2009 AAFA Comments, Testimony and Letters
12.17.09
AAFA joined other trade associations and companies in urging Congress to approve H.R. 3039, the Save Our Industries Act of 2009 (SAVE Act), legislation that would provided limited duty-free access for certain apparel from the Philippines.
12.15.09
AAFA urged the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to extend the current stay of enforcement with regards to third-party testing and certification under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
12.15.09
AAFA joined with the U.S. business community in urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to extend the current stay of enforcement with regards to third-party testing and certification under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
12.14.09
AAFA joined with the entire apparel supply chain as well as the rest of the U.S. business community in urging Congress to immediately vote to extend the Andean Trade Preference Act and Generalized System of Preferences for one year.
12.14.09
AAFA sent a key vote letter to the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of a vote to extend the Andean Trade Preference Act and Generalized System of Preferences for one year.
12.11.09
AAFA's legal counsel sent a letter to the U.S. Justice Department accusing the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) of engaging in illegal, anti-competitive practices as exhibited by its decision to dramatically raise domestic freight rates for footwear.
12.10.09
The Small Business Access to Credit Coalition, including AAFA and over 50 other stakeholders, sent a letter to the U.S. Congress seeking action to expand access to credit for small businesses.
12.10.09
AAFA sent a letter to President Obama urging reforms to the preference given to the Federal Prison Industries when bidding on government contracts to the dentriment of domestic apparel and footwear jobs.
12.04.09
AAFA submitted comments December 4 and on December 8 urging the Senate Finance Committee to include provisions that would temporarily suspend import duties on a wide range of footwear, apparel, textiles and related items in the Senate's 2009 Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) package.
12.04.09
AAFA joined with other trade associations representing the apparel and retail industries in sending comments urging Congress to temporarily suspend duties on imports of certain knit-to-shape (looped and linked) sweaters.
12.03.09
The Alliance to Keep U.S. Jobs, a coalition of American manufacturers, businesses and agricultural interests, including AAFA, sent a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to reengage the Mexican government and reinstate the Mexican trucking program, which permitted qualifying Mexican trucks the ability to cross over into the United States.
12.01.09
AAFA's legal counsel sent a "cease and desist" letter to the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) urging NMFTA's Commodity Classification Standards Board (CCSB) stop the reclassification of footwear, for freight purposes, from Class 100 to Class 150.
12.01.09
AAFA submitted written testimony to the House Ways & Means Committee outlining the critical need to reform U.S. trade preference programs
12.01.09
AAFA also joined with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), companies and other organizations in sending a white paper to the House Ways & Means Committee detailing a comprehensive approach to trade preference reform.
12.01.09
AAFA joined with other apparel and retail associations in sending a letter calling on Congress to provide Cambodia with trade preference benefits as soon as possible.
11.30.09
AAFA submitted comments opposing any effort to re-interpret the "wholly formed" provision in the Dominican Republic Earned Import Allowance Program (EIAP), otherwise known as DR 2:1.
11.18.09
AAFA submitted comments urging the U.S. government to work to eliminate a range of trade barriers preventing U.S. apparel and footwear brands from entering some of the fastest growing markets around the world.
11.17.09
AAFA joined with dozens of business organizations in sending a letter urging U.S. Customs and Border Protection to delay the upcoming enforcement date for its Importer Security Filing (aka “10+2” or “ISF”) program.
11.09.09
AAFA joined dozens of business organizations in submitting comments to California's Department of Toxic Substances Control detailing significant concerns with the Department’s straw proposal on the Safer Alternatives Regulation (i.e. the Green Chemistry Initiative).
11.09.09
AAFA submitted comments to California's Department of Toxic Substances Control urging a complete re-write of the Department’s straw proposal on the Safer Alternatives Regulation (i.e. the Green Chemistry Initiative).
11.04.09
AAFA joined with over 400 other companies and business organizations in sending a letter opposing the House-version of health care reform legislation.
11.04.09
AAFA sent a letter to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressing disappointment in Bloomberg’s announced support for overturning federal trucking rules.
