CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/791367
TRENDS MARCH 2017 18 CompositesWorld The American Composites Manufacturers Assn.'s (ACMA, Arlington, VA, US) Composites Executive Forum, designed to give composites executives a high-level view of the manu- facturing and economic landscape, delivered as promised, Jan. 11-12, in Washington, DC. Forum speakers represented the American Chemistry Council, a bipartisan consultancy to the US House of Representatives and a variety of other interests. Many speculated about what President Donald Trump and the new US Congress might have in store for the United States. Speaking most directly and specifically to that point was Lamar Smith, a Republican Congressman from Texas' 21 st District, who said Trump and Congress will assess and roll back many regulations, particularly those deemed overly burdensome, unnecessary or unsupported by sound science. Further, he said Congress likely will pass a bill requiring that future regulations include the data that support their creation. Smith admitted, "We all want clean air and clean water, but regulations should be justified and beneficial, not unnecessarily burdensome." Congress, said Smith, is also working on making the US tax code simpler and more business-friendly. He said to expect the number of tax brackets to be reduced from seven to three, and to see incentives that encourage companies to stay in the US. Smith predicted that replacing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) will take about a year, and that the new healthcare system will focus on expanded use of private insurers and interstate competition, which, he asserted, will expand consumers' choices and reduce their cost. He also said the ACA's stipulation that a person cannot be denied coverage due to pre-existing condition will remain in place. Cal Dooley, president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), made many friends in the audience when he said, "We think there is going to be an infrastructure build in the new administration, and if there is, we want an open materials competition." That is, ACC wants non-legacy materials, including composites, to be given a chance to compete with legacy materials, such as concrete and wood. "This is a white hat issue for us," he said. "This makes us look like heroes." Dooley also talked at length about the value of cheap natural gas in the US, noting that 85% of chemicals in the US are made with natural gas-based feed- stocks, giving their manufacturers a substantial competitive advantage in the world market, he said. He, too, spoke — at length — about the need for regulations based on sound science, not fear. But Dooley expressed concern about Trump's rhetoric regarding trade restrictions or increased tariffs. "As a chemical industry," he made clear, "we want more trade, not less." Lauren Bazel, VP of the Alpine Group, a bipartisan consul- tancy, emphasized that the value of composites is relatively unknown to most lawmakers, and that it's incumbent upon ACMA Executive Forum: Composites in the big, BIG picture Walton Process Technologies, Inc. Best Customer Service in The Industry www.autoclave s .com Mansfield TX 682-518-9002 Service/Repair Retrofit/Relocate Autoclaves Bond Presses Batch Process Controls Ovens Parts