ADVOCACY
ASA Codes and Standards Director Jim Kendzel (left) and ASA Government Affairs Director Steve Rossi power ASA’s Advocacy team, working closely with ASA volunteer leaders on critical initiatives in the legislative and codes and standards areas. Photo by Bob Levy/ASA.
Speaking with one voice
ASA’s Advocacy team works to protect our members’ ability to build successful and profitable businesses. By Jim Kendzel, MPH, and Steve Rossi One critical membership benefit that sometimes flies under the radar is the work the American Supply Association Advocacy team does in the government affairs and codes and standards arenas. ASA Director of Government Affairs Steve Rossi and ASA Codes and Standards Director Jim Kendzel make sure member companies’ best interests are always protected when it comes legislation, codes and standards and regulatory issues. Every day, ASA’s Government Affairs office monitors the latest legislative and regulatory developments – from Washington to Sacramento – and everywhere in between. Last year, out of the tens of thousands of bills introduced in capitals across the country, ASA was able to identify, follow and act on 125 different pieces of legislation that directly affected the PHCP/PVF industry. In Washington, ASA has been active with myriad issues from infrastructure to taxation, as well as proposed regulations that can potentially stifle growth. As America emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, new priorities from the Biden administration and Congress attempt to change how business is done. The American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment ASA REVIEW
and Jobs Act, as well as the proposed Build Back Better Plan will fundamentally reshape our nation for years to come. At the state level, several states are proposing (or have proposed) new legislation that implements new mandates on our industry when it comes to the sale of products, as well as the increasing adoption of new climate and emissions goals. Over the last year, ASA has been successful on several fronts when it comes to protecting our industry. With the variety of tax and spending proposals making their way through Washington, ASA has been active in supporting commonsense legislative approaches to the challenges facing our industry. On the taxation front, ASA has fought against initiatives that seek to: raise the top income tax bracket from 37% to 39.6%, raise the corporate income tax from 21% to 28%, raise taxes on pass-through businesses (with a full 199A deduction to 35.5% or if the 199A deduction is eliminated to 43.4%), institute a “double death tax” on family businesses and requiring banks to report ALL business and personal financial transactions over $600 (including transfers between the accounts with the same owner). KEEPING MEMBERS INFORMED, ENGAGED AND LEADING
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