11.02.09
AAFA submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regarding the Lacey Act.
10.30.09
AAFA submitted comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on the China Section 421 tire case.
10.28.09
AAFA joined with over two dozen other trade associations in sending a letter to Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) urging him to hold a hearing soon on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
10.28.09
AAFA joined with 28 other members of the Small Business Access to Credit Coalition in sending a letter to the U.S. Congress stressing the importance of making credit available to small businesses.
10.27.09
AAFA joined with the textile and apparel supply chain in sending a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging a quick resolution of the Honduras situation in a manner that does not disrupt critical commercial ties with region.
10.27.09
AAFA joined a group of businesses and trade associations in sending a letter urging Congress to immediately renew the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) before it expires at the end of the year.
10.19.09
AAFA Executive Vice President Steve Lamar joined all 16 Industry Trade Advisory Committee Chairs in a letter to President Obama expressing concern about guidance to ban federally-registered lobbyists from advisory panels.
10.19.09
AAFA sent a joint letter to Administration on Madagascar AGOA eligibility.
10.01.09
AAFA submitted comments to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on its proposed factors for determining civil penalties for product safety violations.
09.29.09
AAFA submitted comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative regarding China’s compliance with its WTO commitments.
09.25.09
AAFA joined with seven other organizations in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to take immediate steps to help restore stability in Honduras.
09.25.09
AAFA joined with 27 other business organizations in a letter to address efforts to
amend longstanding federal trucking rules codified in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA).
09.16.09
AAFA submitted comments on the CPSC Statement of Policy regarding component-based phthalate testing.
09.15.09
AAFA submitted comments to the U.S. government urging immediate approval of the U.S./Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA).
09.15.09
AAFA submitted comments to the U.S. government urging immediate approval of the U.S./Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUSFTA).
09.06.09
AAFA joined over 40 other companies, associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in hand delivering a letter to the Uzbek delegation at the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) Annual Meeting urging Uzbekistan to immediately address growing concerns regarding the use of forced child labor in its cotton fields.
08.25.09
AAFA presented testimony and submitted written comments to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) public hearing on the CPSC's FY2011 agenda, strategy and budget.
8.25.09
Kevin Burke, President and CEO of AAFA, testified at the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) hearing on the agency's future strategic agenda and fiscal priorities.
8.24.09
AAFA joined with a large swath of the US business community in sending a letter to the Port of Los Angeles urging the Port to end its support for a change in the Federal Aviation Authorization Act (FAAAA). The same group also sent a letter to the Port of Seattle supporting the Port's current Clean Truck Plan and asking the Port to not follow Los Angeles' lead.
08.17.09
Letter sent by coalition of associations (including AAFA) and environmental groups urging full funding for Lacey Act.
08.04.09
A coalition of 20-plus associations, including AAFA, sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol seeking updated de minimis and informal entry procedures.
07.28.09
AAFA participated in a multi industry business coalition open letter to Congress on health care reform.
07.27.09
AAFA joined with 31 other trade associations urging the House Committee on Transportation to reject efforts to re-write longstanding federal trucking rules codified in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act
(FAAAA).
07.23.09
AAFA joined with nearly 300 business groups and companies, including a number of AAFA member companies, to oppose a series of proposals that would rescind certain U.S. international corporate tax provisions.
07.22.09
AAFA sent a letter to Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) expressing support for extension of trade benefits to Paraguay under the context of an effort to renew the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA).
07.17.09
AAFA joined with other apparel and retail associations in sending letters to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and the Dubai Cotton Exchange urging them to work with the Uzbek government to eliminate the use of forced, child labor in the cotton fields of Uzbekistan.
07.17.09
AAFA joined with three dozen other trade associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in issuing a joint statement of principles to address outstanding issues with a new import declaration requirement under the so-called Lacey Act Amendment.
07.17.09
AAFA, joined by 32 other trade associations, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urging the U.S. government to reconsider its recent decision to not provide CIT Group, Inc., a major source of credit and lending to small and medium sized businesses, with federal assistance in the wake of economic turmoil.
