Stephanie Salmon, AFS Washington Office; Jeff Hannapel & Christian Richter, The Policy Group, Washington, D.C. WASHINGTON ALERT Bill to Make Scientific Claims in Regulation More Transparent LEGISLATION CALLS FOR ALL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION USED TO SUPPORT NEW REGULATIONS TO BE IDENTIFIED AND PUBLICLY AVAILABLE FOR INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS AND REPRODUCTION OF RESEARCH RESULTS. Legislation prohibiting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing regula-tions based upon science that is not transparent or not reproducible was approved by the House Judiciary Committee June 24 and awaits action by the full house. e bill, the Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 (H.R. 4012), was introduced by Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) in February. A coalition of more than 30 indus-try groups, including the American Foundry Society, have signed a letter sent to House Science, Space and Technology Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), in support of H.R. 4012. In the letter, the coalition argues it is paramount that chemicals and metals producers, manufacturers, distributors, importers, users and the public have condence that regulatory decisions reached by EPA are grounded in transparent and reproducible science. According to the groups, ensuring that EPA utilizes high quality science and provides more clarity on how deci-sions are made will increase its value, utility, and credibility for ensuring public safety. AFS argues improv-ing the scientic quality and sharing of information underpinning EPA’s decisions is critical to fostering a regulatory environment that will allow metalcasters to continue to develop safe and cost-e ective products on which Americans depend as part of their everyday life. A companion bill (S.2613) was introduced in the Senate in July by Senator John Barrasso (R-Wy.). ON THE HILL Legislation to Make Permanent Bonus Depreciation Passes House A bill (H.R. 4718) to restore and make permanent the 50% first-year ex-pensing provisions that were in effect for the past several years and expired at the end of 2013 was approved by the House of Representatives July 11 by a vote of 258-160, with more than 30 Democrats voting in favor. More than 100 trade associa-tions, including AFS, signed a letter to members of the House backing the legislation to permanently extend bonus depreciation, and metalcasters lobbied in support of the measure on Capitol Hill during the AFS Government Affairs Conference in June. Industry advocates said the legisla-tion would create a pro-investment tax climate that will spur much needed economic growth and jobs and provide a bridge to broader tax reform. The bill would allow metalcasters to write off half of the cost of their capital invest-ments in the same year the investment is made. According to AFS, the bill will help ensure that metalcasting facilities of all sizes can make the best decisions for their specific business situation and not be paralyzed by constant on-again, off-again tax policies. The Senate Finance Committee has passed a bipartisan two-year package extending most of the expired extenders provisions, including R&D tax credit and bonus depreciation. Final action on the expired tax provisions will not take place until after the November elections during the lame duck session. signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) which will streamline the workforce development system, give priority consideration to training that leads to industry-recognized credentials, strengthen registered apprenticeship programs and provide states greater flexibility to address worker shortages. The law represents the first major rewriting of the federal job training program since the Workforce Development Act was passed in 1998. The measure passed the U.S. Sen-ate by a vote of 95-3 on June 25 and passed the U.S. House of Representa-tives by a vote of 415-6 on July 9. Both were passed with significant biparti-san support. For additional information, contact Stephanie Salmon, AFS Washington Office, 202-842-4864, ssalmon@afsinc.org. August 2014 MODERN CASTING Bipartisan Job Training Measure Signed into Law On July 22, President Barack Obama | 19
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