WASHINGTON—Members of the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) were on Capitol Hill recently as part of an annual reception saluting the Georgia delegation. This year’s reception was the most highly-attended in the event’s five-year history.

Guests from both the House and Senate attended, including Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, Congress-men Nathan Deal, Phil Gingrey, Jack Kingston and John Lewis, as well as staff of Reps John Barrow, Jim Marshall and John Linder, and Senators Richard Shelby and Bob Corker.

During the meetings, CRI outlined how the carpet industry is suffering, with residential sales hard-hit by the slowdown in the housing market, and coming from Dalton, historically a stronghold of manufacturing jobs, the group also made it clear that Congress, and the nation at large, is not paying enough attention to losses in the manufacturing sector.

Werner Braun, president; Frank Hurd, vice president/COO, and Jenn Mendez, government issues manager were part of the CRI delegation.

Also in attendance were Larry Cook, of Beaulieu and chair of CRI’s Government Issues Committee; Louis Fordham, of J&J Industries; Jim Lucke and Randy Waskul of Mohawk Industries, and Brian Anderson, of the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce.

About the carpet industry’s efforts, Senator Chambliss told the group, “I’ve been to Dalton, I’ve seen what your industry is doing and you should be applauded.”

“It was encouraging to have the involvement of so many members and friends of the carpet industry,” concluded Braun. “If interest continues, next year we can divide into two teams and visit twice as many legislators.”

For more on the CRI, call 706.278.3176.