Trip to Capitol Hill is highly productive – CRI President
06 Mar '10
4 min read
Home Furnishings Tax Credit - Short-term credit to stimulate consumer spending on home furnishings. - Examples: carpets, other floor coverings, mattresses, paint and wall coatings, etc. - Necessary for the retail, distribution and manufacturing sector. - Can something like this fit into the job legislation?
Climate Change - CRI supports VOLUNTARY system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. - Innovate, don't regulate. - CRI is exceeding Kyoto standards for greenhouse gas emissions.
If a mandated, "cap and trade" system is to be implemented, CRI requests the following provisions be included: - Any federal program should pre-empt state level emissions programs. - Provisions that ensure foreign economies do not gain an unfair advantage due to lax standards - need a level playing field. - Credit for early action MUST be included. - Legislation should pre-empt EPA from adding additional regulations.
Recycling is a natural follow-on to Climate Change - CARE - Goal of recycling 40% of all carpet through market-based solutions. - Again the housing market and the auto market have had an affect on the amount of carpet being recycled; a slowing economy means a slowing recycle rate.
EPA Coal Fly Ash Regulations - EPA is preparing y to issue a finding on Coal Fly Ash. - CRI believes and hopes findings will be restricted to wet disposal of coal fly ash. - Coal fly ash is used in carpet backing for several beneficial uses. - If EPA goes beyond what CRI believes is its current plan, negative consequences are likely.
Extended Producer Responsibility Laws at the state level - CRI is concerned about the trend in States to enact EPR legislation for products other than hazardous materials.