U.S. Public Policy

INVEST IN AMERICAS INFRASTRUCTURE

With federal surface transportation programs set to expire on October 1, AED urges Congress to act expeditiously to complete highway reauthorization legislation that meets the significant needs of the country. To that end, the Highway Trust Fund still requires a lasting revenue solution to restore the federal highway program’s long-term fiscal stability and increase investment levels. Lawmakers must also work with the administration to expedite the federal permitting process. Additionally, Congress should develop a long-term, robust, and comprehensive plan to provide funding for broadband, pipes, ports, rail, airports, and other physical infrastructure projects.

STRENGTHEN RURAL COMMUNITIES & THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR

Policymakers must ensure the United States’ agriculture sector’s continued viability and competitiveness. Congress should complete a farm bill to provide certainty and greater assistance to farmers that are struggling with trade uncertainty, lower commodity prices and rising costs. Lawmakers should also expand the use of agriculture-based biofuels, including year-round E15 and sustainable aviation fuels, and incentivize the adoption of precision agriculture technologies. In a surface transportation bill, rural infrastructure investments must be prioritized to ensure the efficient movement of goods to customers and ports.

PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND & COMMERCE

AED strongly supports free and fair trade. Broad-based tariffs, particularly on our key trading partners, increase the cost of imports, invite retaliation and create market uncertainty, thereby detrimentally impacting equipment dealers, manufacturers, contractors, farmers, and U.S. consumers. AED encourages the administration to finalize trade agreements with our key allies, and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) must remain a key pillar of America’s trade strategy. Congress and the administration should also implement a tariff exclusion process and introduce greater transparency in the current Sec. 232 inclusions procedure.

EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF SKILLED, TECHNICAL WORKERS

The greatest challenge facing equipment dealers is the lack of skilled service technicians. Federal laws should be updated to reflect current workforce needs and emphasize career and technical education opportunities. Congress must also increase funding for the Carl D. Perkins Act and other programs that support skills training and workforce development programs as well as strengthening incentives for employers that operate Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

OPPOSE MISGUIDED AND UNNECESSARY RIGHT TO REPAIR POLICIES

AED members support their customers’ ability to repair their equipment. However, so-called “right to repair” proposals are unnecessary and would completely alter the equipment industry’s distribution model. Lawmakers should oppose efforts to place price restrictions on parts and tools and prohibit unfettered access to source code and embedded software that allows the circumvention of government-mandated safety and emissions systems.

PROTECT TAX PROVISIONS THAT DRIVE JOB CREATION AND GROWTH

The One Big Beautiful Bill made permanent pro-growth tax policies that incentivize capital investment and job creation critical to the country’s economic future and global competitiveness, including reducing the tax burden for job-creating businesses (such as the 199A pass-through deduction), full expensing of new and used equipment purchases, business interest deductibility tied to EBITDA, and increased estate tax exemption levels. Congress must preserve these capital investment incentives and push back against efforts to utilize tax policy to punish successful businesses and family-owned companies.

REGAIN UNITED STATES ENERGY LEADERSHIP

The United States must continue to develop its natural resources even as the country moves toward renewables and alternative energy sources. A comprehensive approach to energy resources, including fossil fuel development, is a bridge to meet green energy goals in the future. In the past decade, states and communities across the country have been positively transformed due to the economic benefits and lower costs of domestic energy production. Policies regarding energy development must embrace investment, risk-taking and job creation, and recognize that pipelines are the safest and most efficient means to deliver energy to intermediate and end markets.

REFORM THE BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM

The United States’ immigration system is broken, which is hindering economic growth and prosperity. Congress and the administration must work in a bipartisan manner to reform the nation’s immigration laws to strengthen national security, enforce the rule of law, address workforce shortages and provide certainty to employers and employees. Strong border security is essential to overhauling the country’s immigration system. Additionally, the United States’ immigration laws must be modified to address current employer needs, such as expanding visa categories to fill in-demand jobs like equipment service technicians. Furthermore, a pathway toward legal status should be available to law-abiding, undocumented workers and individuals brought to the United States illegally as children by their parents (“Dreamers”).

PURSUE A BALANCED REGULATORY APPROACH

Policymakers must strike the right balance between health, labor, safety and environmental regulations, and a robust, inclusive economy for all. The negative impact that burdensome mandates and one-size-fits-all policy approaches have on small-medium-sized businesses and their employees must be recognized as an impediment to growth. To that end, AED opposes requiring equipment dealers and manufacturers to provide the means to allow customers to modify machinery, including the circumvention of environmental and safety protections.