Trade Associations
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from national and international trade associations influencing the debate on federal policies.
Featured Stories
School Counselor Association Issues Statement on Separation of Immigrant Families
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, June 19 -- The American School Counselor Association issued the following statement on the separation of immigrant families:
"The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) condemns the separation of children from their families at U.S. borders."
"ASCA believes the role of school counselors and all educators is to eliminate barriers impeding student learning and development. ASCA is committed to supporting the academic and social/emotional development of all students so they can prepare for successful careers as contributing members of our society. The current administration's
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ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, June 19 -- The American School Counselor Association issued the following statement on the separation of immigrant families:
"The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) condemns the separation of children from their families at U.S. borders."
"ASCA believes the role of school counselors and all educators is to eliminate barriers impeding student learning and development. ASCA is committed to supporting the academic and social/emotional development of all students so they can prepare for successful careers as contributing members of our society. The current administration'spolicy of forcibly separating children from their families and detaining them in deplorable conditions is morally and ethically wrong. These actions create unnecessary and cruel hardships that constitute Adverse Childhood Experiences, which hinder positive development and have been proven to lead to a host of long-term issues including anxiety, grief and depression.
:In 2017, ASCA released a position statement detailing the unique concerns of undocumented immigrant children, who are among our country's most vulnerable students. They require critical support to feel safe and connected in their communities. These children and their parents have made sacrifices and endured adversity to reach their desired goals. Removing children from their families is an unspeakable and reprehensible action taken against the youngest and most helpless at a time when they need our care and support the most. This experience will have a lasting, possibly irreversible, impact on their long-term wellness and development.
"As educators, as Americans and as human beings, we have a responsibility to support, serve and advocate for children, and we cannot allow them to be subjected to trauma that will affect them for a lifetime. We urge the administration to reverse the zerotolerance policy as it pertains to separating children and families, and we urge Congress to change the law."
[Category: Education]
MEMA Joins With Business Associations to Call for Greater Congressional Oversight of U.S. Trade Policy
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, North Carolina, June 19 -- The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association issued the following news release:
MEMA has joined more than 55 trade associations to raise alarm bells over the Trump administration's new trade policies and to call for the restoration of balance between Congress and the Executive Branch on imposing new global trade policies.
The letter, which was sent to the Senate Committee on Finance leadership, Senators Orrin Hatch and Ron Wyden, and House Ways and Means Committee leadership, Representatives Kevin Brady and Richard Neal, raises particular
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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, North Carolina, June 19 -- The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association issued the following news release:
MEMA has joined more than 55 trade associations to raise alarm bells over the Trump administration's new trade policies and to call for the restoration of balance between Congress and the Executive Branch on imposing new global trade policies.
The letter, which was sent to the Senate Committee on Finance leadership, Senators Orrin Hatch and Ron Wyden, and House Ways and Means Committee leadership, Representatives Kevin Brady and Richard Neal, raises particularconcern over the use of tariffs to solve trade disputes with American allies.
"We see the growing willingness of the current Administration to use tariffs (and the related use of absolute import quotas) as a major policy tool in an increasing number of trade disputes with our allies as a trend that needs to be addressed by Congress. There are valid reasons for Congress to have delegated significant authority to the President in order to address unfair trade practices and liberalize world trade. However, this extensive unilateral use of tariffs by the Executive Branch is upsetting the historic balance between Congressional and Executive powers, which has worked effectively for many decades to strengthen our economy and grow export opportunities for American manufacturers, service providers, ranchers and farmers, and needs to be reassessed," the letter says.
"The longstanding balance between Congress and the Executive Branch in managing U.S. trade policy is crucial to our economic well-being. When this balance is upset, as has happened only occasionally throughout our long and successful history as a trading nation, our broader national economic interests inevitably suffer. It is therefore critical to reassert that balance and ensure that it works effectively to maintain America's much needed success and leadership in the 21st century global economy," the letter concludes.
Joining in the public outcry over new trade policies is just one step MEMA has taken recently to educate the Trump administration and Congressional leaders about the unintended consequences of tariffs on U.S. auto parts manufacturers, who are facing trade challenges and uncertainties on several fronts now - including North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations, Section 232 investigations into automobiles and automotive parts, Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports, and the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum.
MEMA members could face having to pay double tariffs on some materials necessary to manufacture parts in the U.S. Industries like motor vehicle parts manufacturing, which require long-term investments in facilities and employees, depend on regulatory and market stability. There is little doubt that the uncertainty and added costs the administration is creating will put U.S. investments and jobs at risk.
MEMA has worked closely with the Trump administration to expand jobs and to increase U.S. competitiveness. MEMA supports the Trump administration's agenda to assure fair and reciprocal trade. MEMA concurs that national security depends on the economic security of the country, and motor vehicle parts manufacturers are a critical element of this agenda.
[Category: Manufacturing]
International Trademark Association Responds to Changes in WHOIS Domain Name Directory
NEW YORK, June 19 -- The International Trademark Association issued the following news release:
The International Trademark Association (INTA) announced today that it will continue its advocacy for an accessible, contactable, and accurate WHOIS global database of domain name registrants, and that it has taken steps to help trademark professionals navigate the recent changes that limit access to important information which, until recently, was publicly available in the WHOIS system.
