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| A Semi-Monthly Newsletter for the Gases and Welding Distributors Association |
December 8, 2009 |
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Breaking News Coalition Challenges Healthcare Bill In a letter to members of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (GAWDA is a member), Jade C. West, NAW's senior vice president-government relations, detailed efforts being taken to oppose the proposed healthcare bill. The U.S. Senate voted Saturday, November 21, to "invoke cloture"—or cut off debate—on the motion to proceed to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It was a straight party-line vote, 60-39, with all Democrats voting in favor and all Republicans opposed (one Republican senator did not vote). While this was a significant vote, Majority Leader Harry Reid did not have any votes to spare, and a number of moderate Democrat senators made statements on the Senate floor making it very clear that they will not vote for this bill in its current form. Some of the moderates oppose the public plan; some are concerned with the overall cost; some with the tax increases, etc. So while this was a significant vote, it is just the beginning of the process in the Senate, not the conclusion. The Start Over! Coalition joined with Employers for a Healthy Economy (EHE) to sponsor television ads urging senators to vote against the current legislation. The ad provides a link to the EHE Web site: www.employersforahealthyeconomy.org. There is a video clip of the ad on the Web site, as well as a list of the Start Over! Coalition members. For the full letter, visit this link.
 Safety & Compliance News House Committee Approves Hazmat Bill • The U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a bill to reauthorize the hazardous materials transportation regulatory program on November 19, 2009. The bill contains a provision that would prohibit the transportation of flammable liquids in the wetlines of a cargo tank truck manufactured more than two years after the date of enactment. For existing cargo tank trucks, DOT would have to issue a final rule within 3 years of enactment that would prohibit transportation of flammables in wetlines for all commercial motor vehicles. The bill also directs DOT to report to the Committee within 6 months on all cargo tank rollover accidents that have occurred within the past 5 years, and to require that DOT handle all requests for approvals (for alternative methods of compliance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations) within 6 months or issue a decision as to why the agency must take longer to process the application. The bill further authorizes DOT to impose sanctions on persons who impede inspections of hazmat facilities or vehicles and to prevent persons who fail to pay DOT fines under the HMR from conducting any hazmat activity regulated by DOT. Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) has indicated he wants to have this bill to the House floor before the December recess. Congress is currently expected to recess on December 23, 2009. There is no companion bill in the Senate at this time, however. FMCSA Preempts Boston Hazmat Routing Requirements • The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a decision, 74 Federal Register 59021 (November 16, 2009), that federal hazardous material transportation law preempts the following highway routing designations of the City of Boston Regulations Controlling the Transportation of Hazardous Materials: 1. The Traffic Rules and Regulations of the City of Boston, Article VII, section 8B, Hazardous Materials Route; and 2. The de facto ban on hazardous materials transportation through the City of Boston due to the change in administration of the city’s hazardous materials permitting system. The decision resulted from petitions filed by the American Trucking Associations and the Massachusetts Department of Highways for clarification on the effect of federal hazmat law on the Boston routing restrictions. The petitions questioned the city’s process for changing hazmat routes as a result of construction on the Central Artery Project in Boston, as well as changing the administration and enforcement of the city’s permit system for “through” transportation by motor carriers transporting non-radioactive hazardous materials, i.e., vehicles that do not have a point of origin or destination within the city. The routing effectively banned through transportation of hazmat within the City of Boston. The FMCSA ruled that the city failed to comply with federal law requiring local hazmat routing decisions to consider certain standards and for local governments to consult with surrounding jurisdictions in making such determinations. The FMCSA’s preemption decision will take effect May 17, 2010. IP Group to Meet with PHMSA Administrator over Hazmat Concerns • The Interested Parties Group for Hazardous Materials Transportation, a coalition of over 40 trade associations (including GAWDA) representing shippers and carriers of hazmat in all modes of transportation, will meet on January 8, 2010, with Cynthia Quarterman, the newly-confirmed administrator of the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The meeting will be at Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C. The IP Group members will discuss their concerns with regulatory issues such as expediting the process for granting special permits and approvals, the need for continued federal preemption of state and local hazmat routing restrictions and streamlining the hazmat employee CDL driver background check process. December Safety & Technology Organizer Online • The December Safety & Technology Organizer is now available at www.gawda.org. Some topics include Emergency Action Plan, Driver Qualification File and Breathing Air. Industry Beat Central Welding Acquisition (Marysville, WA) • Central Welding Supply acquired Pacific Welding Supplies of Tacoma, WA, on November 30. Pacific Welding Supplies has 70 employees and annual revenue of $20M. The company, which sells high pressure and bulk gases and a broad range of welding hardgoods, will operate as a separate division of Central Welding Supply. Pooch Welding Gives Back (Benton Harbor, MI) • Pooch Welding Supply created the Frank C. Pooch Jr. Honorary Scholarship. The $500 scholarship supports Welding Academy students at Lake Michigan College. "This is a struggling community and money is tight for everybody, so we try to help some people along," said Pooch Welding Supply President John Small.
