Government Affairs Committee Report September 2023

The NFFS Government Affairs Committee is responsible for identifying key regulatory and legislative issues with the potential to affect the non-ferrous foundry industry prior to their enactment, and for providing a cost-effective means of expressing the industry's concerns and interests to the appropriate government agencies and officials on a timely basis.

As part of this effort, the Government Affairs Committee holds monthly Committee meetings to discuss new business and evaluate issues as part of the active tracking list. View the following video for a summary of the topics discussed during the September 2023 Committee meeting, and find a list of these items below. Follow the links included with each topic for additional, more in-depth information.

^{Video Summary of the September 2023 Government Affairs Committee Report}

• Heat Injury and Illness Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Act (SBREFA) Panel
  OSHA conducted five SBREFA meetings in the month of September to discuss the development of a standard for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings. 
  
  
• White House Approves OSHA Walk Around Proposal
  On August 30, 2023, OSHA published the proposed regulation that will allow union representatives to accompany OSHA inspectors on walk around inspections at non-union workplaces. 
  
  
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees (Overtime Pay)
  This NPRM aims to update and amend the regulations related to minimum wage and overtime pay exemptions for specific employee categories under section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. 
  
  
• National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Primary Copper Smelting
  On July 13, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to update and expand the 2022 proposal of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Risk and Technology Review (RTR) for Primary Copper Smelting major sources (subpart QQQ)
  
  
• NLRB Revives Troubling “Card Check” Process
  The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has decided to resurrect a process known as "card check," bringing back elements of a policy that had been set aside for more than half a century. 
  
  
• Revisions of the Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Tariff Exclusions Process
  The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has proposed significant changes to the Section 232 tariff exclusion process for aluminum and steel imports. 
  
  
• Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminum
  Talks between the United States and the European Union on a Global Arrangements on Sustainable Steel and Aluminum aim to transform the landscape of aluminum trade between the U.S. and EU. The primary objective is to create trade barriers in both regions against aluminum imports originating from countries characterized by high carbon emissions and excessive aluminum production. 

Tracking Issues:

• OSHA ANPRM – Blood Lead Level for Medical Removal (October 2022)
  The agency is seeking input on reducing the current Blood Lead Level triggers in the medical surveillance and medical removal protection provisions of the general industry and construction standards for lead. 

The next NFFS Government Affairs Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 25th, 2023. These meetings are open to all NFFS members. Contact jerrod@nffs.org for additional information or to participate.