On Thursday, January 12, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) hosted a Congressional briefing in partnership with the U.S. House Manufacturing Caucus in support of the RELIEF Act (H.R. 3210), legislation that would fix the unintended negative consequences resulting from the 2008 amendments to the Lacey Act.
During the briefing, members of Reps. Don Manzullo’s (R-IL), Tim Ryan’s (D-OH) and Jim Cooper’s (DTN) staffs spoke in favor of NAMM’s public affairs efforts and encouraged caucus members to co-sponsor the Relief Act (HR 3210).
The bi-partisan House Manufacturing Caucus, co-chaired by Reps. Manzullo and Ryan, helps Congressional members and their staff to learn more about regulatory and legal issues facing America’s manufacturing sectors.
NAMM fully supports the RELIEF Act (H.R. 3210), introduced by Reps. Jim Cooper (D-TN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), to fix the 2008 amendments to the Lacey Act. This legislation would protect wood-products manufacturers, dealers and consumers from penalties for unknowingly violating the law.
NAMM has taken a lead urging congress to clarify the Lacey Act in a manner that would help ensure healthy forests, while protecting small businesses, craftsmen and musicians that love the American art of guitar making. For more information on the RELIEF Act, visit http://www.namm.org/publicaffairs.
The well-attended briefing helped congressional staff learn more about the regulatory challenges facing small businesses and artisans, among others, in the music products industry. The briefing also provided Mary Luehrsen, NAMM’s Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations, with an opportunity to promote congressional support for a legislative solution.