FEDERAL ACTIVITY

Department of Commerce and Customs and Border Protection Asked to Investigate Alleged Kitchen Cabinet Import Fraud from China

On October 27, 35 Members of Congress signed this bipartisan letter. It urged Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan to investigate alleged evasion of current antidumping and countervailing duties by Chinese kitchen cabinet importers. As NKBA reported in its April Government Relations Newsletter, a federal investigation launched in 2018 paved the way for trade officials to impose stiff antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on Chinese kitchen cabinet imports starting on April 1, 2020. Since then, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA), member of the American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance, has allegedly uncovered information to suggest that Chinese producers may be engaged in circumvention and evasion of the AD/CVD duties. The American Coalition of Cabinet Distributors, the group that opposed the original AD and CVD penalties, has not issued a statement on the alleged evasion. NKBA will continue to monitor this situation and inform our members of any updates from either group. 

Congress Continues Internal Debate Over Size and Scope of Additional COVID-19 Stimulus Package 

Campaign season and Election Day may be over, but the differences on COVID-19 relief between the House and Senate certainly remain. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) continues to call for a targeted approach to the next round of relief for businesses and individuals. Meanwhile, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) continue their calls for a larger relief package totalling more than $2 trillion. Negotiations are planned, but hopes for new stimulus are not expected until January.  

Congressional Elections Results: Minor Changes Coming to D.C.’s Legislative Chambers

As results continue to trickle in since Election Day, the general makeup of the 117th Congress seems to have only minor changes in store when it commences on Jan. 3, 2021. Democrats have maintained their majority in the House, albeit with a smaller margin as Republicans picked up several seats, and the Republicans have the current edge in the Senate at 50-48. The two Senate seats from Georgia are in runoff elections that will not be decided until Jan. 5, 2021. As the new federal legislative session begins in January, NKBA will monitor any pertinent federal initiatives that may impact NKBA members.  

STATE ACTIVITY 

North Carolina Interior Design Legislation Proposed as State Prepares for New Session in 2021 

Over the last several years, NKBA, the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) have jointly pursued a mutually agreeable legislative solution on Interior Design(er) Title and Practice Acts. While NKBA has traditionally opposed such Acts, the groups have agreed to model legislation language that protects NKBA’s members’ right to practice their profession. NKBA monitors Title and Practice Act legislation in all 50 states to ensure that this agreed-upon language is maintained. Continuing with this successful partnership, NKBA has been in contact with ASID/IIDA in North Carolina as they work on a proposal for the next legislative session. At the request from National, NKBA Chapter Presidents from the Carolina, Eastern Carolinas and Piedmont Blue Ridge Carolina Chapters reviewed the ASID/IIDA proposal, as is written to date, and found no issue with the current language. NKBA will continue to monitor this specific proposal and any other title and practice acts across the country during the new legislative sessions in 2021. 

State Election Results: Status Quo In Most State Legislatures and Governorships  

The results are in for state-level elections and the status quo seems to have won the day – only two legislative chambers have switched control across the country: the New Hampshire Senate and House shifted from Democratic to Republican control. Republicans control both legislative chambers in 29 states compared to 18 under complete Democratic control. Only Minnesota has a divided state legislature, where Democrats control the House and Republicans control the Senate. Among Governors, even less has changed; only the Governor’s mansion in Montana flipped from Democratic to Republican control. Overall, Republicans remained, and expanded, their majority in state governorships. In total, 75% of states now have governors and legislatures of the same party, making respective legislative priorities more likely to pass across the country. As always, NKBA will monitor legislation in all 50 states on behalf of its members.

COVID-19 State Updates and Available Resources

To keep current on what individual states are doing to combat COVID-19, this interactive map, online platform and resource center might be of interest. The interactive map shows all COVID-19-related legislative activity that each state has enacted, while the online platform and resource center provide important information related to COVID-19. 

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Federal and State Legislative Contacts

Don’t forget to contact your Federal and State Legislators for government information and resources. Legislative staff are available to answer any questions on legislation, or walk you through governmental processes.

NKBA Legislative Contact

NKBA will monitor relevant legislative developments at the state and federal levels, and, where appropriate, provide information to members concerning material issues and developments — including laws and regulations that might impact the kitchen and bath industry. If you have any questions or comments on legislation, please reach out directly to Steven Campeau, NKBA’s Government Relations Specialist, at scampeau@nkba.org.  

NOTE: NKBA is providing this material for general information only. This information does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax/investment advice, accounting services or professional consulting of any kind, nor should it be construed as such. NKBA is not a lobbying organization and does not have a Political Action Committee (PAC). Resources such as this are meant solely for informational purposes.