Your TNLA Legislative/Regulatory Team is on the ground protecting the interests of the nursery/landscape industry on a daily basis.  Not only are we completely intertwined with the Legislative Session every odd year, but we monitor and interact with state agencies who implement the policies the Texas Legislature creates.  Our actions are not limited to the state level.  We coordinate our efforts with the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA), the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) and the Irrigation Association (IA), amongst others, to address legislative/regulatory policies that affect us at the federal level. 

Some people believe that politics have no real impact on their lives, but nothing could be further from the truth.  In this day and age, lawmakers are making decisions that directly affect you, your customers, and your business.  As legislative battles heat up, these policy makers need to hear from the nursery/landscape leaders about how green industry issues should be dealt with, now and in the future.  This is the service we provide you.

TNLA’s Mission:  To enhance member’s business success through legislative/regulatory advocacy, education, networking, and promotion of professionalism.

Within your legislative/regulatory team you have a diverse group of people who have held different positions in the State Legislature and State Agencies.  We are a well rounded and work to enhance the businesses of the TNLA membership.

TNLA Legislative and Regulatory Team:

Eddy Edmondson, President 512.280.5182

Jim Reaves, Director, Legislative & Regulatory Affairs 512.579.3854

PLANET’s 2010 Renewal & Remembrance: Another Successful Year

July 2010, Professional Landcare Network, (PLANET) held their annual Renewal & Remembrance in Washington D.C.  This is an event where landscape contractors from across the country converged on Arlington Cemetery to maintain the landscape of the sacred grounds of fallen heroes.  Upwards of $300,000 in product and labor were expended in very short time.  Jim Reaves, TNLA's Director, Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, was in attendance of this unbelievable experience.

Along with this incredible gesture from the landscape contractors at Arlington Cemetery, a governmental affair meeting transpired to discuss the issues that face the landscape industry. 

The biggest complaints heard from the attendees are the current actions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  EPA is in the process of trying to take over state’s water rights and wants to implement a zero drift policy when spraying pesticides.  In another meeting for landscape industry executives, we discuss the different issues each of our states are facing on the local level.  Right to design usually tops my biggest priority in this meeting.

To complete the three day conference, landscape contractors and association executives visited congressional offices from their respective states to discuss H.R. 4509, which would re-authorize a $50,000,000 program that would create up to 6,000 jobs in our industry over a five year period.  We also discussed the H2-B program along with the problems we are having with the EPA.  It was a very successful trip.

American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) Legislative Conference

TNLA Members, TNLA Staff and Texas A&M Staff meeting with U.S. Congressman Louie Gohmert, adjacent to the the U.S. House of Representatives Chamber in July 2009.

Pictured left to right: Jim Reaves, Marco Palma, James Wilhite, Congressman Louie Gohmert, Josh Bracken, Mark Harris and Charlie Hall.

"Social Security No Match" Rule Update

On October 7, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule rescinding the “Social Security No Match”.  This rule has been met with much anxiety within the business community. 

This regulation, first pursued by the Bush Administration in 2007, was never implemented due to litigation in federal courts. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has emphasized that the DHS saw the rule as a poorly effective immigration enforcement tool.  DHS is instead putting emphasis on other initiatives, such as, improving and expanding the use of the E-Verify Program.

Employers still need clear guidance on how to respond to No Match letters if the federal government resumes sending them.  While the rescinding of the rule is an encouraging one, much work is still left to be done on this issue that is so vital to our businesses and our livelihoods.

Events

In early October 2009, TNLA Members and Staff had the opportunity to visit with Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples on issues regarding the nursery/landscape industry.  Following the meeting, a reception was hosted by Jim and Paula Prewitt at the tree farm in Grand Saline, Texas.

Commissioner Staples meeting with TNLA members and staff. 

TNLA leadership and Commissioner Staples.

Capitol Visits: TNLA Staff and TNLA leadership waiting to visit with Senator John Cornyn's staff regarding labor, water and green infrastructure.