Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - IPC Lobbying Efforts Continued During Capitol Hill Day

Led by its members, IPC (Northbrook, IL) pushed for a fair, open and rules-based international trading system at its recent Capitol Hill Day, an industry lobbying event.

In more than 50 appointments with lawmakers, senators and their staff, IPC's Government Relations Committee and more than 40 industry leaders lobbied Congress to enforce the U.S.' international trade agreements and more aggressively officiate U.S. trading partners' obligations under the World Trade Organization and other international trade agreements. In particular, Capitol Hill Day attendees asked Congress to keep the pressure on U.S. trading partners that manipulate their currency in order to gain a competitive and trade advantage over their U.S. counterparts.

During his keynote address, Rep. Donald Manzullo, chairman of the House Small Business Committee, emphasized that lower business costs, not protectionist trade policies, will revitalize the U.S. manufacturing sector.

Congressman Phil English (R-Pa.) concurred with Manzullo in his address, as he discussed his countervailing duty bill and other congressional efforts that help level the playing field with foreign competition.

"After a three-year absence, IPC's GR Committee decided to bring back this important program to assist our members in continuing the industry recovery," said IPC President Denny McGuirk. "IPC's lobbying efforts, though, extend beyond this one-day event and cover a vast array of policies that greatly impact today's U.S. electronics manufacturer. Presently, we are lobbying to reduce the corporate tax rate on U.S. manufacturing and production income by 3%, and, to maintain competitiveness, we are supporting the extension of the research and development tax credit and the bonus 50% depreciation. IPC staff is also working on several important environmental initiatives, including a reduction of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting burdens, a broader exclusion of all recycled materials and development of lead-free labeling and materials declaration."

After recent lobbying efforts at the state and local level, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's recently signed the California's Workers' Compensation Reform Bill, which promises to save up to $7 billion a year for the state's employers. IPC also successfully opposed a bill in Maine that would have banned all brominated flame retardants, including TBBPA-the main flame retardant in printed circuit boards.

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