Government Relations Priorities

 

The IAPD Government Relations Committee has identified the below priorities:

  • Corporate tax reform
  • Transportation and infrastructure investment
  • Regulatory reform
  • Battle against those promoting the deselection
    of plastics in government contracting

Profile Development

An ongoing series of activities contribute to profile development to establish IAPD as a thoughtful, serious and credible player for lawmakers and their staffs. Efforts include:

  • Message and materials development
  • Fly-ins to Washington, D.C.
  • Coalition building with similar associations such as the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, SPI - The Plastics Industry Trade Association, The National Association of Manufacturers and the American Chemistry Council
  • Visits by Members of Congress to IAPD member facilities, in order to develop personal relationships with the job creators in our membership

Grassroots Education and Development 

IAPD's most important asset is our members, with their dynamic leadership, strong employee base and demographic diversity. In 2014, IAPD started educating our members on the importance their engagement will have and worked to provide them with the information, skills and incentive to engage. In 2015, we will continue this effort through our data identification efforts coupled with our grassroots infrastructure plan that will include:

  • Training IAPD members to become advocates for their own businesses
  • Demystifying government relations and overcoming perceptions about any difficulty of engagement in grassroots efforts by preparing members on the etiquette, how to tell their stories and getting the "ask" when meeting with legislators
  • Helping IAPD members develop relationships with their legislators
  • Developing talking points on key issues vital to our niche of the plastics industry to use when meeting with, crafting letters to and identifying opportunities to work with their legislators

 

Top Issues
Environment
  • “Performance Plastics” are significantly different from consumer-grade disposable plastics. IAPD members are leaders in the environmentally conscious world. They have made significant investments in recycling programs for their materials.
  • IAPD members want to ensure Congress is educated on the differences between consumer-grade plastics and Performance Plastics so that regulation does not burden an industry leader and role model.
  • Performance Plastics are part of the solution: Some are as strong as metal, but at a fraction of the weight. When used in applications such as automobiles and aircraft, significant fuel savings can be met.
  • IAPD members want to include standards for Performance Plastics in building codes and other manufacturing specs.
  • Performance Plastics are sustainable, most are recyclable and, when considering the full lifecycle, are often less damaging to the environment than other materials.
Infrastructure
  • IAPD believes that ALL projects that receive federal funding must consider ALL materials that fit the specifications required for the project.
  • The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that US$2 trillion of additional infrastructure investment is needed over the next 10 years. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) estimates that more than US$1.3 trillion is needed for water infrastructure improvements in the coming decades.
  • It is estimated that 78 percent of water system projects are bid as “closed competition” – creating a virtual monopoly for one type of material.
  • If open competition were mandated, meaning that any bid for a new water project was “product agnostic,” the results would be staggering. Overall, out of the US$1.3 trillion AWWA estimates would need to be spent on water infrastructure improvements, the National Taxpayers Union estimates that open competition could save more than US$371 billion. According to a BCC Research 2017 study, municipalities could save in excess of 25 percent on pipe costs simply by allowing open competition.
  • IAPD supports legislation that seeks to remove local regulatory barriers preventing municipal engineers from soliciting bids from products like plastics. In addition, IAPD supports legislation that ensures any projects receiving federal funding do not discriminate against any materials for those projects.
Buy American
  • IAPD members want Congress to strengthen Buy American provisions in government contracts, to ensure the continued flow of necessary materials without risk of foreign disruptors.
American Supply Chain
  • A sound infrastructure is the bedrock of a well-functioning supply chain. IAPD members are calling for an investment in the national highways, the rail system and all other methods of transport.
  • The shortage of qualified truck drivers is an impediment to the supply chain. IAPD members ask for the passage of the DRIVE Safe Act to help alleviate the shortage.
Other Issues
Transportation
  • IAPD supports S. 569 – the bipartisan Drive Safe Act – which seeks to permit the employment of inter-state commercial truck drivers who are over the age of 18 (currently 21). Seventy percent of the nation’s freight is carried by commercial trucks yet as our economy strengthens, motor carriers are having difficulty finding the drivers they need to handle growing capacity. According to a recent estimate, the nation needs an additional 50,000 truck drivers immediately, a shortage that is expected to grow to more than 174,000 by 2026.
  • While 48 states currently allow drivers to obtain a commercial driver’s license at 18, they are prohibited from driving in interstate commerce until they are 21. The DRIVE-Safe Act would create a two-step apprenticeship program to allow these younger drivers to enter the industry safely. Candidates would be accompanied in the cab by experienced drivers for a total of 400 hours of on-duty time with at least 240 hours of driving time.
Trade and Tariffs
  • IAPD believes that open and fair trade is crucial to the success of the domestic performance plastics industry.
  • While not taking a specific position on tariffs, the IAPD hopes for a quick resolution to the ongoing trade disputes that will result in stability in the marketplace.
USMCA
  • The USMCA has received broad, bipartisan support and the IAPD believes that open and fair trade is crucial to the success of the domestic performance plastics industry.
  • IAPD looks forward to a final resolution to the agreement so that our members can plan their business transactions accordingly.
Taxes and Regulations
  • 199A – IAPD supports H.R. 216, the bipartisan Main Street Tax Certainty Act of 2019, which would make permanent the Section 199A 20 percent qualified business income deduction. looks forward to Congress making the business deductions under 199A permanent to provide assurances that investments pass-through businesses make will be the most productive possible.