Members of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) headed to Capitol Hill Tuesday to encourage Congress to reform the regulatory process and provide chemical distributors and other U.S. businesses the regulatory certainty needed to continue as economic engines and job creators. They also highlighted a glitch in the 2016 appropriations bill that could revert the 34-hour restart provision for truckers to rules used more than a decade ago, significantly impacting U.S. commerce.

“NACD members represent businesses of all sizes in all 50 states delivering the chemicals that are the building blocks of our modern world, generating roughly $30 billion in economic output,” said NACD president Eric R. Byer. “The opportunity for our member companies to personally discuss the issues that impact them with their members of Congress is essential.”

During the 2016 Washington Fly-In, more than 90 members will meet with numerous congressional offices as well as with officials from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the Office of U.S. Trade Representatives. Attendees will also encourage more members of the U.S. House of Representatives to join the Congressional Chemistry Caucus recently established by Reps. John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL).

This year, NACD celebrates the 25th anniversary of Responsible Distribution, a mandatory, third-party-verified program that establishes a proven framework for the health, safety, environment and security aspects of chemical distribution. As the association celebrates this important milestone, member companies will also convey to their lawmakers the positive impact this program has made over the last quarter-century to keep their employees and surrounding communities safe.

“Our members have proven that they are responsible partners to their suppliers, customers and communities through their participation in Responsible Distribution,” said Byer. “Now, we need to ensure that stakeholders have the ability to provide input on changes to longstanding regulations, and that regulatory actions serve to foster growth and allow businesses to continue providing good paying, locally-focused jobs.”

NACD and its over 440 member companies are vital to the chemical supply chain providing products to over 750,000 end users. NACD members are leaders in health, safety, security, and environmental performance through implementation of Responsible Distribution, established in 1991 as a condition of membership and a third-party verified management practice. For more information, visit www.NACD.com.

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