American Consumers for Affordable Homes to Hold Media Briefing at Legislative Conference

News Advisory:

American Consumers for Affordable Homes, an ad hoc alliance of 17 U.S. national organizations and businesses, will hold a media briefing at the National Lumber and Building Material Dealer’s Association Legislative Conference.

When: Tuesday, April 23, 9:15-9:45 a.m.

Where: Marriott Metro Center

Washington, D.C.

London II room

mult box provided

Participating in this media briefing on the Softwood Lumber Trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada will be Rep. Gary Miller and representatives of the American Consumers for Affordable Homes, including National Association of Home Builders, the International Mass Retail Association, and the National Lumber and Building Material Dealer’s Association (Miller will address National Lumber and Building Material Dealer’s Association members between 8:30-9:15 a.m. at the Marriott Metro Center.)

Currently the group is awaiting the decision by the International Trade Commission on whether or not to impose countervailing and antidumping duties on softwood lumber imports from Canada into the U.S. that would essentially amount to a 29 percent federally imposed sales tax on U.S. consumers.

These duties would add nearly $1,500 to the cost of a new home and price close to 450,000 families out of the housing market since they could not qualify for mortgages.

ACAH is opposed to any trade restraints on softwood lumber imports from Canada. The U.S. must have 35 percent of its lumber imported from Canada in order to meet construction demands in the U.S. housing market. The U.S. industry has not been harmed, and in fact, has not proven in more than 20 years of this dispute that Canadian lumber is subsidized or a replacement for U.S. southern yellow pine for housing construction. This lumber is essential to U.S. home construction and should not suffer a penalty that prices thousands of American families out of their American Dream a home.

ACAH members believe that the ITC, voting on the merits of the case, and not politically pressured, will reject protectionist movements to force this unfair sales tax on U.S. consumers. The ITC decision will be public on May 2.

Media credentials required.

ACAH members include American Homeowners Grassroots Alliance, Catamount Pellet Fuel Corporation, CHEP USA, Citizens for a Sound Economy, Consumers for World Trade, Free Trade Lumber Council, The Home Depot, International Mass Retail Association, International Sleep Products Association, Leggett & Platt Inc., Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform, Manufactured Housing Institute, National Association of Home Builders, National Black Chamber of Commerce, National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, National Retail Federation and the United States Hispanic Contractors Association. http://www.usnewswire.com

CONTACT: Susan Petniunas, 703-535-5738, for American Consumers for Affordable Homes Web site: http://www.acah.org

LOAD-DATE: April 23, 2002

53 of 162 DOCUMENTS

April 19, 2002 Friday

SECTION: National Desk

LENGTH: 305 words

HEADLINE: Citizens for a Sound Economy: O Consumer, Where Art Thou? Microsoft Trial Finally Hears Voice Of Consumers, Small Businesses

DATELINE: WASHINGTON, April 19

BODY:

It’s been almost four years since the Department of Justice and state attorneys general brought the antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft Corporation. Now, after weeks of listening to Microsoft’s competitors’ shrill calls for the most draconian measures to “remedy” Microsoft’s actions, consumers have finally taken the stand.

Erick Gustafson, CSE Vice President for Federal and State Affairs had the following comments:

“It’s amazing to me how the non-settling state attorneys general seem to suffer from a collective amnesia. Listening to the AGs you would think we were in Europe. They tend to forget that the intent of this nation’s antitrust laws is to protect consumers’ interests. From their court proceedings and long list of witnesses, it’s evident that they have the interest of Microsoft’s competitors in mind. If you had sat in the courtroom prior to this week, you would have seen a cadre of witnesses from Microsoft’s most fierce rivals: Oracle, AOL, Novell, and Sun Microsystems.

“Finally the court has heard from consumers and small business owners. It’s no surprise to us that the testimony validates the fact that the non-settling AGs are oblivious to the workings of the high-tech sector, and how their remedies would wreak havoc on our economy.

“It was heartening to hear the voice of consumers and small business owners, one after another, explain the real consequences of the states’ proposed

remedies: increased product prices, less innovation, government micromanagement of high-tech, and the continual economic decline of the technology sector. For the litigating AGs it’s about punishing Microsoft for the enrichment of other companies, and with that tack in mind, consumers lose out.”