AISI Announces 2013 Public Policy Agenda
02/12/2013 - In advance of President Obama’s State of the Union speech, the American Iron and Steel Institute announced its 2013 Public Policy Agenda, part of an aggressive strategy by AISI and member companies to promote a strong steel industry and robust manufacturing sector.
In advance of President Obama’s State of the Union speech, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Board of Directors voted to approve the Institute’s 2013 Public Policy Agenda during their board meeting last week in Washington, D.C. These public policy priorities are a part of an aggressive strategy by AISI and member companies to promote a strong steel industry and robust manufacturing sector.
“The manufacturing sector is facing significant challenges to its international competitiveness due to burdensome tax rates, energy costs, inadequate investment in infrastructure, increased regulation and foreign unfair trade practices. A national pro-manufacturing agenda is necessary to ensure all U.S. manufacturers — including the steel industry — are able to compete in today’s global economy. This is the central focus of our 2013 priorities,” said Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO of AISI. “In the past decade, 5.6 million U.S. manufacturing jobs have been lost because of the lack of aggressive policies to promote manufacturing here in America. We must be diligent in reversing this trend.”
Stressing the importance of the steel industry to the success of the American economy, job creation, sustainability and national security, the agenda details AISI’s critical policy goals for the upcoming year:
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International Trade: Promote strong U.S. trade policy laws against unfair trade; urge the U.S. government to challenge foreign trade-distorting practices that have led to a recent surge in imports; expand rules-based trade through existing and new trade agreements; support passage of legislation – like the ENFORCE ACT – to address antidumping and countervailing duty order evasion, circumvention and fraud.
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Tax: Ensure congressional tax reform proposals strengthen the U.S. industrial base by reducing the overall tax burden on manufacturers; promote tax incentives for investment in manufacturing plant and equipment; eliminate the corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT).
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Energy: Adopt a national energy policy that promotes development of cost-competitive domestic energy sources and industrial energy efficiency efforts; support research and development of breakthrough technologies; ensure any U.S. energy and climate policy takes into account global competition.
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Environment and Regulatory: Require cost/benefit analysis of proposed environmental regulations at the federal and state levels; examine the impact of proposed environmental regulations on industrial competitiveness; encourage greater transparency and industry access to the regulatory development process at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies; ensure international aspects of regulations are considered.
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Transportation and Water Infrastructure: Reauthorize the Highway Trust Fund and the Water Resources Development Acts to guarantee a sustainable, long-term financing of aging infrastructure.
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Workforce Policy: Promote worker health and safety programs, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP); support workforce development educational programs; ensure key OSHA and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations (e.g., for combustible dust and crystalline silica) are based on thorough cost/benefit analyses.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 25 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 124 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent approximately over three quarters of both U.S. and North American steel capacity.