The changes were brought about by the International Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to meet the
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NEW YORK, June 19 -- The International Trademark Association issued the following news release:
The International Trademark Association (INTA) announced today that it will continue its advocacy for an accessible, contactable, and accurate WHOIS global database of domain name registrants, and that it has taken steps to help trademark professionals navigate the recent changes that limit access to important information which, until recently, was publicly available in the WHOIS system.
The changes were brought about by the International Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to meet thenew privacy rules of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). ICANN, the steward of the development of policy and enforcement related to WHOIS, approved a Temporary Specification for gTLD Registration Data on May 17 in advance of GDPR's May 25 effective date.
The Temporary Specification seriously limits the amount of publicly available information and only provides an anonymous email address or web form from which an email could be forwarded rather than a live contact.
"We recognize the importance of personal privacy and the balance between individual rights and the need to prevent customer fraud and abuse. The information that remains publicly available under the Temporary Specification is insufficient to ensure a secure and reliable domain name system. Ensuring continued access is absolutely necessary to protect consumers on the Internet," said Lori Schulman, INTA's Senior Director for Internet Policy.
"INTA's goal is to get the right information to the right people for the right reasons, and has historically supported an accessible, contactable, and accurate WHOIS system," Ms. Schulman said. "With criminal online counterfeiting activity growing exponentially, we hope for a timely resolution that will allow access to information with respect to the privacy rules set by the GDPR."
INTA members use ownership information in the WHOIS database to locate and contact registrants behind websites that steal personal information, sell counterfeit goods, distribute malicious software, or perpetrate fraud through the unauthorized and infringing use of brand names. Anticounterfeiting and consumer protection are two of INTA's policy priorities.
While INTA's members and consumer protection and law enforcement advocates are adjusting to a "new normal," the Association has published WHOIS Challenges: A Toolkit for Intellectual Property Professionals to help them navigate the new world of online enforcement under ICANN's Temporary Specification.
To understand the impact the new policies are having in the field, INTA is also encouraging its members to share their stories and to report any problems obtaining a registrant's information from registrars or registries via a dedicated email address. Reports will be anonymized, and data will be used to inform INTA's advocacy positions moving forward.
[Category: Government/Public Administration]
Fostering Relationships With the Animal Ag Industry
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, June 19 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news:
Farmers and industry representatives from around the world participated in various animal ag events over the past three weeks.
National and state staff, members of the Feed Food and Industrial Action Team (FFIAT) and state grower leaders participated in World Meat Congress, World Pork Expo and the American Feed Industry Association's Feed Industry Institute.
NCGA was a sponsor of World Meat Congress in Dallas, Texas. With more than 700 people in attendance, the event featured sessions focused on
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ST. LOUIS, Missouri, June 19 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news:
Farmers and industry representatives from around the world participated in various animal ag events over the past three weeks.
National and state staff, members of the Feed Food and Industrial Action Team (FFIAT) and state grower leaders participated in World Meat Congress, World Pork Expo and the American Feed Industry Association's Feed Industry Institute.
NCGA was a sponsor of World Meat Congress in Dallas, Texas. With more than 700 people in attendance, the event featured sessions focused onthe latest trends in the red meat supply chain including block chain, whole genome sequencing, and gene editing. Other sessions included panels of experts on agricultural trade, consumer engagement and branding.
At World Meat Congress, NCGA was able to share information on corn-fed beef and pork, as well as help host pork and beef tasting and seminars for VIP international customers. Making these connections and having these conversations is key to building upon, maintaining and growing market share abroad.
This year was the 30th year of the World Pork Expo, where the Pork Academy included learning sessions on nutrition optimization and impacts on pig survivability and growth, the U.S. pork supply and demand, environmental issues affecting the pork industry, and international marketing. NCGA staff and grower leaders met with representatives from Smithfield and other major feed companies as well as university faculty and researchers.
Laron Krause, FFIAT member and corn and hog farmer from South Dakota attended World Pork Expo. "There's a lot going on in the animal ag industry right now," Krause said. "It's a great opportunity to learn about and understand the challenges their industry is facing and how corn can help provide a solution."
Finally, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) held the Feed Industry Institute last week in St. Louis. This biennial event brings together the feed industry to learn about animal nutrition, animal food manufacturing processes, federal policies and hot issues in the industry. NCGA is a member of AFIA.
[Category: Agriculture]
Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission Announces Judicial Vacancies in Miami-Dade County
MIAMI, Florida, June 19 -- The Florida Bar issued the following news release:
The Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission has been asked to provide Gov. Rick Scott with nominees for the vacancies in the Miami-Dade County Court created by the resignations of County Court Judges Dawn V. Denaro, Andrea Ricker Wolfson, and Renatha Francis.
The Commission requests that interested candidates submit an application for consideration. Applicants must meet the qualifications for county court judges described in Article V, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution and Section 34.021 of the Florida Statutes.