07.15.09
AAFA sends a series of letters to Congress and the Administration seeking immediate assistance for the CIT Group, Inc., a major lender to the U.S. apparel and footwear industry.
07.12.09
Comments from AAFA relating to a proposed modification of elastomeric gimped yarn and CAFTA-DR.
07.10.09
Letter to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chair Inez Tenenbaum from AAFA and Childrenswear Coalition urging the CPSC to find that fabric is inherently lead free.
07.09.09
AAFA joined 29 other trade associations in a letter to United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk, applauding his efforts to resume negotiations on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).
07.09.09
AAFA led six other major trade associations in sending a letter to President Barack Obama urging Obama to maintain the close commercial ties and economic engagement between the United States and Honduras during the current political crisis.
07.09.09
AAFA joined with Intertek in submitting a joint petition calling for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to consider various testing procedures to ease the burden on U.S. apparel and footwear producers.
07.08.09
AAFA submited written testimony in conjunction with the June 25, 2009 Joint Oversight and Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee Hearing on America’s Highway and Transit Investment Needs.
07.06.09
AAFA sent letters to the House and Senate sponsors of H.J. Res 56/S.J. Res 17 strongly supporting the legislation, which would renew the current U.S. import ban on Burma.
06.26.09
AAFA comments supporting greater enforcement over children’s upper outerwear drawstring violations. Included in these comments is a request for a public meeting to give the apparel industry a chance to discuss the regulations, clarify any questions and understand how classifying drawstrings as “substantial product hazards” would change CPSC enforcement.
06.22.09
AAFA joined with others in sending a June 22 letter urging the Senate to revamp its Pakistan ROZ legislation so that the program’s product scope, geographic coverage, disclosure, labor, and pay-for provisions reflect the realities in the region.
06.22.09
AAFA submitted an on-the-record statement to the House Small Business Subcommittee on textile transshipment and customs fraud.
06.17.09
AAFA submited comments to the CPSC arguing that the lead standard should apply to the components of a product and not to the sub-components.
06.17.09
The U.S. apparel and footwear industry sent a letter to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees speaking out against the Design Piracy Prohibition Act.
06.16.09
AAFA sent a letter to the House of Representatives urging opposition to Campbell amendment to defund [TC]2.
06.15.09
AAFA joined with fellow apparel and retail associations in urging the Australian wool industry to abide by the agreed to 2010 deadline to end the practice of mulesing in the wool industry.
06.10.09
AAFA submited comments to the Conumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) supporting the "Fashion Producers and Retailers'" petition requesting an exemption from the lead standard for all crystal and rhinestone materials.
06.10.09
AAFA joined with NRF, RILA and USA-ITA in sending letters to members of Congress urging them to dramatically revamp pending legislation that would grant duty-free access for certain products from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
06.1.09
Comments submitted by AAFA in connection with 10 plus 2 mid year structured review.
05.27.09
Letter sent by AAFA, NRF, and RILA to key members of Congress to clarify the proper treatment relating to the term “exclusive of collars and cuffs” and the short supply provision for CAFTA-DR.
05.27.09
AAFA submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce arguing that the U.S. government shouldn't initiate countervailing duty (CVD) cases against U.S. imports from Vietnam.
05.14.09
AAFA submitted written testimony to the House Small Business Committee for its May 14 hearing on the impact of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) on small businesses.
05.14.09
AAFA joined several other industry groups, as part of the Coalition for Online Trademark Protection (COTP), in sending a letter to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke asking that the US Department of Commerce continue its oversight over the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
05.14.09
AAFA joined with over two dozen other major business associations in sending a letter to US Trade Representative Ron Kirk urging the United States to remain committed to negotiating a good deal in the ongoing Doha Round of global trade negotiations.
05.04.09
Comments opposing interpretation that there is a US dyeing and finishing requirement for wholly formed fabrics in the Dominican Republic Earned Import Allowance Program.
