INDA and ISSA's 2024 Clean Advocacy Summit in Washington brought INDA members together to advocate for nonwoven industry issues, including the WIPPES Act for consistent labelling of non-flushable wipes and tariff relief via the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill. Over the course of two days, INDA members took to the nation’s capital to convene, connect, and advocate for issues important to the nonwovens industry, meeting with the staff and elected officials in over a dozen congressional offices. 

INDA members shared first-hand accounts of the industry’s impact, through economic impacts and the essential everyday materials the industry produces for the good of the country and consumers. They also advocated for the renewal of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill to provide tariff relief on items without domestic production as well as discussed various trade policy issues, INDA said in a press release.

The advocacy summit portion of the event included panels on wipes policy, consumer education, international trade, plastics, and PFAS. Speakers included Dr Laurie-Ann Agama, acting assistant US trade representative for textiles, James Willett, international economist for the International Trade Administration, Sarah Sapirstein, federal lobbyist for the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, Lara Wyss, president of the Responsible Flushing Alliance, Jason Eberstein of the Plastics Industry Association, and Shawn Swearingen of the American Chemistry Council. 

“Harnessing the expertise and insights of leading voices in the nonwovens industry is one of the most effective ways to have an impact in Washington, DC, INDA welcomes the opportunity to speak with members of Congress on legislation that impacts the nonwovens industry,” said Tony Fragnito, INDA president. 

“The conversations we had with our speakers and congressional staff will have an immediate impact on the legislation affecting our industry. I extend a sincere thank you to all of our members who took part in INDA’s inaugural fly-in event,” said INDA government affairs director Wes Fisher.