We, the members of the Southern Nursery Association, express our sincere appreciation to the members of Congress from our region for your continuing efforts in our behalf. Response to our concerns over the years has enabled us to provide high quality trees, plants and other horticultural related products, which, in turn, improve the environment and, therefore, improve the quality of life.
Our concerns for the nation and the well being of our industry are genuine. We respectfully solicit your support of the issues contained in this Statement of Policy for 2006 - 2007.
Policy Determination: The Southern Nursery Association, Inc. (SNA), created in 1899, encompasses the total nursery / landscape industry from nursery production through retailing and landscape installation in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. With this broad-based membership, including allied industry firms and organizations, the Southern Nursery Association can act with combined strength on those legislative or regulatory issues affecting any one segment of the industry.
The policy positions contained herein represent SNA's major objectives for 2006 - 2007. Each policy resulted from study by the SNA Legislative Committee, composed of representatives from each participating state appointed by the President of SNA on the recommendation of each state President and was subject to approval by the membership at the SNA's annual meeting held August 12, 2006 in Atlanta. Each member had the opportunity to participate in the determination of the policy positions. The positions herein represent the combined opinions of the nursery and landscape leaders representing all segments of the industry from all parts of the South. The Southern Nursery Association will therefore work for the implementation of these policy positions believing that implementation will strengthen the nursery and landscape industry and contribute to the total welfare of the southern region of our nation.
- Urges Congress to support comprehensive immigration reform to include: a streamlining of the H-2A temporary and seasonal agricultural worker program and permitting qualifying members of the trained but undocumented agricultural workforce to earn the right to adjust to legal status.
- Urges Congress and USDA to provide an efficient, affordable and viable crop insurance program for nursery and greenhouse producers.
- Urges Congress to clarify that Christmas tree production is considered an agricultural pursuit under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Urges Congress to remove the penalty on production nurseries electing out of section 263A of the Internal Revenue Code by providing growers the right to use accelerated depreciation of other farm assets.
- Urges Congress to enact legislation that would allow Association Health Plans by bona fide trade and professional associations in order to offer its small business members that same affordable health care coverage that large corporations and unions currently offer.
- Favors reform and reductions in the payroll-related taxes, such as unemployment compensation and social security, for family farms and small businesses. Reforms should include reporting and compliance requirements and redistribution of the cost burdens so they are equitably shared by both large and small businesses and by their employees.
- Vigorously opposes any Federal, State or Local government production or sale of trees, plants and turf that would compete with the nursery industry.
- Favors continued and enhanced support of the U.S. National Arboretum and encourage the expansion of its plant introduction and testing programs throughout the United States.
- Urges Congress to properly fund and maintain oversight of USDA-APHIS’ federal programs for the Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of “Suddent Oak Death� as well as the Imported Fire Ant Quarantine and to continue research to ensure safe, effective and practical quarantine treatments for multi-year certification of nursery stock. Strong and effective quarantines will protect the South from these and other emerging pests and diseases while facilitating the orderly shipment of healthy nursery and greenhouse stock.
- Urges Congress to enhance funding of this industry's USDA-ARS Nursery and Floriculture Research Initiative, which will enhance efficient agricultural production, protect and conserve water resources for agricultural and landscape uses and provide disease and insect-resistant plant cultivars.
- Urges Congress to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency uses sound science and an open process in the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act and the continuation and adequate funding of USDA's IR-4 program to ensure the registration of safe and effective pesticides for nursery/greenhouse and landscape use.
- Supports more vigorous Congressional oversight to prohibit regulatory agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency from administering laws in contravention of Congressional intent.
- Urges Congress to continue to reject calls for reestablishment of sweeping new “ergonomics� regulations.
- Requests that Congress permanently repeal the estate tax, which so often hinders the successful passage of small and family businesses from one generation to the next.
- Supports a balanced federal budget and urges restraint in the growth of the size of the Federal government.
