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FROM THE HILL


2022 Relentless Advocacy – Policy Priorities & Getting Involved


AS WE TURN THE PAGE TO 2022, WE ENTER BOTH AN exciting and challenging time for the landscape industry. Since coming to NALP in 2018 to work on government relations there has never been a shortage of policy issues but 2022 presents a time when several of them are converging at the same time and there are both emerging obstacles and opportunities involving climate change and the green industry. In order to best advocate on behalf of the landscape industry, we will need your help and engagement more than ever in 2022 and I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the issues and how you can get involved.


By Andrew Bray VP, Government Relations


Written on Nov. 11, 2021


ISSUES IN 2022  H-2B – Reforming H-2B continues to be a top priority for NALP. In 2021 we had the Returning Worker Exception Act of 2021 introduced, the first stand-alone H-2B reform legislation in several Congresses. In 2021 we also inserted language into appropriations to provide for a supplemental H-2B cap which resulted in President Biden releasing 22,000 additional H-2B visas. Heading into 2022 we must keep the pres- sure on the Biden Administra- tion to release additional visas in early spring and work with our champions in Congress on enacting a permanent return- ing worker exception.


 Pesticides & Fertilizers – Educating the Environmental Protection Agency on how the landscape industry responsibly uses pesticides remains a core component of our advocacy efforts for the industry. In 2022, we will continue to work with the EPA as large decisions are forthcoming on neonicotinoids, pyrethrins and 2-4-D.


 At the state and local levels we continue to face attempts to ban or further restrict the use of federally and state-ap- proved products and these fights will only increase in 2022 as state legislatures move beyond COVD-19 poli- cies and focus on other issues


38 The Edge //January/February 2022 like pesticide bans.


 Gas to Electric Equipment – The transition from gas to electric landscape equipment became an emerging issue in 2021 that NALP quickly prior- itized. The landscape industry is committed to responsibly using our expertise and experi- ence to maintain healthy green spaces. Healthy green spaces through our communities can actually play a pivotal role in combating climate change including sequestering carbon, cooling the planet, filtering water and cleaning the air. The landscape industry is adopting new technology at a rapid rate and we support the transition from gas to electric, but it must be done in a responsible manner.


 NALP is advocating for timelines that reflect the actual performance of the equipment and adequate funding to sup- port rebates and tax credits to ease the transition. What has occurred in California is now being scrutinized by the EPA and other states and we foresee a lot of activity on this front for the next several years.


Water management – Water conservation and restrictions are becoming more of a focal point of policy makers especially in western parts of the country. Water usage on lawns and other plants is being closely scrutinized and we need to advocate on how


smart technologies and trained professionals can use water efficiently to actually benefit the environment.


We also expect the Biden Administration to rewrite the definition of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) in 2022 and that will certainly impact the landscape industry.


 Safety/OSHA – Safety comes first for the landscape industry and we continue to monitor and advocate on behalf of the industry. The vaccine man- date is supposed to go into effect in early January 2022 (albeit several legal challenges pending). We also know that the Administration is finalizing updated safety standards on heat exposure and tree care, both of which will impact how our industry safely operates. We will need to continue to provide input to the Adminis- tration as OSHA finalizes the rules and then disseminate accurate guidance for the landscape industry.


THE FEDERAL AND STATE POLIT- ICAL LANDSCAPE The old adage ‘elections have consequences’ rings true in 2022. There are looming mid- term elections at the federal level and a majority of states will also have their state legislative and gubernatorial elections in November, but the political battle lines are already drawn for this busy legislative year.


FEDERALLY The Senate is in a tie, with Vice President Harris becoming the deciding vote, but with almost everything requiring a 60- vote filibuster-proof majority almost nothing can pass under normal order. In the House, the Democrats have a very slim majority with defections


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