Federal furniture caucus idea floated
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 28, 2003
High Point — Two North Carolina congressmen are leading an effort to establish a Congressional Furnishings Caucus they hope will bolster the fortunes of domestic furniture manufacturers.
The two, Reps. Howard Coble and Mel Watt, sent a letter to several colleagues asking them to become founding members of the caucus.
"The purpose of the caucus will be to bring together a bipartisan group of members of Congress who share a common interest in promoting and protecting the interests of the American home and commercial furnishings manufacturing industry," the letter read. "The caucus will also serve as a forum for members to discuss legislative and regulatory matters that directly affect the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers."
The staffs of Coble, a Republican, and Watt, a Democrat, whose districts have been hit hard by furniture plant closings and layoffs in recent years, are coordinating the caucus. The letter also was signed by North Carolina Rep. Cass Ballenger and Virginia Rep. Rick Boucher, whose districts also have been affected.
