American Lighting Association: Last week, a delegation of American Lighting Association (ALA) members traveled to the nation’s capital to sit down with 11 members of Congress, the EPA, and the Alliance to Save Energy over a two-day period. The ALA representatives on this 2012 mission were: Board of Governors Chair, Tony Davidson; Government Affairs Chair, Clark Linstone; ALA-PAC Chair, Jack Fleischer, CLC; Engineering Committee Co-Chair Dave Shiller; Government Affairs Committee member, Gene Ansbaugh; John McKiernan; Ron Milam; Andy Wakefield; plus staff Eric Jacobson, CAE, Terry McGowan, FIES, LC, Bob Horner of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and ALA CEO Dick Upton.
“I am happy to report that we made great progress and our points were well-received,” Upton states. “I will be following up with key leaders in the next few weeks on the topics we discussed.”
Congressional meetings were held with U.S. Senators Landrieu (D-LA), Portman (R-OH), Pryor (D-AR), and Risch (R-ID) as well as U.S. Representatives Barton (R-TX), Doyle (D-PA), Sessions (R-TX), Upton (R-MI), and Waxman (D-CA).
One of the key topics was the support of SB 1832, which would require Internet sales companies to charge, collect, and remit sales tax. “ALA believes this is critical to gain a level playing field for all retailers,” Upton remarks.
In lighting issues, the ALA delegation made it known that its members support action to preclude lumen output requirements on residential lighting fixtures, including portables. The ALA also explained why it opposes expensive third-party testing of ENERGY STAR lighting products and ceiling fan air-movement and its effect on the industry as a whole. Furthermore, the ALA told Senators why it supports control products/systems to become ENERGY STAR-qualified.
“Additionally, we raised the rapidly growing challenge of the individual states creating more and more regulations and reporting requirements that are expensive to meet and difficult to track,” Upton comments. “A key follow-up action will be to find a solution to this troubling issue.”
The ALA delegation was able to network and thank Washington-based contacts who have been instrumental in working with ALA throughout the year during a reception that John McKiernan and Lutron Electronics sponsored and hosted at the firm’s Washington, D.C. “Experience Center.”
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