 |  |
| ABA board members Ted Redmond, The Kroger Co. and Allen Shiver, Flowers Foods, with Senator Mark Pryor (R-AR). | Andrew Armstrong, Fleischmann’s Yeast; Joe Schwebel, Schwebel Baking Company; and Jerry Hancock, Flowers Foods. |
 |  |
| Matthew Bremer, The Bama Companies Inc.; Jon Oehman of Rep. John Sullivan’s (R-OK) office; and Bob McGuire, Alpha Baking Company. | David Orgel, content director, Penton Food Group; Robb MacKie, president and C.E.O., ABA; and Jerry Rymont, vice president/publisher, Penton Food Group. |
The American Bakers Association (ABA) held its Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., June 16-17. During that time, more than 25 baking industry executives met with nearly 50 policymakers on Capitol Hill.
ABA's Board of Directors assembled prior to the meetings on Capitol Hill. That evening, Board members heard House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) speak on the hot issues of the day including spending, energy policy, health care proposals and the threat of card check legislation.
The association's Food Technical Regulatory Affairs; Fleet and Distribution; and Energy and Environmental Health Committees also met to discuss their respective committee's priorities.
The key points bakers wanted to make with policymakers were the negative and costly implications of pending legislation in the areas of food safety, climate change and health care. Bakers also expressed their opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act (card check legislation).
“We are a strong unified voice for the baking industry on legislation on Capitol Hill and on regulatory policy at federal agencies,” said ABA Chairman Chip Klosterman, Klosterman Baking Co.