp industry by suppressing prices, displacing domestic production, and reducing market share, output, employment, and investment.
SSA also submitted comments as part of the Real American Food Producers Alliance, a coalition of U.S. food producers (including the American Honey Producers Association, Catfish Farmers of America, Crawfish Processors Alliance, and the Louisiana Farm Bureau) raising concerns in the Section 301 investigation regarding excess capacity about increased U.S. dependence on foreign sources of food and the erosion of domestic food production. This submission described how foreign government interventions support production well beyond market demand, contributing to sustained oversupply, declining prices, and the United States' increased reliance on imports across key food sectors.
A broad range of U.S. food producers outside of the shrimp industry similarly used the comment period to highlight the growing impact of these dynamics on domestic food production. Submissions from industries including fruit and vegetable processors, rice, seafood, specialty crop producers, and sugar described a consistent pattern of foreign government intervention driving excess capacity, suppressing prices, increasing import penetration in the U.S. market, and displacing U.S. food production.
* Citrus: California citrus producers, through the California Citrus Quality Council, California Citrus Research Board, and California Citrus Mutual, reported that government-supported industrial policies in countries such as Peru, Chile, Argentina, and South Africa have contributed to rising imports into the United States, including an increase in Argentine lemon imports from approximately 18,000 metric tons to 94,000 metric tons between initial market access and 2024, more than five times the original projection. These imports have undercut California lemon growers' prices and continue to displace domestic production, including reduced retail shelf space for California mandarins as shipments from foreign producers expand before and after the domestic growing season.
* Catfish (fish fillet): The American Coalition for Fair Trade in Seafood reported that government-supported expansion of Vietnam's aquaculture industry has resulted in substantial excess capacity, with Vietnam accounting for 42 percent of global fish fillet production in 2024 and exporting over 90 percent of its output. In addition, Vietnam produced approximately 3 billion pounds of freshwater catfish (pangasius) in 2024, with production reported to have increased by 11 percent in 2025. These exports have contributed to the displacement of domestic producers despite existing trade remedies, as Vietnam's fish fillet exports to the United States totaled approximately $306 million in 2025, representing a significant share of the U.S. market.
* Crawfish: U.S. crawfish producers, through a submission by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, reported that imports entering the United States at prices below fair market value have contributed to declining import prices, including a drop in landed duty-paid values from $5.64 per pound (2013-2018) to $3.02 per pound (2019-2024), levels well below U.S. production costs, which exceed $9.00 per pound for crawfish tail meat. These declining prices have been accompanied by increasing import penetration, with frozen whole-boiled crawfish rising to over 37 percent of total U.S. imports, and continued market concentration, with China accounting for approximately 70 percent of U.S. crawfish imports. As a result, U.S. crawfish producers report operating below capacity and facing continued downward pressure on prices.
* Fruit and Vegetables: The American Fruit and Vegetable Coalition reported that foreign government support across the full supply chain has enabled sustained export capacity and low-priced imports into the United States from China, the European Union, Mexico, and Thailand. Most critically, China supplied over 237 million kilograms of prepared or preserved vegetables in 2025, accounting for more than half of total U.S. imports under that category and representing an approximately 80 percent increase from 2019 levels. The submission identified 21 U.S. fruit and vegetable processing facility closures since 2018, pointing to a pattern of declining domestic output, price suppression, and reduced investment in the U.S. processing sector.
* Honey: The American Honey Producers Association reported that export-oriented production in countries, specifically India and Vietnam, has expanded beyond domestic demand, contributing to rising imports into the United States, including a 565 percent increase since 1990 and a decline in domestic market share from over 70 percent to less than 19 percent. India and Vietnam accounted for nearly 46 percent of U.S. honey imports in 2025, while imported honey consistently enters the U.S. market at prices below domestic production costs. This contributed to a 41.7 percent decline in U.S. honey production since 1990, a 25 percent reduction in managed colonies, and sustained financial losses, including a 22.7 percent operating loss rate.
