Did you know that the business of chemistry touches 96% of all commerce in the United States? Did you also know that chemical distributors generate $30 billion in economic output, employ more than 70,000 people, and contribute $5 billion to the local, state, and national tax base? As these numbers show, chemical distributors play a pivotal role in the U.S. economy and in the supply chain that produces the consumer goods we use every single day.
Unfortunately, many of our elected officials are completely unaware of the way chemistry impacts our everyday lives in the 21st century. That’s why NACD joined with the American Chemistry Council and the American Chemical Society to work with Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) to launch the Congressional Chemistry Caucus. The purpose of this caucus is to put forward polices that support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and ensure the continued growth and success of chemistry-related industries.
Last night, I attended the launch event for this caucus on Capitol Hill with over 80 people and let me tell you, the energy in the room was electric. Congressmen and industry representatives alike were energized to show how important chemistry is to everyday life in America. The caucus already has 12 members, and I’m confident we’ll continue to grow those numbers and raise the profile of chemistry in Congress so that lawmakers understand the importance of this industry to their local communities and the American economy.
For NACD, the Congressional Chemistry Caucus will serve as a useful tool in our advocacy efforts here in Washington. We now have a group of lawmakers that we can automatically reach out to regarding legislation that impacts our industry. While they may not support every idea we put forward, they can serve as a focal point for our efforts to get language introduced into legislation that is beneficial to our industry.
I thank Reps. Moolenaar and Lipinski for their commitment to the science of chemistry and related industries, and I look forward to working with the members of the Congressional Chemistry Caucus to make sure that policymakers appreciate the importance of chemical distributors in American commerce.