A+ for Advocacy
1
tuckers take A s I sat listening attentively to the litany of informative and relevant presentations delivered at the recent 2012 NASF Washington Forum, a sobering question came to mind: “Where would the U.S. metal finishing community be today with- out the vigilant advocacy efforts put forth by the National Association for Surface Finishing?” It’s clearly a rhetorical question, but the point is clear: As tough as things might seem now as far as reg- ulatory/environmental/economic pressures are concerned, things might be much worse if not for the intervention of the NASF—and, by extension, The Policy Group. I would dare say that the critical work NASF is doing behind the scenes has kept many surface finishing opera- tions in business. Following are some of the associa- tion’s key legislative priorities: Jobs and Growth. NASF is strongly urging Congress to enact policies to incentivize and revitalize a viable manufacturing base. In other words, “help, don’t hurt,” said NASF execu- tive director, Christian Richter. Support U.S. Competitiveness. NASF is imploring members of Congress to address competitive challenges manufacturers face— starting with assessing existing bar- riers as well as emerging threats to business while developing a better policy framework to improve U.S. economic security for the future. Metals and Risk Policy. While NASF supports efforts in Congress and the Administration to review the ever- expanding regulatory burdens on manufacturers, the association advocates “science-based” decision making in EPA’s pending Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessments for nickel and chromi- um compounds. Manageable Health Care Costs. NASF strongly encourages Congress to provide tax and regulatory cer- tainty and clarify how the health care law will be implemented after the Supreme Court’s decision. Fighting Further Reductions in Hex Chrome Air Emissions. NASF asks that Congress urge the EPA to base its pending rule regarding chromi- um air emissions on actual data and sound analysis. (Note: The surface finishing industry has actually reduced chromium emissions by nearly 99.9% since 1995, yet EPA recently proposed even tighter air standards using air data from hun- dreds of plants that don’t exist!) Richter’s message to EPA: “We have delivered on health and safety. Please don’t set a bad precedent.” Unfortunately, advocacy comes with a high price tag, as NASF must routinely hire the technical, eco- nomic, and legal expertise required to mount successful challenges on our behalf. In order for the NASF to continue fighting the good fight, financial resources allocated toward government relations activities need to be continually replenished. NASF, The Policy Group, and scores of volunteers are hard at work every day to ensure the concerns of the industry are addressed and that appropriate action is taken. Let’s do our best to return the favor. For information on ways you can sup- port the NASF’s governmental relations efforts, please contact Jeff Hannapel at jhannapel@the policygroup.com. A + for Advocacy May 2012 Volume 110 - Number 4 Publisher David Hopwood Editor Reginald Tucker [email protected] Art Director - Production Manager Susan Canalizo-Baruch [email protected] Advertising Sales Manager Arnie Hoffman Ph: (847) 559-0909 E-mail: [email protected] Advertising Sales Reps Donald Moeller 512-585-2391 E-mail: [email protected] Lynne Arons 847-853-7001 E-mail: [email protected] Annabelle Jacobson 847-256-6850 E-mail: [email protected] Gabe Jacobson E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 847-256-6818 Sales Operations Coordinator Eileen McNulty [email protected] Marketing/Circulation Manager Caroline Champney [email protected] Metal Finishing 360 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10010-1710 (212) 633-3100 FAX: (212) 462-1915 Metal Finishing (ISSN 0026-0576) is published 10 times per year in January/February, March, April/May, June, July/August, September, October, November, November/December, and December by Elsevier Inc., 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010. POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to Metal Finishing P.O. Box 141, Congress, NY 10920-0141. Metal Finishing is free to qualified metal finishers in North America. For others related to the field the subscription rate per year, including a copy of the “Metal Finishing Guidebook and Directory Issue” and the “Organic Finishing Guidebook and Directory Issue” is: 1-year subs for 2011 USA $123.00 Canada/Mexico $173.00 Europe & Japan $252.00 Rest of World $284.00 Metal Finishing Customer Service, P.O. Box 141, Congers, N.Y. 10920-0141. Toll free (U.S. only): (800) 765-7514. Outside the U.S. call (845) 267-3490, fax (845) 267-3478. E-mail: [email protected]. Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y. and at additional mailing offices. Change of Address: Postmaster—send address changes to Metal Finishing, P.O. Box 141, Congers, N.Y. 10920-0141. Toll-free (for U.S. customers) (800) 765-7514. Outside of the U.S. call (845) 267-3490, fax: (845) 267-3478. E-mail: [email protected], 45 days advance notice required. Please include both new and old address. Copyright by Elsevier, Inc. Permission for reprinting selected portions will usually be granted on written application to the publisher. metal finishing www.metalfinishing.com May 2012 I metalfinishing I 3
Transcript of A+ for Advocacy
tuckerstake
As I sat listening attentively tothe litany of informative and
relevant presentations delivered atthe recent 2012 NASF WashingtonForum, a sobering question came tomind: “Where would the U.S. metalfinishing community be today with-out the vigilant advocacy efforts putforth by the National Associationfor Surface Finishing?”