* Processed Peaches: The U.S. processed peach industry, through the California Cling Peach Board and California Canning Peach Association, reported that long-standing subsidies and export-targeting policies in China and the European Union have supported sustained production and export volumes, contributing to rising imports into the United States, including a 68 percent increase in imports from the EU between 2020 and 2025 and annual imports from China exceeding 40,000 metric tons over the same period. These imports have been sold at prices consistently below U.S. production costs and have contributed to a nearly 90 percent decline in U.S. export volumes since 2005 and a roughly 60 percent decline in domestic deliveries from growers to processors.
* Processed Pears: The U.S. processed pear industry, through the Northwest Horticultural Council, Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service, Washington Oregon Canning Pear Association, California Pear Advisory Board, and California Pear Growers Association, reported that China's export-targeting policies and subsidies have supported sustained canned pear production and low-priced exports, contributing to continued import volumes into the United States, including shipments of over 20,000 metric tons annually between 2020 and 2025, and pricing levels roughly half those of U.S. products. These imports have contributed to a 23 percent decline in U.S. canned pear production between 2021 and 2025. Notably, this contraction has left only two remaining U.S. processors and resulted in the loss of grower contracts and the removal of hundreds of acres of pear orchards.
* Rice: U.S. rice producers, through submissions from the USA Rice Federation and the U.S. Rice Producers Association, reported that government support programs in countries such as India and Thailand expand production beyond market demand and contribute to rising imports into the United States, including a doubling of imports over the past decade to $1.5 billion (1.51 million metric tons) in 2025. These submissions further report that import volumes in 2025 were equivalent to more than 600,000 acres of U.S. production, and that approximately 200,000 acres were lost from U.S. rice production between 2024 and 2025, with an additional 470,000-acre decline in long-grain planting projected for 2026.
* Scallops: U.S. scallop fishermen, through a submission by the Fisheries Survival Fund, reported that government-supported expansion of Japan's scallop industry has contributed to increasing export capacity and rising shipments to the United States, including imports increasing from 1.4 million kilograms in 2018 to 8.9 million kilograms in 2024, making Japan the largest source of U.S. scallop imports since 2022. By 2024, U.S. imports of scallops accounted for more than a quarter of Japan's total scallop exports. The loss of Japan's traditional export markets also led to a "freefall" in scallop prices, contributing to downward pressure on U.S. prices and significant economic harm to U.S. fishermen.
* Groundfish: The Oregon Trawl Commission reported that China's subsidy-driven expansion of its seafood processing sector has created substantial excess capacity, including approximately 30.2 million metric tons of annual processing capacity across 9,433 facilities, accounting for roughly 35 to 40 percent of global seafood processing as of 2025. These practices have been associated with declining economic performance in U.S. fisheries, including a 44 percent decrease in revenue for Oregon groundfish vessels from $29.6 million in 2017 to $16.7 million in 2023 and a 41 percent decline in profit per pound over the same period.
* Sugar: The American Sugar Alliance reported structural excess capacity in global sugar markets, resulting in rising volumes of low-priced imports into the United States, including a 333 percent increase in over-quota imports from 194,013 to 840,667 metric tons between 2021 and 2025. Imports from El Salvador and Honduras alone increased by more than 2,900 percent and 2,500 percent, respectively, over that period. These imports have diminished domestic production capacity, including a 16.8 percent decline in sugarbeet farms between 2012 and 2022 and a 13.6 percent decline in beet processing facilities over the past decade.
* Table Grapes: The California Table Grape Commission reported that government-supported export expansion in Peru, Chile, and Mexico has resulted in sustained excess capacity and rising shipments to the United States, including exports increasing by more than 600 percent over six seasons and Peru and Chile accounting for approximately 45 percent and 35 percent of total U.S. imports, respectively. These imports have displaced domestic production, reducing the U.S. market share of domestic table grapes to approximately 40 percent, and contributed to oversupply conditions, including shipments of 3.4 million boxes per week during the 2025-2026 season and sharp price declines of $2 to $4 per box from levels above $40 per box in December 2025.
* Wine Grapes: U.S. winegrape growers and wine industry participants, through submissions from organizations including the California Association of Winegrape Growers, the Lodi Winegrape Commission, Allied Grape Growers, and others, reported that foreign government support in the European Union has sustained structural excess capacity in global wine markets contributing to measurable contraction in domestic production. California winegrape output has declined from approximately 4.28 million tons in 2018 to roughly 2.62 million tons in 2025, a reduction of nearly 40 percent, alongside declining domestic market share and rising import share. Growers also reported widespread vineyard removals, unharvested crops, and declining returns, including instances of hundreds of thousands of tons of grapes left unharvested and farm-level price declines of more than 40 percent.
