Capitol Hill Day to address key electronics industry issues.
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Press Release Summary:
IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries® urges its members to attend Capitol Hill Day events on May 6-7, 2009 at the Marriott Metro Center in Washington, D.C. There, IPC members will have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with lawmakers, express their concerns, and influence legislation. Top priorities are increasing and making permanent the current R/D tax credit as well as securing the appointment of a PCB Executive Agent within the DoD.
Original Press Release:
IPC Announces Key Lobbying Issues, Urges Participation in Capitol Hill Day Events
BANNOCKBURN, Ill., USA, March 16, 2009 - Citing the integral role of the U.S. electronics industry in the nation's economic recovery, IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries® urges its members to meet with policymakers in Washington, D.C., during its Capitol Hill Day events May 6-7, 2009, at the Marriott Metro Center in Washington, D.C.
The new administration has the support of Congress and will be implementing environmental, tax, intellectual property and business-related laws and regulations. During Capitol Hill Day, IPC members will have a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with lawmakers, express their concerns and influence legislation that can benefit their businesses, the electronics industry and the U.S. economy.
"The health of the electronic interconnect industry is vital to rejuvenating the struggling economy, and we need to make sure Congress understands that," says Denny McGuirk, IPC president. "By sharing their expertise with policymakers, IPC members can directly impact the competitiveness of U.S. technology-based businesses, help sustain and grow 21st century manufacturing jobs in America and facilitate the innovations necessary to compete in the global economy."
Topping the IPC agenda are two items that will affect the future health of the U.S. electronics industry: increasing and making permanent the current Research and Development (R&D) tax credit; and securing the appointment of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Executive Agent within the Department of Defense (DoD).
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (H.R. 1424) extended the Research and Experimentation, also known as R&D, tax credit to December 31, 2009, but did not make it permanent. A permanent tax credit at a higher rate would allow domestic electronics manufacturing businesses to compete against more lucrative R&D incentives found abroad, and help electronics companies to maintain and create high-value research jobs in America.
The PCB Executive Agent position, established as part of the fiscal year 2009 National Defense Authorization Act, would play a central role in ensuring DoD access to the PCB manufacturing capabilities and technical expertise necessary to meet future military requirements. Despite the fact that the law required appointment of the Executive Agent by January, 2009, the position remains vacant and unfunded as of March.
IPC's Capitol Hill Day events include informational briefings by IPC staff on pending legislation as well as meetings with members of Congress and high-level government officials. Details and registration information are available at www.ipc.org/CHD or by contacting Ron Chamrin, IPC manager of government relations, at RonChamrin@ipc.org or +1 703-522-0225.
About IPC
IPC (http://www.ipc.org) is a global trade association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 2,700 member companies which represent all facets of the electronic interconnect industry, including design, printed circuit board manufacturing and electronics assembly. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $1.7 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Arlington, Va.; Garden Grove, Calif.; Stockholm, Sweden; and Shanghai and Shenzhen, China.
