Oversight Hearing on:

• “The 2008 Lacey Act Amendments”

Member Statements:

The Honorable John Fleming
Subcommittee Chairman

Archived Video Webcast:

Witnesses and Testimony:

PANEL I

Rebecca Bech
Deputy Administrator
Plant Protection and Quarantine
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Stephen D. Guertin
Deputy Director
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

PANEL II

Steve McCreary
General Manager
Collings Guitars, Inc.
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Travis R. Snapp
Managing Director - Benchmark International
Chief Operating Officer – Benchmark Holdings
International Wood Products Association
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Birgit Matthiesen
Special Advisor to the President and CEO
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Jameson S. French
President and CEO
Northland Forest Products
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Marcus A. Asner
Partner
Arnold & Porter LLP
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Erik O. Autor
President and CEO
Autor Global Strategies LLC/Total Spectrum LLC
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Background:

The focus of this hearing will be on the significant May 2008 expansion of the Lacey Act to include all plants and plant products. The 2008 Amendments to the Lacey Act resulted in an extensive expansion of the law to include all plants and plant products; a requirement to submit a declaration document for all imported plant products; and a requirement that Americans comply with not only domestic, state and tribal laws, but also thousands of foreign laws, regulations, resolutions and decrees dealing with forestry and plants, some of which are not even available in English. As a consequence of these Amendments, thousands of large and small American businesses who previously had little, if any, exposure to the Lacey Act have now become part of the regulated community.

Related Documents:

• Official Hearing Transcript
• Subcommittee Hearing Notice - May 7, 2013
• Subcommittee Hearing Witness List - May 14, 2013