IPC Members discussed key industry issues with legislators.

Press Release Summary:



On May 6-8 during Capitol Hill Day, IPC members representing PCB manufacturers in North America, electronics assembly companies, and suppliers came together to educate legislators and solicit support of critical legislation to strengthen the North American electronic interconnect industry. Critical tax and defense readiness issues were focused upon, namely the need for a permanent research and development tax credit and support for direct funding to the DoD PCB Executive Agent.



Original Press Release:



IPC Members Discuss Key Industry Issues with Legislators at Capitol Hill Day



BANNOCKBURN, Ill., USA, May 20, 2009 - IPC members representing the largest PCB manufacturers in North America, electronics assembly companies and suppliers joined forces May 6-8 during Capitol Hill Day to educate legislators and solicit their support of critical legislation to strengthen the North American electronic interconnect industry. Critical tax and defense readiness issues were paramount in the discussions throughout the three-day event.

The pressing need for a permanent research and development (R&D) tax credit was one of the high-priority agenda items. R&D is vital in advancing technology, growing a business and diversifying a product line. IPC members stressed that the lack of a permanent R&D tax credit significantly hinders long-term investments and planning. "Members' face-to-face advocacy efforts were extremely successful and we hope to see that reflected soon in their legislators' co-sponsorship of the permanent R&D tax credit bill, H.R. 422," said Nilesh Naik, CEO, OneSource Group, and chairman of the IPC Board of Directors.

With national security a priority for all Americans, support for direct funding to the Department of Defense (DoD) PCB Executive Agent was of particular concern to legislators. IPC members engaged their legislators' full attention explaining how direct funding would enable the agent to initiate actions to ensure national security, promote state-of-the-art technology within North America, and sustain an industry capable of supporting future DoD requirements.

IPC members also advocated the importance of expanding Net Operating Loss (NOL) tax relief to companies of all sizes and extending NOL relief into 2009. Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, NOL tax relief only allows businesses with gross annual receipts under $15 million to offset one year's losses against another year's income.

George Dudnikov, senior vice president and chief technology officer, PCB Division for Sanmina-SCI, explained his company's participation in IPC's government relations program, "As Churchill put it, 'the price of greatness is responsibility.' We can either sit back and let others determine our destiny or we can truly take responsibility and do what we can to make it what we envision. Our company chooses the latter."

"With their participation, our members affirmed the value of active engagement with elected officials," said Fern Abrams, IPC director of government relations and environmental policy. "Whether it's our efforts in Washington to make the R&D tax credit permanent or our work in Brussels on responsible environmental regulations, IPC will continue to be an advocate for the industry. Our members' active participation enhances our efforts. The more our members participate, the stronger our voice becomes."

IPC supports its members' global efforts. All IPC members are encouraged to contact their legislators to urge support for key legislation assisting our industry. To view presentations, issue briefs and other materials on legislative matters, visit www.ipc.org/GR or contact Ron Chamrin, IPC manager of government relations, at RonChamrin@ipc.org or +1 703-522-0225.

About IPC
IPC (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 electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. 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; Moscow, Russia; and Shanghai and Shenzhen, China.

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