For the first time since its expansion in 2015, there will finally be five commissioners sitting on the Surface Transportation Board (STB). This body makes critical decisions for chemical distributors and rail customers, and I’m thrilled at the prospect of having a fully-staffed board empowered to promote competition and modernize our nation’s freight policies.
With Election Day nearly two weeks in our rearview mirror, the dust has mostly settled on the 2020 election season. At the time of writing my initial assessment the day after the election, I was unable to definitely project the outcome of the presidential election, the party that would hold the majority in the U.S. Senate, or how narrow a majority Democrats would have in the U.S. House of Representatives.
We expected a close contest at the presidential level this past Tuesday and, sure enough, we still do not have a confirmed winner and might not for some time. While right away we may not know who our president will be, NACD has been reviewing the election results at the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S Senate, and state levels.
As our virtual Annual Meeting draws to a close next week, we hope you’ll join us in congratulating the winners of the 2020 Responsible Distribution Excellence Award, Distributor of the Year, and Affiliate of the Year.
Following the 2020 election cycle, control of the U.S. Senate will be considerably more consequential than previous cycles. If former Vice President Joe Biden (D) is elected president, his ability to deliver on the progressive Democratic agenda will depend on Democrats taking control of the Senate and the margin by which they do so. If President Trump is reelected to a second term, his administration’s effectiveness depends upon Republicans maintaining control of the chamber.
This year, during National Chemistry Week, we’re reminded just how much sticking with chemistry is keeping us together, while apart. For NACD and our members, we have always known the incredible power and impact that chemistry has on our daily lives, but even I have been blown away this year observing how critical our industry is to the vitality of America’s supply chain and to our ability to persevere in the midst of a global pandemic.
Led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), this October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This campaign represents a vital partnership between government and industry. Now in its 17th year, Cybersecurity Month aims to raise cybersecurity awareness across the United States, helping all Americans access resources to stay safe and secure online while empowering the public to own their role in cybersecurity and increasing our nation’s resilience to cyber threats.
In just a few weeks’ time, we look forward to welcoming you to our 49th Annual Meeting – albeit in a slightly different format this year. Given the current situation and the social distancing rules, we’ve reluctantly decided to move the event from the sun-drenched foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains in La Quinta, CA, to the comfort of your desk.
We’re now nine months into the 7th Cycle of Responsible Distribution, but despite our best laid plans, it’s hardly gone as expected this year. As the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted every facet of our lives, NACD has worked hard to adapt to the ever-changing situation.
Nowadays it's never been so important to stay connected — both to our friends and families, but also to our peers in the workplace and across the chemical distribution industry. Collaboration is an important part of what we do, and continued learning is key to staying current on all the latest changes, regulations, and business opportunities facing our industry. In that spirit, NACD has long offered webinars to provide ongoing education around important issues. Recently, we’ve started charging a nominal fee to participate in these educational opportunities, and I wanted to spend some time explaining why.