Priorities Build on Remarkable Successes Gained in 2015

Reston, VA – On behalf of NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies, Government Affairs Director Mark J. Nuzzaco has announced an ambitious public policy agenda for the Association for the second half of the 114th Congress that includes: 

• making Bonus Depreciation permanent,
• reforming intellectual property (IP) laws to prevent "patent troll" abuses,
• approving the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement,
• advancing the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) trade agreement, and
• continuing to work for postal reform. 

All are high NPES government affairs priorities.

Acknowledging that this year's presidential election political environment makes achieving these goals challenging, Nuzzaco said that "NPES is nonetheless determined to advance its agenda during 2016," to which he quickly added "but success will very much depend on the concerted efforts of Association members at the grassroots and NPES staff in Washington." This year's agenda follows on the heels of remarkable successes in 2015, that included: 

• making enhanced and indexed Section 179 Expensing and the R&D Research Tax Credit permanent,
• extending Bonus Depreciation for five years, retroactive to January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2019,
• delaying for two years the imposition of the ACA (Affordable Care Act) 40% (so-called Cadillac) tax on "high-cost" employer provided health insurance benefits,
• reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank,
• completing the negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, and
• enacting Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for President Obama and the next  president.

"These are fantastic gains for NPES members, their customers and all capital goods manufacturers" said Nuzzaco. "They are the result of years of NPES advocacy, brought into sharp focus during last year's PRINT'S VOICE 15 Capitol Hill Fly-In. They will greatly facilitate productivity improving capital investment, a stronger U.S. economy, and much enhanced export opportunities for NPES members and other U.S. manufacturers."

NPES thanks congressional leaders, other members of congress and the president for their leadership and support of these much needed changes to the tax code and U.S. trade laws, and urges its members to do so as well. It also congratulates and thanks all NPES members who contributed to bringing these achievements to fruition by their personal and corporate commitment to their businesses, employees, and customers, as well as their industry colleagues.