Vinyl Industry Converges On Capitol Hill This Week
May 16, 2012 — More than 65 participants from throughout the vinyl value chain have traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Vinyl Industry Congressional Fly-in. Today participants will spend the afternoon with guest speakers from The National Association of Manufacturers, the Building Owners and Managers Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Chemistry Council. They will also engage in a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Small Business Administration, the GSA, and the Department of Commerce at the Old Executive Office Building.
Tomorrow, participants will assemble in small groups for more than 80 meetings with Senate and Congressional offices for brief but meaningful discussions on the issues that matter most to the vinyl industry. Reports on the Fly-in will appear in future communications.
As an industry, we:
Oppose federal agencies’ use of green building programs, such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED 2012) and Living Building Challenge, which are not developed through a nationally recognized, open consensus-standard process and which unfairly penalize vinyl building materials that have proven energy savings, durability, safety, and cost-effective performance.
Support procurement legislation for open and fair competition among pipe materials used in federally funded water infrastructure projects.
Oppose legislative and regulatory bans and restrictions on chemicals and plastics used in commerce that are not based on sound life-cycle and risk assessment science.
Want to continue tax credits for energy-efficiency programs that save fuel costs for homeowners and commercial building managers by making possible wider use of vinyl windows, roofing and insulated siding.
Require the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to consult with chlorine shippers and other similar shippers when approving positive train control (PTC) plans, and authorize FRA to consider alternative strategies that reduce the risk of train accidents to the same degree as PTC. 