Advancing Careers (Sandusky, OH) • The O.E. Meyer Company promoted Eric Wood to manager of its Fremont, OH, location. Wood has 10 years’ experience in the gases and welding industry as an outside sales representative for O.E. Meyer and as manager of the company’s Lorain, OH, location. The company also hired Andy Mulroy to replace Wood as manager of the Lorain location. Mulroy has 5 years’ experience in the industry. Vancouver Puts ‘2’ In H2 (Vancouver, BC, Canada) • Air Liquide selected Vancouver International Airport as the 2nd of 2 Canadian airports in its $14M hydrogen and fuel cell demonstration project, joining Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport in Montréal, QC. Vancouver International Airport will deploy several hydrogen transportation technologies in shuttle buses and passenger and utility vehicles provided by the Vancouver Airport Authority and Air Canada. TWI Expands Management Team (Mechanicsburg, PA) • Taylor-Wharton International announced additions to its management team. The board of directors appointed Len York as chief financial officer, Terry Ross as new division president for American welding and tank, Joe Sorce as vice president of strategic development and Suzanne Rosenthal as vice president of human resources.
Thank You • On behalf of GAWDA's Board of Directors, thank you for your strong support during 2009. We understand the many challenges our members faced as a result of the downturn in the economy. Your continued membership and participation in GAWDA's Spring Management Conference, Regional Meetings, the Annual Convention and other programs and services were greatly appreciated.
Regional Meeting Recap • Regional Chair Rob Kinney of Praxair hosted a Western Zone Regional Meeting at the Lockeford Springs Country Club in Lodi, CA, on November 13. There were a total of 64 attendees and 19 vendors. Speakers included Jim Appledorn of Lincoln Electric, who opened the meeting with a presentation on the U.S. economy and the short-term economic forecast from a Lincoln Electric perspective. He also spoke about the steel market worldwide. Ken Nacey of The Nacey Group discussed adding to the distributors' bottom line and promoting his company as a GAWDA member. Kirk Merica of Matheson Tri-Gas closed with a GAWDA update. Following the business portion of the day, attendees participated in a putting contest and a golf scramble. A raffle and golf-prize presentation capped off the event. View more photos of the Western Zone Regional meeting here. Get In The Game • GAWDA's committees are being restructured and strengthened. Watch your e-mail for a memo from President Jenny McCall outlining the Committee's draft mission statements and objectives for 2010. All supplier and distributor members will have the opportunity to designate the committee for which they would like to be considered for membership. HR Report Available • The December 2009 HR Manager's Legal Reporter is now available for download at www.gawda.org. The GAWDA Clearinghouse has been updated for the month. Workshops, Web Conferences & Seminars University of Industrial Distribution - Sponsored by GAWDA GAWDA Professional Compliance Seminar
The GAWDA Connection is distributed on the 8th and 23rd of each month to all GAWDA members as GAWDA HEADQUARTERS |
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