Congressional approval of highway, trade and farm program legislation highlights the list of 2002 legislative priorities recently adopted by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Board of Directors.
The board also identified dealer contract and lighting and marking legislation as important state initiatives of the association.
"In this difficult economy, the resources of our government affairs activities will be committed to building and creating market opportunities for our members," said AEM co-chairs Gerard Geraghty and Gary MacDonald.
Congress is expected to consider important trade, farm and economic stimulus legislation early in this session. However, insiders say a stimulus package is all but dead.
Other AEM federal legislative priorities include support of full funding and authorization of the Export Import Bank, preserving the provisions of last year's tax bill including the elimination of the death tax, development of an energy bill and increasing investment in highway and airport construction programs.
"Our members are already actively engaged in legislation to protect highway funding and expand international market opportunities by urging senators to support Trade Promotion Authority legislation. In state and provincial legislatures, AEM is involved in discussion on dealer contract legislation as well as equipment safety issues," said Geraghty.