04.27.09
AAFA submits comments to the CPSC regarding Section 103 of the CPSIA, Tracking Labels for Children’s Products. AAFA requested the CPSC issue guidance that explicitly enhances recall effectiveness while permitting flexibility to accommodate the wide variety of products and production processes covered by the new tracking label requirement.
04.22.09
AAFA joined with other business organizations and a broad swath of the international development community in sending an unprecedented letter to the Congressional leadership and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk urging them to undertake a wholesale reform of U.S. trade preference programs.
04.20.09
AAFA submits comments to the CPSC regarding a proposed rulemaking on the content required for mandatory recall notices.
04.07.09
AAFA submits comments on the CPSC draft guidance regarding which children’s products are subject to the requirements of the CPSIA phthalate standard.
04.07.09
AAFA joined 140 other companies and organizations representing a broad swath of the US business and agricultural community in sending a letter urging President Barack Obama to quickly resolve the ongoing Mexico trucking dispute.
04.06.09
AAFA submitted comments urging the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to permanently exempt apparel, footwear, textiles and travel goods from the import declaration requirements under the recently revised Lacey Act.
04.01.09
AAFA President and CEO Kevin Burke, joined by other consumer product safety stakeholders and eight members of Congress, participated in a rally calling for amendments to the CPSIA. View Rally Clip Video.
03.24.09
AAFA, as part of the CPSC Coalition, sent a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission requesting a stay of enforcement of certain tracking label provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). AAFA sent in additional comments to the CPSC also requesting a stay of enforcement on tracking labels as well as immediate guidance for the apparel and footwear industry regarding the tracking label requirements.
03.23.09
Multi-association letter signed by AAFA and 200 other organizations protesting plans to increase taxes on deferred income earned abroad.
03.20.09
AAFA submitted comments urging the government to pursue negotiations towards an ambitious Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
03.20.09
AAFA joined with a broad swath of the U.S. business and agricultural community in sending a letter urging President Barack Obama to aggressively negotiate an ambitious Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
03.11.09
Advice to the Obama Administration on a range of AAFA policy agenda items, including trade, government contracting, product safety, and labor issues.
03.05.09
AAFA joined with 30 other business associations in sending a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) urging Customs to extend the deadline for comments on its review of the implementation of its 10+2 program.
02.26.09
AAFA and three other trade associations sent a letter urging Congress to remove report language in the 2009 omnibus appropriations bill that would lead to the monitoring of U.S. apparel imports from China and Vietnam.
02.23.09
AAFA joined with a dozen other trade associations in the textile and apparel supply chain to urge House and Senate appropriators to fully fund TC2 and the National Textile Center in the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009.
02.20.09
AAFA joined with 77 other business association and companies in sending a letter urging President Barack Obama to maintain the current U.S./Mexico Cross-Border Trucking Program.
02.17.09
Joint submission by AAFA and 29 other trade associations in connection with lead exemptions, exclusion process and inaccessibility.
02.17.09
AAFA Comments to CPSC in connection with lead exemptions, exclusion process and inaccessibility.
02.03.09
AAFA sent comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on trading partners' enforcement and protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).
02.03.09
Comments submitted by AAFA to CPSC in Support of Component Level Testing Under CPSIA
1.30.09
AAFA led a group of 16 trade associations in sending comments to the CPSC in response to a January 27 CPSC letter asking the industry to provide more details on its request to exempt fabric from the lead testing requirements under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
1.30.09
AAFA led a group of 21 trade associations in submitting comments to the CPSC reiterating AAFA's position that lead does not occur in textiles and should therefore be exempt from the lead standard under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
1.28.09
AFA and six other organizations sent a letter urging Congress to include the Kissell Amendment in the economic stimulus package. The amendment would expand the textile, footwear and apparel provisions of the Berry Amendment (Berry) to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
1.12.09
AAFA submits second round of comments regarding the application of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act’s phthalate ban to apparel and footwear.
1.09.09
AAFA joined with the U.S. business community in sending a letter to the US Senate opposing Senate passage of the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the AAFA-opposed Paycheck Fairness Act.
1.5.09
AAFA sent a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging Congress to fully fund the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
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