On March 17 - 18 , flowered master from across the country will gather in Washington , D.C. , for the Society of American Florists ' ( SAF ) 44th Annual Congressional Action Days ( CAD ) . Attendees will meet case - to - side with key decision - makers on Capitol Hill , advocating for policies that directly impact their business and the floral industry as a whole .
" have got industriousness members present on Capitol Hill is critical to ascertain lawmakers understand the real - world impact of their decisions , " says SAF ’s Senior Lobbyist , Joe Bischoff , Ph.D. " Legislators and their staff want to hear directly from floral professionals about the challenges they present — whether it ’s jump costs , labor shortages , or the indigence for fair business deal policy . Your voice make up a difference . "
This twelvemonth , SAF ’s priorities center on securing affordable admittance to fresh product , maintaining funding for critical floriculture research , ascertain admittance to an affordable workforce , advocating for line - friendly revenue enhancement policy , and control continued fiscal care for floriculture growers .
2025 issue overviewProtecting low-cost access to reinvigorated mathematical product : The flowered diligence relies on imports from countries like Colombia , Ecuador , Mexico , the Netherlands , and Canada to guarantee a steady supplying of impudent flowers , foliage , and plant . Tariffs on these imports drive up costs , forcing businesses to either absorb disbursement or pass them along to customers — neither of which is sustainable .
Additionally , SAF in 2020 successfully petitioned for the reinstatement of Ecuadorian rosiness in the Generalized System of Preferences ( GSP ) , which eliminated a 6.8 % tariff . The GSP expired afterward that year . SAF is urging Congress to restore GSP and oppose tariffs that jeopardize the industriousness ’s stability .
Funding for floral inquiry & innovation : The Floriculture & Nursery Research Initiative ( FNRI ) fund research that helps the diligence tackle plague and disease challenges , clime change adaptation , and sustainable develop practice . Through SAF ’s protagonism , an additional $ 1 million in funding was fasten in 2022 , bringing yearly FNRI funding to $ 6.4 million .
To cover founding and technological advancements , SAF is ask Congress to sustain current funding levels .
Ensuring access to an low-priced work force : Labor shortage and rising toll are among the biggest challenges for flowered businesses , particularly growers . The H-2A agricultural visa programme allows foreign prole to fulfil seasonal positions , but exorbitant wage increases make the program unsustainable .
SAF is urging Congress to cap the annual salary increases for H-2A workers , ascertain growers can get at the labor they need without unendurable cost burdens .
Advocating for tax policies that support business organization growth : Several key tax provisions benefiting floral businesses are set to expire in 2025 . This includes the 20 % discount for qualifying pass - through income and the incentive wear and tear , which allow business to infer 100 % of certain expenses .
SAF is urge on Congress to extend or make permanent these tax provisions to put up floral businesses with fiscal stableness and investment opportunities .
fix fiscal aid for floriculture growers : Historically , floriculture growers have been excluded from Union agricultural help programs . However , SAF successfully advocated for flower gardening ’s inclusion in USDA relief programs in 2020 , securing much - need financial help during the pandemic .
In later 2024 , the USDA spread out program for additional financial assistance to offset rise costs , with floriculture grower mechanically included . SAF will continue to fight down for agriculturist to have entree to future financial tending programs .
While CAD is an significant part of SAF ’s advocacy , the organization works year - rung to move on industry antecedence through both kinship - building and grassroots lobbying . SAF ’s Political Action Committee ( SAFPAC ) further overdraw this work by supporting lawmakers who influence primal statute law . to boot , SAF urges members to engage with their legislators yr - circular , inviting them to visit their flowered businesses and see firsthand the challenge they front . “Building kinship with lawgiver is key , " Bischoff says . " It strengthens our voice when advocating for policies that support the industriousness . “SAF encourages all industry professionals — from retailers to wholesalers , growers , and provider — to attend CAD and take part in these crucial conversation .
If you wish to register for CAD 2025 , you could do so by clickinghere .
For more entropy : SAFsafnow.org
Frontpage photo : © Vladimir Kolobov | Dreamstime
