On June 10th, I flew to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congressional staff from Representative Schakowsky, Markey and Baldwin’s offices. I was invited to meet with them as a follow up to ongoing meetings that have been conducted over the past year and to hear the changes that they are proposing to make as a result of our active advocacy … Read More
An Update on The Safe Cosmetics Act in the 112th Congress
(L to R) Deborah May, HSMG President Leigh O’Donnell, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA), Feleciai Favroth, Marie Gale In our continuing efforts to work with Members of Congress to advance the interests of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild (HSMG), we would like to update you on the recent progress on the still evolving Safe Cosmetics Act in the 112th Congress. After … Read More
Support the HSMG’s Efforts to Ensure Legislative Representation for Soapmakers…
Over the years the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild has been many things to it many members. The HSMG has now taken on its biggest challenge yet: monitoring the “Safe Cosmetics Act” and any federal legislation aimed at the cosmetics industry. An updated version of The Safe Cosmetics Act is expected to be released later this year. The HSMG is working diligently … Read More
Legislative Update: Meetings Continue with Members of Congress
Continuing our efforts to reach out to Members of the 112th Congress, I traveled to Washington, DC during the week of March 7th with several of my colleagues. Over two days, we met with 16 Congressional Offices and 2 Senate Offices representing states across the country. Accompanied by Marie Gale (HSMG Past-President), Feleciai Favroth (HSMG Board Member) and Debbie May … Read More
Members of Congress Hear From The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild
During the week of February 8th, I visited our nation’s capital for scheduled meetings with several Republican and Democratic lawmakers representing Districts from New York to California. I was joined by HSMG member and supporter, Debbie May of Wholesale Supplies Plus. Led by our Washington, D.C. advocates Mary Anne Walsh and Rick Limardo, over the course of two days we met … Read More
WASHINGTON UPDATE: What to Expect in the 112th Congress?
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE HSMG DC ADVOCATES MARY ANNE WALSH & RICK LIMARDO: As Capitol Hill prepares to close the chapter on the 111th Congress and convene a new session this month, we want to take a moment to evaluate and provide an overview of the changes that The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild and its members can expect in the … Read More
Legislative Update: Major Changes Coming in the U.S. House of Representatives
Now almost two weeks after the November 2, 2010 election, some of the dust is starting to settle and we are beginning to see how the Congressional landscape is going to change. With Republicans winning more than 60 seats in the House of Representatives, the Democratic led House will move to the minority in January 2011, and the Republicans will … Read More
From the President – HSMG hires DC Advocate Mary Anne Walsh
We are thrilled to announce, Mary Anne Walsh of Roetzel and Andress has been hired to represent the HSMG and the handcrafted soap industry in Washington, DC, she will commence work on September 1st, 2010. For more information on Mary Anne please read my previous post. Mary Anne had this to say about getting down to work with the HSMG: … Read More
From the President – HSMG Interviews a DC Advocate
We are now one step closer to hiring an advocate to represent our industry. Yesterday, I met with Mary Anne Walsh from the law firm of Roetzell & Andress in Washington, DC. Mary Anne has over 29 years of experience and has held a variety of positions including Chief of Staff for three U.S. Congressmen. Read her full bio by … Read More
From the President – A Voice in Washington for the Handcrafted Soap Industry
The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild’s (HSMG) is an established and functioning non-profit trade association whose mission is to promote the handcrafted soap industry; to act as a center of communication among soapmakers, and to circulate information beneficial to soapmakers. In the past three years there have been many threatening legislative proposals. The three most recent pieces of federal legislation have been … Read More