SCHAUMBURG, IL – The American Foundry Society today released its top policy priorities for 2020. This year’s policy priorities identify five areas where AFS will focus its advocacy efforts: infrastructure, trade, safety, tax, and energy/environment. These priorities were developed in consultation with the AFS Government Affairs Committee and member companies spanning the entire industry value chain. (Click here to read the full 2020 AFS Policy Priority Issues document.)
AFS will be hitting Capitol Hill and meeting with key agency officials in the weeks ahead to discuss these policies. Additionally, metalcasters will have an opportunity to meet with their lawmakers in Washington, D.C., at the industry’s annual Government Affairs Fly-In on May 19-20, 2020.
"These policy priorities will act as our road map over the coming year," said Doug Kurkul, AFS CEO. "Come to Washington to tell lawmakers and regulators how specific proposals and regulations impact your ability to compete."
Highlighted below is a summary of AFS’ 2020 metalcasting policy priorities:
- Infrastructure – Metalcasters play a critical role in our nation’s infrastructure network. Congress should look to long-term solutions and enact various reforms to provide for increased, long-term funding for improvements to the nation’s transportation, water, energy and other critical infrastructure.
- Trade – AFS supports vigorous enforcement of U.S. trade laws. Press China and other nations to end government subsidies and other market-distorting practices, which result in an uneven playing field for U.S. metalcasters.
- Safety – AFS members share the critical goal of ensuring the safety and health of their employees as top priorities in the workplace. For 2020, AFS will submit comments on several OSHA proposals, including the Mechanical Power Press Rule (which hasn’t been revised in 40 years), Blood Lead Level for Medical Removal and post-incident drug testing and safety incentive programs.
- Tax – AFS supports tax policy that encourages manufacturing activity in the United States and promotes domestic capital investment. AFS will advocate for permanence of key pieces of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
- Energy and Environment – Metalcasting is inherently energy-intensive. The availability and reliability of U.S. energy sources is essential to the industry’s competitiveness. Metalcasters are committed to energy efficiency to lower costs and lessen environmental impact. Metalcasters continue to make environmental improvements to reduce pollution and increase sustainability. Congress and the administration should enact policy measures to facilitate investment in our national energy infrastructure, including production, distribution, transmission and storage projects.
The American Foundry Society is a dynamic technical and advocacy organization that serves and represents the $33 billion metalcasting industry. AFS is the only association serving the entire industry, including all metals and processes, with a three-part focus on advocacy, education, and innovation. AFS also publishes Modern Casting and Casting Source magazines and presents Metalcasting Congress and CastExpo, the largest metalcasting trade events in North America. Founded in 1896, the organization is based in Schaumburg, Illinois, with an advocacy office in Washington, D.C. More information is available at afsinc.org.