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AFS opposes proposed hike in costs to finance equipment and machinery

The American Foundry Society (AFS) opposes a Treasury Department proposal that would make it more expensive for manufacturers, including metalcasters, to finance the purchase of depreciable equipment by limiting interest deductions four years earlier than Congress intended.

Speaking up for the industry, AFS signed a coalition letter, organized by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), urging Treasury officials to reverse the proposed rule.

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President signs executive order to encourage increased federal purchases of iron, steel and aluminum used for infrastructure 

President Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 31, 2019, to encourage federal agencies to require the use of more American-made products in infrastructure projects they help finance. The order directs federal agencies to encourage recipients of loans, loan guarantees, grants and interest subsidies to meet Buy American requirements for iron, steel, aluminum, cement and other products in their projects.

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OSHA publishes crystalline silica Frequently Asked Questions for general industry

On Jan. 22, 2019, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) concerning the agency’s final rule regulating occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica in general industry.

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Industry earns wins on water infrastructure, sweepers

A new water infrastructure law and an agreement from OSHA on non-HEPA sweepers highlight recent policy victories for the metalcasting industry.

A comprehensive infrastructure bill backed by AFS won resounding support from Congress. America’s Water Infrastructure Act (S. 3021) provides more than $6 billion in funding for civil works projects nationwide, as well as important improvements for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. 

The bipartisan measure was signed  into law by President Donald Trump in October.

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AFS outlines 2019 public policy priorities

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.”

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Trump Administration Unveils Waters of the U.S. Rule Replacement

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. 

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U.S. and China Agree to Hold Off on Raising Additional Tariffs

During the G-20 talks this weekend in Argentina, President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to halt new tariffs and not increase tariffs already in place.

The U.S. had been scheduled to increase tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods from 10% to 25% on Jan. 1. The agreement keeps those tariffs on thousands of products, including hundreds of types of Chinese castings at 10% for at least the next 90 days while the countries negotiate further.

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Midterm election statement from AFS CEO Doug Kurkul

“The American Foundry Society and its thousands of members congratulate the newly elected and re-elected public officials. We look forward to working with policymakers to advance a pro-manufacturing agenda that encourages capital investment, infrastructure investment, a strong defense industrial base, regulatory reform, workforce readiness policies, and vigorous enforcement of trade agreements."

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Congress passes AFS-supported water infrastructure package

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.

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OSHA agrees use of non-HEPA industrial sweepers is acceptable under new silica rule

OSHA’s crystalline silica rule did not clearly state which types of industrial sweepers are permitted under its new standard. For the past several months, AFS and its attorney have been engaged in conversations with OSHA staff and their attorneys in order to clarify the types of sweepers that are acceptable under the rule.

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