It’s clearly a rhetorical question,but the point is clear: As tough asthings might seem now as far as reg-ulatory/environmental/economicpressures are concerned, thingsmight be much worse if not for theintervention of the NASF—and, byextension, The Policy Group. Iwould dare say that the critical workNASF is doing behind the scenes haskept many surface finishing opera-tions in business.
Following are some of the associa-tion’s key legislative priorities: Jobs and Growth. NASF is stronglyurging Congress to enact policies toincentivize and revitalize a viablemanufacturing base. In other words,“help, don’t hurt,” said NASF execu-tive director, Christian Richter. Support U.S. Competitiveness.NASF is imploring members ofCongress to address competitivechallenges manufacturers face—starting with assessing existing bar-riers as well as emerging threats tobusiness while developing a betterpolicy framework to improve U.S.economic security for the future. Metals and Risk Policy. While NASFsupports efforts in Congress and theAdministration to review the ever-expanding regulatory burdens onmanufacturers, the associationadvocates “science-based” decisionmaking in EPA’s pending IntegratedRisk Information System (IRIS)
assessments for nickel and chromi-um compounds. Manageable Health Care Costs.NASF strongly encourages Congressto provide tax and regulatory cer-tainty and clarify how the healthcare law will be implemented afterthe Supreme Court’s decision. Fighting Further Reductions in HexChrome Air Emissions. NASF asksthat Congress urge the EPA to baseits pending rule regarding chromi-um air emissions on actual data andsound analysis. (Note: The surfacefinishing industry has actuallyreduced chromium emissions bynearly 99.9% since 1995, yet EPArecently proposed even tighter airstandards using air data from hun-dreds of plants that don’t exist!)Richter’s message to EPA: “We havedelivered on health and safety. Pleasedon’t set a bad precedent.”
Unfortunately, advocacy comeswith a high price tag, as NASF mustroutinely hire the technical, eco-nomic, and legal expertise requiredto mount successful challenges onour behalf. In order for the NASF tocontinue fighting the good fight,financial resources allocated towardgovernment relations activities needto be continually replenished.
NASF, The Policy Group, andscores of volunteers are hard at workevery day to ensure the concerns ofthe industry are addressed and thatappropriate action is taken. Let’s doour best to return the favor.
For information on ways you can sup-port the NASF’s governmental relationsefforts, please contact Jeff Hannapel atjhannapel@the policygroup.com.
A+ for Advocacy
May 2012Volume 110 - Number 4
Publisher David Hopwood
EditorReginald Tucker
Art Director - Production ManagerSusan [email protected]
Advertising Sales ManagerArnie Hoffman
Ph: (847) 559-0909E-mail: [email protected]
Advertising Sales RepsDonald Moeller512-585-2391
E-mail: [email protected]
Lynne Arons847-853-7001
E-mail: [email protected]
Annabelle Jacobson847-256-6850
E-mail: [email protected]
Gabe JacobsonE-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 847-256-6818
Sales Operations CoordinatorEileen McNulty
Marketing/Circulation ManagerCaroline Champney
Metal Finishing360 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010-1710(212) 633-3100
FAX: (212) 462-1915
Metal Finishing (ISSN 0026-0576) is published 10 times peryear in January/February, March, April/May, June,July/August, September, October, November,November/December, and December by Elsevier Inc., 360Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010. POSTMASTER:Send all address changes to Metal Finishing P.O. Box 141,Congress, NY 10920-0141. Metal Finishing is free to qualifiedmetal finishers in North America. For others related to thefield the subscription rate per year, including a copy of the“Metal Finishing Guidebook and Directory Issue” and the“Organic Finish ing Guidebook and Directory Issue” is:
1-year subs for 2011
USA $123.00
Canada/Mexico $173.00
Europe & Japan $252.00
Rest of World $284.00
Metal Finishing Customer Service, P.O. Box 141, Congers, N.Y.10920-0141. Toll free (U.S. only): (800) 765-7514. Outsidethe U.S. call (845) 267-3490, fax (845) 267-3478. E-mail:[email protected]. Periodicals postage paid at NewYork, N.Y. and at additional mailing offices.
Change of Address: Postmaster—send address changes to Metal Finishing, P.O. Box 141, Congers, N.Y. 10920-0141.Toll-free (for U.S. customers) (800) 765-7514. Outside of theU.S. call (845) 267-3490, fax: (845) 267- 3478. E-mail:[email protected], 45 days advance notice required.Please include both new and old address.
Copyright by Elsevier, Inc. Permission for reprinting selectedportions will usually be granted on written application to thepublisher.
metal finishing
www.metalfinishing.com May 2012 I metalfinishing I 3