Applicants
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MIAMI, Florida, June 19 -- The Florida Bar issued the following news release:
The Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission has been asked to provide Gov. Rick Scott with nominees for the vacancies in the Miami-Dade County Court created by the resignations of County Court Judges Dawn V. Denaro, Andrea Ricker Wolfson, and Renatha Francis.
The Commission requests that interested candidates submit an application for consideration. Applicants must meet the qualifications for county court judges described in Article V, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution and Section 34.021 of the Florida Statutes.
Applicantsmust deliver a complete original application by July 20, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. No copies shall be required. Any application delivered after the deadline will not be considered. The original application should be delivered to:
Hans Ottinot, Esq.
City Attorney's Office for
the City of Sunny Isles Beach
18070 Collins Avenue
Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
In addition to the original application, applicants must e-mail a PDF version of the application to Hans Ottinot, Esq., Chair (hottinot@sibfl.net) with personal information not subject to public disclosure--such as the social security number--redacted as permitted by Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes.
Applicants are invited to provide the Chair with a one-page sheet listing the date, location and time of hearings or trials that they would want the Commissioners to observe. The one-page disclosure sheet is not mandatory and can be provided to the Chair at any time before the interview day. No information other than the date, location and time should be provided on the one-page sheet.
Applications may be downloaded from The Florida Bar's website at http://www.flabar.org and the Office of the Governor at http://www.flgov.com. Applicants should include a recent photograph.
NOTE TO APPLICANTS: To assist the Judicial Nominating Commission in its review of applications, all questions must be fully and completely answered. Applications must include current contact information, including e-mail addresses, for judges, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and references to facilitate the background investigation that will be conducted by the members of the Commission.
Members of the bench, the Bar, and the public are encouraged to contact the members of the Commission concerning applicants for judicial positions.
[Category: Law/Legal]
CMA Kixstart Artist Scholarship Submissions Close June 30
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 19 -- The Country Music Association issued the following news release:
Submissions for the CMA KixStart Artist Scholarship will continue to be accepted through Saturday, June 30 at 11:59 PM/CT. Visit CMAworld.com/KixStart to review eligibility requirements and submit an application.
The year-long program is designed to provide emerging artists with unique professional and educational opportunities to help build a solid business foundation in the Country Music industry. CMA and its staff will provide guidance throughout the program, helping connect each selected artist
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 19 -- The Country Music Association issued the following news release:
Submissions for the CMA KixStart Artist Scholarship will continue to be accepted through Saturday, June 30 at 11:59 PM/CT. Visit CMAworld.com/KixStart to review eligibility requirements and submit an application.
The year-long program is designed to provide emerging artists with unique professional and educational opportunities to help build a solid business foundation in the Country Music industry. CMA and its staff will provide guidance throughout the program, helping connect each selected artistwith professionals within the industry as well as providing educational support and opportunities to participate in CMA-related events during CMA Fest, CMA Songwriters Series and C2C: Country to Country festival in the U.K. A scholarship fund has been established by CMA to cover expenses related to the program.
The CMA KixStart Artist Scholarship is named after former Chairman of the CMA Board and long-serving board member, Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn. An artist advocate, Brooks drove the creation of the CMA Board of Directors' Artist Relations Committee in 2006.
[Category: Entertainment Industry]
Alliance of Community Health Plans Issues Statement on Association Health Plans
WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Alliance of Community Health Plans issued the following statement by President and CEO Ceci Connolly in response to the final rule allowing association health plans:
"We are disappointed the administration is pursuing a path that can put consumers at risk and drive up costs. Association health plans would likely draw the healthiest consumers out of the exchanges, further destabilizing the already fragile health insurance markets.
"Federal and state rules should promote competition based on quality and cost. Today's rule exacerbates previous actions--including repealing
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WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Alliance of Community Health Plans issued the following statement by President and CEO Ceci Connolly in response to the final rule allowing association health plans:
"We are disappointed the administration is pursuing a path that can put consumers at risk and drive up costs. Association health plans would likely draw the healthiest consumers out of the exchanges, further destabilizing the already fragile health insurance markets.
"Federal and state rules should promote competition based on quality and cost. Today's rule exacerbates previous actions--including repealingthe individual mandate and ending cost-sharing subsidies--that undermine market stability and chip away at vital components that help keep health coverage affordable.
"These plans would provide many consumers with inadequate protection. They don't have to offer the full range of benefits currently required under the law--such as prescription drug coverage, maternity care or mental health and addiction services.
"Association Health Plans can increase options for coverage when they are organized for specific industries, are regulated by the state in which they operate and include solvency requirements and consumer protections. The expansion authorized in this rule is unwarranted, jeopardizes consumers and destabilizes the market. Of the health care groups and stakeholders that filed comments about the association health plan rule, the overwhelming majority opposed it or expressed serious concern.
"As community-based, nonprofit organizations, ACHP member plans are committed to providing the highest-quality coverage and care to the more than 21 million individuals they serve across the country."
[Category: Insurance]
