| |
|
 |
| Row 1 (Left to Right): Teri Elliott -
NACE International, Tony Keane - NACE Executive Director, Robin McMillan
- PPG, James Weber - Sulzer, April Pulvierenti - Catholic University
, Jay Steele - Steel & Sons. |
| Row 2 (Left to Right): Susan Borenstein - Washington
Gas, Helena Seelinger - NACE International, Elaine Bowman - Champion Technologies,
Lindsey Elliott Smith & Associates, Walter Young - Corrpro, Mike Baach
- City of Medina, George Hays - Ashland, Lou Vincent - Corrpro, Mike MeLampy
- KTA-Tator, Kevin Parker - CC Technologies, Jeff Schmucker - Carboline,
Don Sampson - Stonhard, Eric Bonner - Allied Corrosion, Ashley Dunham
- Champion Technologies, Cliff Johnson - NACE International. |
| Row 3 (Left to Right): Robert Kogler - Taku Engineering,
Greg Tosi, Congressman - Michael Fitzpatrick, David Krause - Corrpro,
Harvey Hack - Northrop Grumman Corp, Ken Tator - KTA Tator, George Krewson
- Matcor, Jeff Didas - Colonial Pipeline. |
| |
On May 24-25,
twenty-seven NACE representatives traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet
with Legislators and their staff for the purpose of explaining the extensive
impact of corrosion in the United States and the opportunity to discuss
possible solutions to these escalating costs
that are a threat to this nation's economic growth.
The current NACE strategic plan identifies tax incentives
as a key tool for addressing the negative impact of corrosion on the
US economy. During these visits NACE was advocating for the passage
of H.R. 4913 (The
Corrosion Prevention Act of 2006), which was introduced in the US House
of Representatives on March 9, 2006.
As the bill is currently written, a 50% tax credit
on corrosion prevention investments would be provided for both new
and existing privately owned structures in the US. This would have
a significant impact on the US economy by making our businesses more
competitive globally, creating and retaining jobs and providing incremental
tax revenue to the US Treasury.
H.R. 4913 will also favorably impact the environment,
safety, liability and, in turn, will reduce insurance claims and premiums.
Benefits from the bill will affect not only the users of corrosion
prevention strategies, but will also help grow our corrosion control
industry by increasing demand for the products and services that we
provide.
The first day in Washington was spent preparing for
our visits to the legislative offices. Mark Morgan, the Executive Director
and General Counsel of the Petroleum Transportation and the Storage
Association, provided an informative presentation titled Lobbying
your Members of Congress. They also heard from Dan Dunmire, the
Department of Defense Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight Representative,
and Mike Baach, the NACE Congressional Affairs Subcommittee.
 |
|
 |
| (Left
to Right): Ashley Dunham - Champion Technologies, Kevin Parker -
CC Technologies, James Weber - Sulzer, Congressman Steve Israel,
George Hays - Ashland, Mike MeLampy - KTA-Tator. |
|
(Seated
in front) Congressman Charles Dent, (Standing from left to right)
Robin McMillan - PPG, Teri Elliott - NACE, Jeff Schmucker - Carboline,
David Krause - Corrpro, Don Sampson - Stonhard, Walter Young - Corrpro. |
|
| |
|
On the second
day, Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick, the sponsoring Congressman of H.R. 4913,
gave an overview of the bill status and the importance of the passage
of this legislation. From there NACE members descended upon the Capitol
to meet with over 20 Members of Congress and there staff asking for
their support in passing this bill. These meetings represented members
from twelve different states (New York, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Louisiana, Florida,
and Texas).
We were able to demonstrate how tax credits would:
- result in reduced wasted investment on repair
and replacement
- promote corrosion preventative strategies versus "find
it and fix it' mentality
- redeploy wasted spending to productive use; create
new jobs
- increase public and industrial safety
- protect the environment
- produce a substantial net tax revenue increase,
and
- represent "good government"
The bill is currently in the U.S. House of Representative
Ways & Means Committee. We received a number of supportive comments
on the legislation and added a new co-sponsor to the bill, bringing
the total to five co-sponsors:
| STATUS |
|
NAME |
|
PARTY/STATE |
|
DATE |
| Sponsor: |
|
Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick |
|
[R-PA-8] |
|
03/09/2006 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Co-Sponsors: |
|
Rep Al Green |
|
[D-TX-9] |
|
03/09/2006 |
|
|
Rep Michael K. Conaway |
|
[R-TX-11] |
|
03/30/2006 |
|
|
Rep Roscoe G. Bartlett |
|
[R-MD-6] |
|
05/17/2006 |
|
|
Rep Ron Paul |
|
[R-TX-14] |
|
05/17/2006 |
|
|
Rep. Curt Weldon |
|
[R-PA-7] |
|
06/13/2006 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- We are continuing to work to reach the magic number
of 218 votes to have this bill pass in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- This tax initiative won't happen overnight, but we've
made a substantial impact in a very short period of time.
Become Involved in this Effort
Please
contact Cliff Johnson, Public Affairs Director, by
or by phone at 281/228-6213. |