In sum, submissions to the USTR from a broad array of domestic food producers catalogue how import competition is quickly eroding America's capacity to feed itself. Absent meaningful action under Section 301 that addresses structural excess capacity in foreign food production, imports will continue to displace domestic food production and increase U.S. reliance on imports for critical food products.
The testimony of these American food producers poses a fundamental question to President Trump's Administration: Are we, as a country, better off by continuing to offshore food production? For those who value consumption of low-priced products regardless of circumstances, the answer is yes. However, for those who understand the costs of reliance on foreign supply chains to rural communities across the country and the vulnerabilities created by sourcing food products overseas, the reports of these varied, ostensibly unrelated industries should be deeply concerning.
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Review the joint submission of the American Shrimp Processors Association and Southern Shrimp Alliance to the USTR in the Section 301 investigation on forced labor here: https://shrimpalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Shrimp-Industry-Narrative-Excerpt-USTR-2026-0133-00126678-CAT-14655-Public-Document.pdf
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Review the joint submission of the American Shrimp Processors Association and Southern Shrimp Alliance to the USTR in the Section 301 investigation on structural excess capacity here: https://shrimpalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SSA-And-ASPA-USTR-2026-0067-00126406-CAT-14354-Public-Document.pdf
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Review the submission of the Real American Food Producers Alliance to the USTR in the Section 301 investigation on structural excess capacity here: https://shrimpalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Real-American-Food-Producers-USTR-2026-0067-00127102-CAT-15096-Public-Document.pdf
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Original text here: https://shrimpalliance.com/u-s-shrimp-industry-food-producers-raise-alarm-in-section-301-investigations-on-forced-labor-and-excess-capacity/
[Category: Food/Beverage]
Nearly Half of Middle-Class Americans Lack Confidence They Will Have Enough Retirement Savings, Gen X and Millennials are the Least Confident, ACLI Finds
WASHINGTON, April 24 (TNSrep)-- The American Council of Life Insurers issued the following news release on April 23, 2026:
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Nearly Half of Middle-Class Americans Lack Confidence They Will Have Enough Retirement Savings, Gen X and Millennials are the Least Confident, ACLI Finds
ACLI Financial Resilience Index rises in Q4 2025, but retirement readiness remains a concern
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The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) today released the latest Financial Resilience Index and accompanying survey, which measures middle-class households' ability to manage financial challenges and plan for a stable
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 24 (TNSrep)-- The American Council of Life Insurers issued the following news release on April 23, 2026:
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Nearly Half of Middle-Class Americans Lack Confidence They Will Have Enough Retirement Savings, Gen X and Millennials are the Least Confident, ACLI Finds
ACLI Financial Resilience Index rises in Q4 2025, but retirement readiness remains a concern
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The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) today released the latest Financial Resilience Index and accompanying survey, which measures middle-class households' ability to manage financial challenges and plan for a stablefuture.
The survey, conducted by YouGov, shows that middle-class retirement preparedness may be at a crossroads, especially among Americans nearing retirement age. Gen X Americans, now aged 45-60, are particularly anxious about retirement, with nearly six in ten (59%) reporting they are "not very" or "not at all" confident about their retirement savings. Millennials are close behind, with 51% expressing similar concerns. Overall, 46% of Americans lack confidence in their retirement savings.
The April Financial Resilience Index, which looks at data from the fourth quarter of 2025, found that middle-class financial resilience improved compared to the third quarter of 2025 and was above historical norms. However, as economic pressures persisted, financial resilience in Q4 2025 was still below that of Q4 2024.
"While the lack of retirement confidence among middle class Americans is concerning, the fact that Americans approaching their retirement years are the least confident paints an even more sobering picture," said ACLI President & CEO David Chavern. "Even as economic conditions improved late last year, families are struggling to bridge the gap between where they are and where they need to be for a secure retirement. "
Survey Findings: The Retirement Confidence Gap
The survey also found that:
* 41% of middle-class households haven't looked for information or guidance about planning for retirement in the past year. Of those who haven't looked, 56% lack confidence that they will have enough savings to live comfortably throughout retirement.
