The American Foundry Society (AFS) announced today that it is looking forward to working with the new President, administration, and Congress to advance sound public policies affecting the $28.5 billion metalcasting industry.
“The voters have spoken, and now it is time to begin addressing our challenges,” said AFS President Jeff Cook (Eagle Alloy). “Metal castings are an integral part of 90 percent of manufactured goods,” he noted. “Metalcasters are the mainstay of national defense. All sectors of the U.S. military are reliant on metal castings for jet fighters, ships, tanks, trucks, weapon systems and other vital components.”
AFS, with more than 800 corporate members, 7,000 individual members, and 44 regional chapters, is the voice of the metalcasting industry in North America. Advocacy is one of the three pillars of the AFS Vision, alongside education and innovation.
CEO Doug Kurkul added, “AFS will advocate regulatory policies that are based on sound science and cost-benefit analyses. In particular, we will pursue our litigation against OSHA for its misguided crystalline silica rule.” The rule will cost the industry more than $2.2 billion annually – more than 50 times OSHA’s inaccurate estimates.
“Our nation’s tax system has created an uncertain environment that hinders our industry’s ability to compete in the global marketplace,” noted AFS Government Affairs Committee Chair Brad Muller (Charlotte Pipe). “Tax reform is essential to making the United States the best place to operate and manufacture.”
U.S. metalcasters continue to face significant trade challenges from foreign government trade-distorting policies and practices. A more aggressive U.S. trade policy is needed to combat these practices in order to preserve and strengthen our nation’s manufacturing base.
Among other issues, AFS will encourage Congress and the Administration to make a commitment to long-overdue investments in infrastructure. More than 30 percent of casting production goes into infrastructure – accounting for 3 million annual tons of castings.
The Society opposes a recent Treasury Department draft regulation that would remove legitimate valuation discounts for estate, gift and generation-skipping taxes which businesses have used for the past two decades. AFS also opposes EPA’s ozone regulation and so-called Clean Power rule.
Muller encouraged all metalcasting and supplier business owners and managers to participate in the annual AFS Government Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. on June 20-21, 2017. The event will feature briefings on policy issues, a luncheon with a major political speaker, and congressional visits with lawmakers and their staff. Information is available by contacting Stephanie Salmon at ssalmon@afsinc.org.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., AFS is a not-for-profit technical and management society that has existed since 1896 to provide and promote knowledge and services that strengthen the metalcasting industry for the ultimate benefit of its customers and society.