AFS – June 2010
Support the Murkowski Resolution of Disapproval - S.J. Res. 26
Contact your Senators NOW and Tell them to vote YES on the Murkowski Resolution
On Thursday, June 10, the U.S. Senate will consider bipartisan legislation (S. J. Res. 26) to prevent the
EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources under the Clean Air Act. Contact
your Senators and ask them to support this legislation. The outcome of this vote will likely have a bearing
on how the Senate approaches climate change legislation in the weeks ahead.
Background
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is prepared to move forward early next year with economicallydamaging action to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from manufacturing facilities. If implemented, these
proposed EPA regulations would be very costly to the U.S. foundry industry.
Climate change is a global problem that can only be addressed effectively on a global basis. EPA's move to regulate
greenhouse gases from stationary sources under the Clean Air Act does NOT address the global dimension of the
climate change issue, and will place significant new burdens on domestic metalcasters. AFS believes this will
unilaterally raise regulatory costs, while allowing our overseas competitors to continue to increase their emissions.
The result would be no environmental gain and likely lead to foundry closures, as well as the elimination of valuable
manufacturing jobs.
Given the lack of international consensus on binding GHG emissions commitments, U.S. climate change policy
should be established through legislation, where measures to maintain the foundry industry's global competitiveness
can be included.
The Resolution currently has 41 cosponsors, including three Democrats - Lincoln (Ark.), Landrieu (La.), and Nelson
(Neb.). Only nine more votes are needed to get to the 51 needed for passage.
Here is the link to see if your Senator is a sponsor http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:SJ00026:@@@P
TAKE ACTION!
1 – Send message to Senate - Utilize sample letter attached below / feel free to personalize
2 – FAX OR EMAIL LETTERS – Send to the attention of the Chief of Staff or staff person you have been
working with. If you do not have the fax number or key contact for your Senate office, go to the following
link. http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm OR
3 – Simply CALL your Senator - Capitol Switchboard - 202-224-3121.
AFS Sample GHG Draft Letter
Support of S.J. Res 26, the Murkowski Resolution
Date
Senator [Insert First and Last Name]
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator [Insert Last Name]:
On behalf of [Insert Company Name] and the American Foundry Society (AFS), we urge you to vote in
favor of S.J. Res 26, the Murkowski/Lincoln disapproval resolution. The resolution would prevent the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from moving forward with its plan to regulate greenhouse
gas emissions under the Clean Air Act because of the enormous permitting and compliance costs EPA
regulation would force upon manufacturers.
Allowing the EPA to proceed gives it the authority to determine what energy sources will be used, how
much energy will be used and by whom without regard to the impact on jobs, domestic manufacturing,
price of electricity, natural gas, and gasoline for all consumers, and without consideration to economic
growth or national security. If EPA succeeds in its efforts to trump Congress and unilaterally regulate
greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, it will be devastating not just to manufacturing but to
the entire U.S. economy. The Clean Air Act is ill-equipped to address climate change, and it was never
the intent of Congress that it be used for this purpose.
My company and the metalcasting industry as a whole use substantial quantities of electricity and
natural gas to produce our products and compete globally. We are proud that U.S. metalcasters employ
the most energy efficient processes when compared with other emerging metalcasting nations
worldwide. For example:


The industry uses scrap metal as 85% of its feedstock for ferrous castings. This recycling of waste
materials significantly reduces the industry’s energy usage considerably.
Facilities also internally reclaim industrial sand used in the casting process, and pro-actively
worked with states and the federal government to increase opportunities for the beneficial
reuse of sand in applications. This process saves energy and resources by reducing the amount
of virgin sand that is mined.
It is critical, however, that energy prices in the United States are globally competitive so that we can
compete, grow our businesses, increase jobs and increase exports. Letting the EPA regulate GHGs will
enormously increase business uncertainty and the price of energy in a time when our industry is still
struggling to recover from a global recession. This is not the time to add more business uncertainty and
costs.
Regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act would usurp Congress’s power, increase
energy costs, and leave many of our nation’s manufacturers in a regulatory dilemma too complex to
comprehend. Once again, I strongly urge you to support S.J. Res 26, the bipartisan Murkowski
resolution.
Sincerely,
Name
Title & Company