* Middle-class households with life insurance are significantly more likely to feel confident about retirement (56%) compared to those without (44%). This demonstrates the protective role comprehensive financial planning plays in retirement readiness.
* When seeking retirement guidance, middle-class households are turning primarily to digital sources rather than professional advice. 30% used online research, while only 20% consulted a financial advisor or insurance agent.
Financial Resilience Improves in Q4 2025
Elevated inflation for household and recreation expenses continues to pose an affordability challenge for the middle class. However, the Q4 2025 Headline Index improved by 7.5 points from the previous quarter, driven by above-average resource gains and moderating cost pressures. Wage growth has slowed since peaking in early 2023, but it held steady in 2025 and is still better than average, helping middle-class households manage affordability challenges.
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About the Financial Resilience Index
ACLI's Financial Resilience Index, which is released quarterly, measures the ability of the middle-class to manage life's challenges and plan for a stable future. The index tracks 26 different variables that represent typical cost pressures for middle-class households (like housing, gas and childcare) and the financial resources that are available to meet them (like income, access to credit and retirement assets). By tracking the direction and magnitude of cost pressures and resources, the index reflects how middle-class financial resilience changes over time, and what is driving improvement or decline.
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About the Financial Resilience Survey
ACLI's Financial Resilience Survey is a nationally representative survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of ACLI, as a complement to the Financial Resilience Index. The survey explores how middle-class respondents understand their own financial resilience by asking questions about economic mobility, financial stressors, financial stability, and safety nets. The quarterly survey consists of two questions about financial resilience, one recurring question that will be asked at the same time each year and one that will vary within the larger theme of middle-class financial health, stress, and resilience. Respondents of all household income levels respond to the survey, with reporting focused on middle-class respondents - those earning $50,000-$150,000 in annual household income.
ACLI's latest Financial Resilience Survey was conducted online within the United States by YouGov on behalf of ACLI from March 11 - 16, 2026 among 3,707 adults ages 18 and older. The survey sample includes 1,476 respondents from middle-class households as well as 1,459 respondents from lower-income households and 329 respondents from upper-income households. The report and related materials only highlight comparisons between subgroups that are statistically significant. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact ACLI.
For more information about both the index and the survey please visit: Financial Resilience Index (https://www.acli.com/news-and-analysis/financial-resilience-index).
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About ACLI
The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) is the leading trade association driving public policy and advocacy on behalf of the life insurance industry. 90 million American families rely on the life insurance industry for financial protection and retirement security. ACLI's member companies are dedicated to protecting consumers' financial wellbeing through life insurance, annuities, retirement plans, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, reinsurance, and dental, vision and other supplemental benefits. ACLI's 275 member companies represent 94 percent of industry assets in the United States.
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Original text here: https://www.acli.com/posting/nr26-028
[Category: Insurance]
National Corn Growers Association: Oil Corporations Attempt to Derail Legislation That Lowers Fuel Prices
CHESTERFIELD, Missouri, April 24 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news on April 23, 2026:
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Oil Corporations Attempt to Derail Legislation That Lowers Fuel Prices
The leader of the National Corn Growers Association today called out several major companies trying to derail legislation that would allow for the year-round sale of fuels with 15% ethanol blends, also referred to as E15. The proposed legislation, which enjoys the support of most of the petroleum industry, would also reform parts of the small refinery exemption program under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
"There
... Show Full Article
CHESTERFIELD, Missouri, April 24 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news on April 23, 2026:
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Oil Corporations Attempt to Derail Legislation That Lowers Fuel Prices
The leader of the National Corn Growers Association today called out several major companies trying to derail legislation that would allow for the year-round sale of fuels with 15% ethanol blends, also referred to as E15. The proposed legislation, which enjoys the support of most of the petroleum industry, would also reform parts of the small refinery exemption program under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
"Thereis a tiny minority of major energy corporations - like Delek U.S. Inc., Cenovus Energy, CVR Energy, HF Sinclair, Parr Pacific Holdings and Suncor Energy Inc. - that are masquerading as small refineries to get Renewable Fuel Standard exemptions they don't need," said Ohio farmer and NCGA President Jed Bower. "Their greedy actions are holding up legislation that would help farmers who are struggling during tough economic times."
