Update on Issues
ONGOING PROJECTS
Doubles Tow Away
NATM has been advocating for a change in federal law that would permit the transportation of two empty light trailers to be towed together when being delivered to a retailer for sale. The provision would impose other limitations such as CDL requirements and a reasonable length limitation (82 feet overall) and a low maximum weight limit (26,000 pounds). With Congress presently focused on cutting spending and the federal debt ceiling, the surface transportation reauthorization legislation, the most appropriate vehicle for such a change, faces an uncertain future. NATM has been working to build support among key legislators for the doubles tow away provision so as to be ready when the bill gains momentum.
Uniform Brake Standard
NATM continues to believe that uniformity on trailers brakes is an important issue. The Association has been working on developing a framework for federal uniformity. The Brake Standard Working Group comprised of representatives from NATM, RVIA and NMMA has been reviewing state, federal and international standards as part of that process. The group plans to work through the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to develop a uniform brake standard.
CAFÉ MY2012
NATM submitted comments for EPA and NHTSA’s joint rulemaking concerning CAFÉ standards. NATM’s concern is that fuel efficiency efforts will prohibit the capability for vehicles to tow trailers. NATM, along with other industry associations, are asking for less stringent fuel economy for light trucks and vans.
Safety Chains
CVSA petitioned for safety chains to be used on commercial trailers. NATM supported their petition and offered our information from the NATM Guidelines and Compliance Program Checklist in their petition.
EPA Greenhouse Gases
NATM joined NAM in supporting a measure that would have blocked the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation was proposed by Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as an amendment to the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S. 493). The Senate voted 50-50 against an amendment. However, the McConnell amendment’s 50 votes reflected the bipartisan support for halting the EPA’s overreaching regulation of greenhouse gases, but fell short of the necessary 60 votes. "While the Senate was unable to pass Senator McConnell’s amendment today, the vote demonstrates that Senators on both sides of the aisle understand the negative impact the EPA’s new greenhouse gas regulations will have on manufacturing,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. NAM urged manufacturers to contact their legislators and ask them to support the measure as an important first step in the battle against misguided and costly regulations that stifle economic growth and hinder competition and innovation. Approximately 3,000 NAM members reached out to lawmakers through the NAM to express their opposition to the EPA’s regulations. NATM will continue to support NAM’s efforts concerning EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases.
RECENT SUCCESSES
Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010
NATM opposed legislation being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 5381, which would have imposed a substantial new tax on each trailer produced. The tax would have begun at $3 in the first year and risen to $9 by the third year (and thereafter would continue rising with inflation). Senator Rockefeller introduced a similar bill in the Senate, S. 3302, which did not include the vehicle tax. NATM worked to ensure that the Senate did not add such a tax to its version of the legislation and also obtained an explicit exemption for trailers from a provision which would have required event data records on all motor vehicles. Neither piece of legislation was enacted into law during the 2010 Congressional session and there are presently no plans for such legislation to be considered in this Congress.
1099 Repeal signed into law
President Obama has signed into law H.R. 4, which repeals the IRS Form 1099 reporting requirements. NATM joined a coalition of associations and small businesses supporting repeal of the onerous reporting requirements. Enacted as part of the landmark Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed by Congress in March 2010, the Form 1099 requirements would have forced all businesses and tax-exempt organizations to issue a Form 1099 to vendors from whom they buy goods totaling $600 or more annually. The change, which was scheduled to take effect in 2012, could have resulted in associations having to issue hundreds or even thousands of forms each year, track cumulative payments to vendors, and obtain tax identification information from each vendor. The government planned to tax revenues reported on 1099 forms in order to raise money to fund health care reform.
Card Check
The "Employee Free Choice Act"—better known as the Card Check bill—is a proposed law that would change how unions are allowed to organize workers in the United States. The U.S. Chamber strongly opposed this legislation. There are three problems with Card Check:
1.
Card Check would effectively eliminate private voting.
Card Check would effectively eliminate private voting.2.Card Check could put government regulators in charge of private business decisions.
Card Check could put government regulators in charge of private business decisions.3.Card Check would impose harsh new penalties on businesses—but not on unions—for violations during the union recognition process.
Card Check would impose harsh new penalties on businesses—but not on unions—for violations during the union recognition process.NATM supported U.S. Chamber and asked members to write letters in opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act. This bill was not passed by Congress in 2010 and will not be considered during this Congress.
For more information on NATM’s Government Affairs efforts and to find out how to get involved in supporting the industry’s work in Washington DC, contact NATM’s Government Affairs Liason, Allison Malmstrom at Allison.Malmstrom@natm.com.
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