AED Hosts Rep. Roskam at New Schaumburg Headquarters
The Associated Equipment Distributors last week hosted U.S. Representative Peter Roskam (IL-06) for a roundtable discussion on business and tax issues that affect AED member companies, their suppliers and their employees.
"It was great to have Rep. Roskam here to share his views on the important issues we face as an industry," said AED President and CEO Brian P. McGuire. "In addition to the taxation and regulatory issues we constantly face, we are very concerned about the growing "skills gap" that is affecting our industry as well as many others including the manufacturing sector."
Rep. Roskam, in his fifth term in the United States House, serves the 6th District of Illinois. Roskam is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, where he sits on the Health Subcommittee and chairs the Oversight Subcommittee - a key watchdog post with jurisdiction into the spending and operations of tax-writing and healthcare programs within the federal government.
"I am very pleased to be here with the leaders of the equipment distribution industry," stated Roskam. "It is very important that you are successful, as your industry is a barometer for everything else. I see a high level of interest in people investing in infrastructure. That's because as an investment, you get something for it and you get something you need like roads, bridges and tunnels," he added.
"I can tell you that one of the key issues we are tackling is fixing the tax code to make it simpler, cleaner and easier," continued Roskam. "But it can't be done on a partisan basis. We need to work together to create the kind of tax system that will boost our economy. Instead of one percent growth, we should be looking at four percent growth," he concluded.
During the discussion McGuire highlighted the unveiling of the House Education & Workforce Committee's legislation to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career & Technical Education Act. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act would update federal workforce programs and provide resources to help address America's technical skills gap. A recent AED Foundation study by public policy researchers at the College of William & Mary determined that the equipment technician shortage is costing U.S. equipment dealers $2.4 billion per year in lost economic activity.
AED is an international trade association based in Schaumburg, Illinois representing companies involved in the distribution, rental, and support of equipment used in construction, mining, energy, forestry, power generation, agriculture, and industrial applications. More information is available at www.aednet.org.