Under the Renewable Fuel Standard, smaller refineries can ask for exemptions from blending fuel with ethanol, if they can demonstrate that compliance causes economic hardship. However, many so-called smaller refineries have sought exemptions over the years while also boasting multi-million or billion-dollar profits.
This statement comes as NCGA and a broad coalition of farm, ethanol, and petroleum groups are pushing for an amendment to the Farm Bill that would remove an antiquated regulatory barrier in the Clean Air Act, allowing for the sale of E15 during the summer months.
Bower also noted that the actions of the corporations are keeping gas prices higher for America's drivers.
"E15 saves consumers money at the pump, which is particularly important during the summer months," Bower noted. "So, these billion-dollar companies are putting their interests above hard-working Americans trying to make ends-meet."
The House is set to consider the amendment next week.
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Original text here: https://www.ncga.com/stay-informed/media/in-the-news/article/2026/04/oil-corporations-attempt-to-derail-legislation-that-lowers-fuel-prices
[Category: Agriculture]
California Nurses Association: Nurses Applaud Passage of Critical A.I. Bills Out of Committee
OAKLAND, California, April 24 -- The California Nurses Association issued the following news release on April 23, 2026:
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Nurses applaud passage of critical A.I. bills out of committee
Two bills sponsored by CNA will ensure patients and health care workers are protected against untested, unproven A.I. and ensure developers cannot escape accountability
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Union nurses with California Nurses Association (CNA) applauded the progress of two CNA-sponsored bills out of committee Tuesday to establish guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in health care. These bills would protect
... Show Full Article
OAKLAND, California, April 24 -- The California Nurses Association issued the following news release on April 23, 2026:
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Nurses applaud passage of critical A.I. bills out of committee
Two bills sponsored by CNA will ensure patients and health care workers are protected against untested, unproven A.I. and ensure developers cannot escape accountability
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Union nurses with California Nurses Association (CNA) applauded the progress of two CNA-sponsored bills out of committee Tuesday to establish guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in health care. These bills would protectpatient safety and privacy, maintain the integrity of nursing practice, and ensure that technology companies and health care corporations cannot escape accountability amidst the onslaught of untested and unproven A.I. tools that their health care employers are rushing to deploy.
This legislation will set the standard for and serve as a model for other industries and regulatory bodies for worker protections against A.I. tools and technology in health care.
"Together, these bills establish some common-sense safeguards for patients and workers alike against all this very troubling A.I.," said Sandy Reding, RN and president of California Nurses Association. "Our workplaces are constantly rolling out new A.I., most of the time without our knowledge. Nurses and other health care workers are not against technology that supplements our practice, but we know our employers' goals are not about helping us at all. Their number one goal is always profit, and they want to use A.I. to replace as many of us as possible to cut labor costs at the expense of patient safety."
A.B. 1979, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, ensures that health care entities cannot use A.I. to replace the clinical judgment of a licensed health care professional and also requires companies offering A.I. health applications that access medical records to comply with California's medical confidentiality laws.
A.B. 2575, authored by Assemblymember Liz Ortega, requires health care entities to disclose when and how A.I. is used in patient care, affirms the clinical judgment of health care workers and their right to override the A.I. without fear of retaliation, and to ensure that A.I. developers and deployers cannot easily evade accountability for harm caused by their systems -- including not being able to scapegoat a human health care worker who engaged with the A.I. as a defense against liability.
"In health care, artificial intelligence should only support clinical judgment -- not replace it," said Asm. Ortega. "That's why I am proud to author A.B. 2575, so that no health care worker ever has to choose between protecting their patients and facing retaliation for questioning A.I."
"No machine can replace the judgment, compassion, or human touch of a nurse," said Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO, which cosponsored A.B. 2575. "Artificial intelligence tools are not licensed, not subject to health care privacy laws, and not required to take a Hippocratic Oath to 'do no harm.' A.B. 2575 ensures A.I. tools are controlled by humans and do not replace our jobs."
The two bills will be heard next in the Assembly Appropriations Committee next month.
