2009
GCSAA Action Alerts
GCSAA members utilized several online action alerts in 2009 to share their concerns with Congress on a
number of issues including:
- H-2B “returning workers” exemption – GCSAA members
contacted their Senators in February to press for passage of S. 388, the “Save our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act
of 2009” which was introduced by Senators Mikulski and Specter. S. 388 would provide a three year extension of the H-2B
“returning workers” exemption which expired in October 2007.
- Methyl bromide – EPA rejected a registrant
proposal in September for orderly methyl bromide (MeBr) cancellation without providing any explanation for the decision. GCSAA
members and chapters responded by urging their Representatives to press the EPA to agree to a reasonable timetable for an
orderly MeBr cancellation process. In October, senior EPA officials assured GCSAA that the agency would not cancel golf course
MeBr use immediately and would work with the product registrants to determine a phase-out schedule.
- Healthcare reform
– The House passed a healthcare reform bill in November which required most employers to provide insurance to seasonal
workers or be fined. In December, the Senate sought quick passage of its own healthcare reform bill that included the same
provision. In response, GCSAA members reached out to their Senators to share their concerns about the treatment of seasonal
workers in the Senate bill.
HOT TOPICS FROM 2009 (Click on link to view story)
Agreement reached with EPA on continued use of MSMA
http://www.gcsaa.org/epushes/MSMA_update.asp
EPA developing Clean Water Act NPDES permits
for pesticide applications
http://www.gcsaa.org/thisweek/2009/dec/1/grnews.asp
New limits on uses of three pesticides
http://www.epa.gov/espp/
GCSAA responds to possible expansion of
WaterSense program
-- Published
Sept. 15, 2009
LOOKING
AHEAD TO 2010
GCSAA kicked off 2010 by joining the CMAA,
NGCOA and PGA of America in announcing to the media and golf's other allied associations a new coalition to address the
inequities the golf industry is subject to at the local, state and national levels of government. The coalition will be focused
on communicating golf's economic, environmental and human benefits to the media, public and policymakers.
The WE ARE GOLF campaign will utilize
the respective association staffs and memberships, and the services of the Podesta Group to execute on a strategy that will
benefit the entire golf industry. The Podesta Group is a Washington, D.C.-based government and public affairs firm that brings
an experienced team to address the golf industry’s legislative challenges and help with advocacy efforts.
http://www.gcsaa.org/news/NewsReleases.aspx?id=2e5c97a8-e110-4d16-bd15-3915f6479dc2
Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-AR-8th) plans to reintroduce
legislation this spring that would remove the word “navigable” from the Clean Water Act.
EPA is proposing changes to pesticide labels
to address spray drift. .
