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And, the scrap recycling industry will also have a few specific issues to address.  So how will this all impact the scrap recycling industry and its interests?

First, metals theft is very likely to our top priority in the 114^th Congress since Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) indicated she intends to continue her fight to pass her Federal metals theft bill even in light of the fact that all 50 states have passed metals theft laws.  We continue to make the case that the states have acted with seriousness and we should fully support their efforts.  We also make the case that enforcement is key to any progress in combating metals theft.  Without enforcement, another law will not change the facts on the ground.

Second, we expect that Congressman Gene Green (D-TX) will again reintroduce his electronics recycling bill even while recognizing the subcommittee chairman has clearly stated he is not interested in addressing this bill citing several government and non-government studies and reports that point out the premise for his bill is incorrect.  As the Obama Administration pointed out in its report, the flows of used and non-working electronic devices are largely being recycled in the United States and cited the proliferation of international standards as an excellent path forward to ensuring that electronics are properly and safely recycled throughout the world. 

As a result of the EPA’s proposed rule on the definition of solid waste, ReMA will be pursuing legislation to clarify the meaning of recycling and recycled products to clear up the confusion between recycling and waste disposal.  This confusion at the Federal and state levels results in harmful regulations, increased costs, and a misperception of what recycling is and isn’t.  While this effort may be a long term one, ReMA is committed to righting this wrong!

Other mainstream issues such as tax reform and infrastructure spending offer the scrap recycling industry excellent opportunities to both support good policies for American manufacturing as well as specific gains for recycling.  Tax reform will be a regular topic on Capitol Hill and ReMA intends to both protect its permanent accelerated depreciation tax allowance for qualified recycling equipment as well as take advantage of any new allowances or tax treatments that could be of benefit to the industry.  Of course, we will be closely following corporate tax reform initiatives for additional opportunities to promote the scrap recycling industry. 

Transportation and infrastructure spending may have some additional opportunities where we can not only promote but advance the use of rubberized asphalt in transportation projects.  We were able to secure pilot project funding in the last transportation bill (MAP-21) and we hope to be able to build on that achievement.  Additionally, increased trucks weights and railroad reforms may also be included in the next transportation bill, but as we have witnessed before, these two issues have significant opposition and are probably long shots.  In any event, we will be partnering with the respective coalitions to advance these initiatives.

Finally, ReMA will be moving ahead with re-populating the Congressional Recycling Caucus.  The last mid-term election saw the retirements and defeats of many longtime friends of the recycling so it is incumbent upon us to reach out early to the new Members of Congress as they begin to find their way in Washington.  A Congressional caucus offers the opportunities to educate and bring together many Members of Congress from both parties to help promote recycling.  A caucus also enables us to build a core of Congressional advocates at the member level given the fact that most Congressional staff often move onto other offices or occupations at a very high rate of turnover.  Re-populating the Congressional Recycling Caucus will involve an active grassroots effort consisting of regular fly-ins by ReMA membership as well as our more targeted approach with our new Industry Advocate program.

Even when it appears that Congress isn’t doing enough for the American people in addressing their needs and concerns, Congress is still working and it is absolutely imperative that as we continue to represent the interests of the scrap recycling industry, we are actively engaged.