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California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-applaud-passage-of-critical-ai-bills-out-of-committee
[Category: Nursing]
Air Line Pilots Association International: Spirit Airlines Pilots Support Federal Relief Effort
MCLEAN, Virginia, April 24 -- The Air Line Pilots Association International issued the following news release on April 23, 2026:
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Spirit Airlines Pilots Support Federal Relief Effort
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--The pilots of Spirit Airlines, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), today voiced their strong support for the Trump administration's proposed relief effort for Spirit Airlines.
"Spirit is the reason so many Americans can afford to visit family, travel for work, or take a vacation," said Capt. Ryan P. Muller, chair of the Spirit Airlines ALPA Master Executive
... Show Full Article
MCLEAN, Virginia, April 24 -- The Air Line Pilots Association International issued the following news release on April 23, 2026:
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Spirit Airlines Pilots Support Federal Relief Effort
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--The pilots of Spirit Airlines, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), today voiced their strong support for the Trump administration's proposed relief effort for Spirit Airlines.
"Spirit is the reason so many Americans can afford to visit family, travel for work, or take a vacation," said Capt. Ryan P. Muller, chair of the Spirit Airlines ALPA Master ExecutiveCouncil (MEC). "When Spirit enters a market, fares go down. Losing this airline would not just cost 14,000 jobs, it would cost competition, affordability, and access for passengers who have nowhere else to turn."
Spirit Airlines is in the middle of a restructuring, now facing a sudden and severe fuel shock at the most critical stage. Spirit's survival is crucial to a competitive, affordable air travel market for all segments of consumers, and the U.S. government must provide support, as it has during other significant shocks to the industry.
"Federal relief is not a handout," stated Muller. "It is a loan that will allow the airline to finish the work that is already well underway, and it is the right call for 14,000 workers, nearly 2,000 pilots, the families who depend on those paychecks, and the millions of passengers who rely on affordable air travel. Any government relief must protect Spirit employees to ensure we can competitively move forward."
Since entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy last August, Spirit has executed a disciplined restructuring, with $100 million in concessions contributed by its pilots and flight attendants and a Restructuring Support Agreement reached with its creditors. The company is on track to emerge from bankruptcy this summer.
"Spirit pilots and our fellow frontline workers put our livelihoods on the line to give this airline a path forward. We did our part," continued Muller. "The global fuel shock now threatening this industry is not something any airline employee caused, and it is not something this workforce should be asked to absorb alone. The work is being done. What's needed now is a bridge to the finish line. We urge lawmakers to stand with us."
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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. Visit ALPA.org.
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Original text here: https://www.alpa.org/press-room/2026/04/spirit-airlines-pilots-support-federal-relief-effort
[Category: Transportation]
Air Line Pilots Association International: Canadian North Pilots Ratify Tentative Agreement
MCLEAN, Virginia, April 24 -- The Air Line Pilots Association International issued the following news release on April 23, 2026:
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Canadian North Pilots Ratify Tentative Agreement
OTTAWA, Ont.--Today, Canadian North pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), voted to ratify a tentative agreement (TA) reached with Canadian North management. Out of the 94 percent of eligible pilots who voted, 87 percent voted in favour of the new collective agreement. The three-year deal offers improvements to scheduling, compensation, and quality of life.
"This contract sets an
... Show Full Article
MCLEAN, Virginia, April 24 -- The Air Line Pilots Association International issued the following news release on April 23, 2026:
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Canadian North Pilots Ratify Tentative Agreement
OTTAWA, Ont.--Today, Canadian North pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), voted to ratify a tentative agreement (TA) reached with Canadian North management. Out of the 94 percent of eligible pilots who voted, 87 percent voted in favour of the new collective agreement. The three-year deal offers improvements to scheduling, compensation, and quality of life.
"This contract sets animportant milestone for our pilots and for the long term stability of our airline," said Canadian North Master Executive Council chair First Officer Steven Bard. "This achievement reflects the professionalism, unity, and resilience that define our membership, especially in the unique and demanding operating environment we serve across the North."
The contract for approximately 240 pilots goes into effect immediately and will expire on December 31, 2028.
