ASI Lobbies Congress Against
Bill To Cripple Wool Tariff

DENVER — Representatives of the American Sheep Industry Association traveled to Washington, D.C. recently to lobby against the Wool Tariff Reduction Act, S.128, which would reduce or eliminate U.S. tariffs on certain imported wool products.

"Reducing or eliminating wool tariffs would be akin to opening the floodgates for imported products," said Peter Orwick, ASI executive director. "The U.S. wool and textile industries would be crushed by an influx of cheap imports. The very livelihood of thousands of Americans is at stake."

The ASI representatives discussed the pending legislation with congressional leaders, and continued circulating a letter that calls for the continuance of wool tariffs at current levels.

At the urging of ASI and domestic wool fabric manufacturers, Sen. Larry Craig, R-ID, initiated a bipartisan letter of support signed by 22 senators. They included Sens. Ben Nighthorse-Campbell, R-CO; Michael Enzi, R-WY; Olympia Snowe, R-ME; Michael Crapo, R-ID; John Warner, R-VA; Charles Robb, D-VA; Ernest Hollings, D-SC; Susan Collins, R-ME; Strom Thurmond, R-SC; Conrad Burns, R-MT; Jesse Helms, R-NC; and Max Baucus, D-MT.

Also signing on were Sens. John Edwards, D-NC; Craig Thomas, R-WY; Tim Johnson, D-SD; Pete Domenici; R-NM; Jeff Bingaman, D-NM; Joseph Lieberman, D-CT; John Chafee, R-RI; Richard Shelby, R-AL; and Robert Bennett, R-UT.

The letter, expressing strong opposition to S.218, was sent to Senate Finance Chairman William Roth, Jr., R-DL. The bill is sponsored by Sens. Patrick Moynihan, D-NY; Charles Schumer, D-NY; and Richard Dubin, D-IL. Congressmen Jim Walsh, R-NY, and Harold Rogers, R-KY, are the sponsors of HR 1360, the companion legislation in the House.

ASI is urging U.S. sheep producers and workers within all segments of the U.S. woolen industry to contact their elected representatives and voice their opposition to both bills.