The House and Senate reconvene today, May 2, to debate raising the U.S. debt ceiling. Although Timothy Geithner, U.S. Treasury Secretary, has implored Congress to move quickly to raise the debt ceiling, both Democrats and Republicans are seeking substantial budget cuts and other concessions before agreeing to do so.
NACS Chairman, Jeff Miller, will testify in front of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee??s Subcommittee on Energy and Power on Thursday, May 5, this week. Miller will be representing NACS on issues pertaining to the challenges and opportunities for alternative transportation fuels and vehicles.
On April 27, NACS submitted comments to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration relating to the safety requirements for external product piping (wetlines) on cargo tanks transporting flammable liquids. NACS commented: "Indeed, our members use well-respected and safety-minded common carriers to deliver petroleum products to motorists, businesses, and other users and their community. However, we believe the Proposed Rule will result in little, if any benefit."
On April 25, The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request from the Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli for the High Court to consider the constitutionality of President Obama??s health-care law. Cuccinelli said, "We asked the United States Supreme Court for expedited review of our lawsuit because Virginia and other states are already spending huge sums to implement their portions of the health care act, businesses are already making decisions about whether to cut or keep employee health plans??"
With only nine legislative days in May, make your voice heard now on interchange fees. You should be outraged! Our industry paid $9 billion in swipe fees in 2010, according to NACS State of the Industry data. Write your members of Congress at nacsonline.com/swipefeesletter.