On May 15, 2024, nearly 90 members and staff of the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD), formerly the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD), descended upon Capitol Hill for ACD’s annual Washington Fly-In. This marks the first Fly-In since ACD rebranded last November. Participants will meet with key lawmakers to discuss the critical issues impacting the chemical distribution industry and urge Congress to address legislation that will support the growth of American businesses.
“Our world relies on chemicals every day, and it takes dedicated experts to ensure these essential products get where they need to be safely and efficiently,” said ACD President and CEO Eric R. Byer. “The chemical distribution industry is constantly evolving and ACD members, and their supply chain partners, are facing various legislative and regulatory challenges that are impacting businesses of all sizes.”
Key issues during this year’s Fly-In include trade, harmful regulations, chemical facility security, ocean shipping, and rail reform. ACD members and staff called on Congress to:
- Retroactively renew the Generalized System of Preferences and Miscellaneous Tariff Bill programs: These two critical free-trade programs enhance access to essential chemicals while keeping the costs for these products low. The loss of these two programs has cost the chemical distribution industry tens of millions of dollars each year and hinders the industry’s capacity to expand businesses and workforce.
- Overturn the Risk Management Program (RMP) final rulemaking: The recent decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to expand the RMP regulations will burden businesses already in compliance and require chemical facilities to disclose sensitive information. The industry will divert resources from proven mitigation strategies to finance these new burdensome regulations. Congress must pass H.J. Res. 123, a resolution to overturn this final rule.
- Repeal the Superfund Excise Tax: The reinstitution of the Superfund Tax targets the chemical industry with approximately $15 billion in new taxes on 42 chemicals and 101 chemical substances. This reinstatement has added significant regulatory and financial hurdles for ACD members without clear guidance from the Internal Revenue Service.
- Reauthorize the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program: The successful and bipartisan CFATS program expired in July 2023. CFATS is critical for chemical security and without it, our nation’s chemical facilities do not have the vital resources from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to put in place key safeguards. ACD urges congress to pass H.R. 4470, a bill to extend the CFATS program through July 27, 2025.
- Support safe and efficient ocean and rail shipping: The chemical distribution industry depends on reliable ocean and rail service to ensure essential products are moving efficiently through the supply chain. Congress must enforce diligent oversight by the Federal Maritime Commission to ensure fair ocean carrier practices and authorize streamlined data standards for maritime freight logistics. Congress must also pass the Railway Safety Act to enhance rail service and safety.
“Our economy relies on the success of the chemical distribution industry – an industry that contributes more than $27 billion in direct output,” Byer continued. “In turn, Congress must support policies that strengthen our industry’s growth and competitiveness in the future. That is why our Fly-In is so vital to not only ACD members, but the countless industries the chemical distribution industry supports.”
To learn more about ACD’s Fly-In, click here.
