ACD Press Release

NACD Members Meet to Discuss 2017 Legislative, Regulatory Issues

This week, the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) Government Advocacy and Regulatory Affairs Committees met with key policymakers and regulators in Washington to provide input and express concerns about some of the association’s key priorities as they advocate for the chemical distribution industry in the 115th Congress and with the Trump administration regulatory agencies.

On Tuesday afternoon, Government Advocacy Committee members joined together to discuss small business healthcare reform, regulatory reform efforts to pursue in 2017, the need for greater rail competition, tax reform under the new Republican leadership in Congress, and more. They also met with John Cuaderes, Staff Director for the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management for Chairman James Lankford (R-OK) to inform him of the business and regulatory issues facing the chemical distribution industry. On Tuesday evening, the committee heard from Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), and on Wednesday morning they met with John Connell, Chief of Staff to Sen. Todd Young (R-IN). 

On Wednesday afternoon, the Regulatory Affairs Committee joined together to discuss chemical product safety, facility process safety, and environmental concerns. They also heard from Jeffery Morris, Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics to discuss implementation of the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act.  

On Thursday morning, they continued discussions about facility security including the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards as well as Improvised Explosive Device precursor materials; transportation issues including the Surface Transportation Board’s proposals on rail reform and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s carrier safety fitness determination; and state regulatory issues of concern to the chemical distribution industry.

During the week, members of both committees met with nearly 15 House and Senate offices to raise issues important to the chemical distribution industry including association healthcare plans, regulatory reform, the border adjustability tax and other import/export issues, and more. 

NACD President Eric R. Byer stated, “It’s always a useful exercise to sit down with policymakers and regulators at the beginning of the year to discuss some of the opportunities and challenges impacting chemical distributors. Given the new political environment this year, we are hopeful we can work with the new Congressional leadership and regulatory agencies to craft policies that foster growth and reduce burdensome regulations so our members can continue providing good-paying, locally focused jobs while remaining committed to operating in a safe and responsible manner.”

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