What we did in DC to Help Printers this week

So I have received quite a few DM's from printers asking what issues we were lobbying for during our time in DC this week.

Here is a quick recap of the main issues we are fighting for:

1. Aluminum Tariff: The recent tariff imposed on importation of Aluminum has led to a rise in plate costs and foil prices as we cannot domestically produce enough here to keep up with demand. We are fighting to keep printing plates and foil prices stable; higher plate and foil costs mean higher prices and lower margins for everyone.

2. Workforce Development: We are lobbying congress to re-authorize the Perkins act that funds career and technical education programs to that provide a strong education pathway towards careers in manufacturing. Need the new generations to have the skills!

3. Tariff on Canadian Imports of Uncoated Groundwood Paper: We would like congress to reverse the trade remedy tariffs on uncoated paper imported from canada. Right now there is only 1 plant in the Pacific Northwest that can produce this paper domestically, leading to pricing instability and big paper shortages. I met a newspaper who had to close because they didn't have enough paper available to print on!

4. Equipment Depreciation Tax Reform: Right now, both printers and manufacturers have a great tax benefit that allows them to fully expense capital investments in year 1. This leads to significant tax advantages, keeps printers investing in new technologies, and manufacturers can keep innovation alive. While accelerated depreciation is taken for granted today by manufacturers and printers alike, it is not permanent and can go away. We are fighting to make it PERMANENT.

5. Postal Modernization and Reform: We are asking congress to pass financial legislation to ensure the future viability of the USPS and mailing economy. If we do not take action today, the USPS is headed towards insolvency, so we are urging lawmakers to take action now before either the USPS disappears or becomes so expensive to use that no one uses it it anymore. Funny statistic, 45% of all printed matter goes through the mail at some point, and 100% of all mail has print on it.