AFS metalcasters and suppliers took part in the 2019 AFS Government Affairs Fly-In June 11-12 in Washington, D.C., the industry’s premier legislative event dedicated to educating policymakers and speaking with one voice.

The American Foundry Society today announced its four top priorities for the June 11-12 Government Affairs Fly-In in Washington, D.C.

Your voice counts. With more than 100 new lawmakers and dozens of new congressional staffers on Capitol Hill, this year’s AFS Government Affairs Fly-In is more important than ever.

Political strategist and former Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove will be the keynote speaker at the 2019 AFS Government Affairs Fly-In, June 11-12 in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  — Today, American Foundry Society CEO Doug Kurkul, AFS President Jean Bye, and Eric Meyers, chairman of the AFS Government Affairs Committee, welcomed the newly convened 116th Congress. 

“AFS looks forward to working with lawmakers to address important metalcasting legislative and regulatory issues in the coming year,” Kurkul said. “It’s important that both new and returning members of Congress understand and appreciate the unique value of the metalcasting industry to manufacturing and the U.S. economy.”

The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers unveiled their replacement to the Obama-era 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Rule.

The proposed new rule appears to provide a much more reasonable approach to the limits of Clean Water Act jurisdiction for waters of the U.S.  However, AFS said the details of the new rule require careful review to determine how it will impact metalcasting operations. 

The next generation of metalcasters gathered at the Foundry Educational Foundation's College Industry Conference in Chicago Nov. 15-16, and AFS was on hand.

A comprehensive water infrastructure bill backed by AFS won resounding support from Congress.   Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved America’s Water Infrastructure Act (S. 3021), which provides more than $6 billion in funding for water infrastructure projects nationwide. The bipartisan measure passed the Senate Oct. 10 by a vote of 99-1 after receiving unanimous approval by the House of Representatives in September.