REMINDER: U.S. Senators Need To Hear From Metals Industry On Tax Bill

A major piece of tax legislation recently approved by a wide bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives remains stalled in the U.S. Senate due to disagreements about what is in the outline and unrelated disagreements over disagreements over border security, immigration reform, and emergency funding for Ukraine and Israel. As a result, the Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) asks that its member company employees and leaders write or call their senators to ask that they support this legislation. (More information on how to do so at the bottom of this story.)

This legislation would:

• Restore immediate research and development (R&D) expensing;
• Return to a pro-growth interest deductibility standard; and
• Reinstate full expensing, also known as 100 percent accelerated depreciation, for businesses’ capital investments.

This tax relief is retroactive and stretches back to tax years starting in 2022, meaning many businesses will be able to claw back some taxes levied in prior years if this legislation is signed into law.

That relief is needed. An overwhelming majority, 89 percent, of respondents to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) fourth quarter of 2023 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey said higher tax burdens on manufacturing make it more difficult for them to hire, buy new equipment, and expand their facilities. This piece of legislation will enable manufacturers to invest in their businesses, create jobs, and compete in the global marketplace. The tax bill is particularly important for small and medium-sized manufacturers and metals firms, many of which experienced significant tax increases as a result of the expiration of the three provisions outlined above.

Getting this legislation to President Joe Biden’s desk would be a huge victory for the industrial metals industry, and we need to make our voices heard. MSCI member companies and its allies were critical in bringing lawmakers from both sides of the aisle together to make House passage of this bill possible. Industrial metals leaders and workers should call on members of the U.S. Senate to quickly approve this important legislation. You can use resources at NAM’s Tax Action Center, available at this link, to tell your senators to support this legislation.