NAFTZ presented two additional Congressional Appreciation Awards that schedules prevented presenting during the Legislative Summit in February. First, South Carolina Representative Tom Rice (R) was a consensus choice by members polled for the 2022 NAFTZ awards. Mr. Rice demonstrated his support of both South Carolina’s FTZs and the U.S. FTZ program as a whole. South Carolina FTZs continue to play a significant part in the state’s economy, ranked #6 among all states in the value of Merchandise Received, and #4 in Exports. Approximately 33,500 workers are employed in good-paying jobs within South Carolina’s FTZ companies. Second, Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) was awarded for her strong support in joining Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in the signing of the bipartisan joint letter to former U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer in December 2020. That letter sought to prevent the Trump Administration from re-inserting a harmful anti-FTZ provision in the USMCA Implementing Legislation. While the effort was not successful, NAFTZ is confident that the letter made a substantial impact on the debate and set the stage for future action – including the ITC study now underway and outlined in my article above.
NAFTZ President Jeff Tafel, and NAFTZ Chair Melissa Irmen presenting
the Congressional Award to Senator Tom Rice (R-SC).
Photo of NAFTZ Chair Melissa Irmen, and NAFTZ President Jeff Tafel presenting
the Congressional Award to Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) staff.