AMERICAN FOUNDRY SOCIETY

- Concerns with U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) overtime rulemaking which includes a nearly 55% increase in the minimum salary threshold and automatically updates the threshold every three years OSHA's Walkaround rule. - Bipartisan Workforce Pell Grant Act (H.R. 6585) - legislation to expand the Pell Grant to short-term career training programs that last between eight and 14 weeks. - Stronger Workforce for America Act (H.R. 6655) - bill would reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which is the primary federal legislation designed to strengthen our nations public workforce system. - Freedom to Invest in Tomorrows Workforce Act (H.R. 1477 / S. 722) - Support bill to expand the eligible uses of 529 tax-advantaged education savings account funds to cover costs associated with workforce training and credentialing programs.

- Section 301 China Tariffs - Continue to maintain these tariffs. - Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2023 (H.R.2667/S.805) - Support bill that will increase civil penalties for fraudulent and grossly negligent violations of United States customs laws; allow private companies to sue foreign producers that harm American companies; and, exclude persons that have committed fraudulent or grossly negligent violations of US customs laws from participation in the importer of record program. Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act (S.1856 / H.R. 3822) - Support bill that aims to strengthen U.S. trade remedy laws to crack down on unfair trade practices and enhance the enforcement tools needed to combat repeat offenders of the U.S. trade remedy laws. Also addresses the growing problem of cross-border subsidization where foreign governments subsidize industries, not only in their own countries but in other countries as well.

- Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 (H.R. 7024) - Support bill which restores Section 174 expensing for US-based R&D investments, full and immediate expensing for investments in machinery and equipment, the EBITDA-based business interest limitation under Section 163(j), makes permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income, and expands the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. - Freedom to Invest in Tomorrows Workforce Act (H.R. 1477 / S. 722) - Support bill which expands the eligible uses of 529 tax-advantaged education savings account funds to cover costs associated with workforce training and credentialing programs. - American Innovation and Jobs Act - (S.866/H.R.2673) - American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2023 - support bills to ensure manufacturers can fully deduct R&D expenses each year and expand the R&D tax credit for startups and small businesses. - The Accelerate Long-term Investment Growth Now (ALIGN) Act (H.R. 2406/S. 1117) - Support bill which to make permanent allowing businesses to fully expense new investments in the year of purchase. - Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2023 (H.R.1440/S.694) - Support bill to repeal the federal excise tax (FET) on heavy trucks and trailers, which was established over 100 years ago. - The Death Tax Repeal Act (S. 1108/ H.R. 7035) - Support full and permanent repeal of the estate tax. - Main Street Certainty Act (S. 1706 / H.R. 4721) - Supporting the Section 199A the Small Business Deduction, makes permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income. (Under current law, the deduction expires after December 31, 2025.

FY25 Dept of Defense Appropriations - request for Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science and Technology Program for the Aluminum Castings Performance Initiative (ACPI) - Support research program that will enhance and strengthen the domestic aluminum metalcasting industry.

Permitting reform including: - Lower Energy Costs Act (HR 1) - support bills which advance policies to reform permitting process, enhance energy security, protect energy exports and critical infrastructure, and increase production and processing of critical minerals. - Spur Permitting of Underdeveloped Resources (SPUR) Act (S. 1456) - Support bill that establishes clear timelines and codifying important permitting reforms. - Revitalizing the Economy by Simplifying Timelines and Assuring Regulatory Transparency (RESTART) Act (S. 1449) - Support expediting environmental review processes.