"From the beginning, our priorities were clear: protecting the safety standards that are the foundation of our profession, securing fair compensation that reflects the skill and responsibility required of every Canadian North pilot, and strengthening quality of life provisions that support our ability to operate safely and effectively in some of the most challenging conditions in the country. This contract includes meaningful improvements in these areas and recognizes the significant role our pilots play in connecting northern communities," Bard continued.
Canadian North operates scheduled passenger and cargo services throughout the Canadian Arctic, providing workforce transportation for the oil and gas industry, as well as ad-hoc charters in Canada and the U.S.
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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. Visit ALPA.org.
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Original text here: https://www.alpa.org/press-room/2026/04/canadian-north-pilots-ratify-tentative-agreement
[Category: Transportation]
AHCA/NCAL Applauds the Introduction of the Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026
WASHINGTON, April 24 (TNSrpt) -- The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living posted the following news release:
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AHCA/NCAL Applauds the Introduction of the Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the nation's largest organization representing long term and post-acute care providers, praised lawmakers for the introduction of the Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 (H.R. 8375). The bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan group
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 24 (TNSrpt) -- The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living posted the following news release:
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AHCA/NCAL Applauds the Introduction of the Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the nation's largest organization representing long term and post-acute care providers, praised lawmakers for the introduction of the Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 (H.R. 8375). The bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan groupof members, many of whom are physicians.
"The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 represents a significant step towards ensuring Medicare Advantage delivers on its promise to America's seniors," said Clif Porter, President and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. "We commend these lawmakers for developing a better way to enable seniors to have timely access to care and hold plans accountable. We urge continued bipartisan support and swift passage through Congress."
The bipartisan Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 is led by Representatives John Joyce (PA-13), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Gregory Murphy (NC-03), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Mariannette Miller Meeks (IA-01), Ami Bera (CA-06), and Beth Van Duyne (TX-24). Upon introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce. It is the most sweeping attempt to enhance Medicare Advantage (MA) to date, including provisions to:
* Protect patients from inappropriate delays and denials;
* Standardize coverage criteria between MA and traditional Medicare;
* Increase transparency surrounding prior authorizations and compliance;
* Penalize plans that fail to meet oversight and compliance benchmarks;
* Reduce administrative burdens through real-time and automated systems;
* Promote prompt payments;
* Prevent retroactive "clawback" of payments for pre-approved, reapproved, and delivered care and services; and
* Strengthen patient access to post-acute care providers.
More seniors are enrolling in Medicare Advantage plans than traditional Medicare because it offers many perks appealing to seniors; however, large, insurer-led MA plans are too often denying or delaying beneficiaries' access to necessary skilled nursing and post-acute care. From 2019 to 2022, the top MA insurers denied prior authorization requests for post-acute care more frequently than for other services. This has contributed to a doubling of seniors leaving MA for traditional Medicare in their final year of life--shifting costs onto taxpayers.
"This bill addresses many of the obstacles driven by insurer-led Medicare Advantage plans that were making it unnecessarily difficult for seniors and their families to navigate care options and receive coverage for medically necessary care," said Nisha Hammel, Vice President of Reimbursement Policy and Population Health at AHCA/NCAL. "Coverage decisions for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries must be driven by each patient's needs and clinical necessity, with appropriate oversight that ensures compliance and patient protections."
AHCA/NCAL has been a consistent advocate on addressing MA challenges in post-acute care. AHCA/NCAL and its Post-Acute Care Coalition partners submitted recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on improving MA prior authorization processes last fall. In addition, in a report based on a survey of skilled nursing care providers, AHCA found that denials or delays of medically necessary post-acute care by MA plans occur daily and/or weekly for two-thirds of providers.
The Better Way, AHCA's forward-looking policy agenda to deliver bold solutions for quality long term and post-acute care, identifies MA as one of its key priorities. Through "Reaffirming the Promise of Medicare Advantage," the organization offers several recommendations for alignment among providers, residents, policymakers and the public.
Learn more about the Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 HERE (https://millermeeks.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-miller-meeks-congressional-doctors-introduce-bipartisan-bill-restore).
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REPORT: https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Fact-Sheets/FactSheets/Provider-Insights-Medicare-Advantage.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Press-Releases/Pages/AHCA-NCAL-Applauds-Introduction-Medicare-Advantage-Improvement-Act-2026.aspx
[Category: Health Care]
