U.S. House Approves Legislation to Reduce Frivolous Lawsuits
Thu, 11/21/2013 - 07:28

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a SEMA-supported bill that would require federal judges to impose monetary sanctions against lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits. Under current law, federal judges are allowed but not required to impose penalties. The “Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act” (LARA) would also eliminate a provision in current law that allows lawyers to avoid penalties by withdrawing frivolous claims after sanction proceedings have begun. Courts could also award the prevailing parties reasonable expenses and attorney's fees in defending against a frivolous lawsuit. The bill has been sent to the Senate for consideration. 

For more information, contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

U.S. House Approves Legislation to Reduce Frivolous Lawsuits
Thu, 11/21/2013 - 07:28

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a SEMA-supported bill that would require federal judges to impose monetary sanctions against lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits. Under current law, federal judges are allowed but not required to impose penalties. The “Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act” (LARA) would also eliminate a provision in current law that allows lawyers to avoid penalties by withdrawing frivolous claims after sanction proceedings have begun. Courts could also award the prevailing parties reasonable expenses and attorney's fees in defending against a frivolous lawsuit. The bill has been sent to the Senate for consideration. 

For more information, contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Create a National Manufacturing Growth Strategy
Thu, 11/21/2013 - 07:26
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate (HR 2447/S 1709) to direct the White House National Science and Technology Council to develop and periodically update a national competitiveness strategic plan. The bills are designed to improve federal support for the American manufacturing sector and create a long-term strategic plan for guidance from federal agencies. These plans include opportunities for growth in the advanced manufacturing and research and development fields.

A similar SEMA-supported measure overwhelmingly passed the House last year, but did not receive a vote in the Senate. The bills are part of a recent focus on manufacturing on Capitol Hill, including a series of hearings held by the House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade (CMT) Subcommittee. The “Nation of Builders” series has focused on individual market segments within the manufacturing sector and opportunities for new science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) grants to build a competitive and skilled workforce. Legislation is expected to be drafted next year as a result of these hearings.

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.
Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Create a National Manufacturing Growth Strategy
Thu, 11/21/2013 - 07:26
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate (HR 2447/S 1709) to direct the White House National Science and Technology Council to develop and periodically update a national competitiveness strategic plan. The bills are designed to improve federal support for the American manufacturing sector and create a long-term strategic plan for guidance from federal agencies. These plans include opportunities for growth in the advanced manufacturing and research and development fields.

A similar SEMA-supported measure overwhelmingly passed the House last year, but did not receive a vote in the Senate. The bills are part of a recent focus on manufacturing on Capitol Hill, including a series of hearings held by the House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade (CMT) Subcommittee. The “Nation of Builders” series has focused on individual market segments within the manufacturing sector and opportunities for new science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) grants to build a competitive and skilled workforce. Legislation is expected to be drafted next year as a result of these hearings.

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.
OSHA Proposes Rule to Require Electronic Reporting of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
Thu, 11/21/2013 - 07:20

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has issued a proposed rule requiring companies with 250 or more employees to electronically submit their injury and illness records (Form 300) on a quarterly basis. The submissions would be posted on the OSHA website and made available for public inspection. Currently, employers with more than 250 workers are required to maintain a log of all workplace injuries and illnesses and post summaries of injury or illness rates in a common area for employees to inspect.

The proposed rule also adds a requirement for high-hazard employers with more than 20 employees to electronically submit their OSHA 300 Log (report of workplace injuries and illnesses) on an annual basis. Industries subject to this requirement include general manufacturing along with the automotive parts and accessories industry, and direct selling establishments.

View a full listing of impacted industries and read the proposed rule.  

For more information, please contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

OSHA Proposes Rule to Require Electronic Reporting of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
Thu, 11/21/2013 - 07:20

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has issued a proposed rule requiring companies with 250 or more employees to electronically submit their injury and illness records (Form 300) on a quarterly basis. The submissions would be posted on the OSHA website and made available for public inspection. Currently, employers with more than 250 workers are required to maintain a log of all workplace injuries and illnesses and post summaries of injury or illness rates in a common area for employees to inspect.

The proposed rule also adds a requirement for high-hazard employers with more than 20 employees to electronically submit their OSHA 300 Log (report of workplace injuries and illnesses) on an annual basis. Industries subject to this requirement include general manufacturing along with the automotive parts and accessories industry, and direct selling establishments.

View a full listing of impacted industries and read the proposed rule.  

For more information, please contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Federal Government Proposes Ethanol Reduction
Thu, 11/21/2013 - 07:15
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledged that a 2007 federal law sets unrealistic mandates on the amount of ethanol that can be blended into gasoline. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requires an increasing amount of biofuel be blended into gasoline each year, from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by 2022. However, nearly all gasoline sold in the United States contains up to 10% ethanol (E10) and there is widespread opposition to increasing that amount to 15% (E15). For the first time since the RFS became law in 2009, the EPA is lowering the targeted amount of ethanol blended in gasoline.

With advances in vehicle fuel economy and as cars are being driven less, the United States has hit the “E10 blend wall.” SEMA has joined with a number of other organizations representing a variety of industries in asking Congress to repeal or scale-back the RFS biofuel mandates and to ban the sale of E15. While the EPA has approved E15 for use in ’01 and newer vehicles, the agency made it illegal to use in older vehicles for fear of equipment damage. However, the EPA only requires a gas pump warning label for unsuspecting consumers. Ethanol can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers, especially in older cars that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. Congress has held a number of hearings on the RFS and E15 and is expected to consider legislation to reduce ethanol mandates in 2014. 

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.
Federal Government Proposes Ethanol Reduction
Thu, 11/21/2013 - 07:15
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledged that a 2007 federal law sets unrealistic mandates on the amount of ethanol that can be blended into gasoline. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requires an increasing amount of biofuel be blended into gasoline each year, from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by 2022. However, nearly all gasoline sold in the United States contains up to 10% ethanol (E10) and there is widespread opposition to increasing that amount to 15% (E15). For the first time since the RFS became law in 2009, the EPA is lowering the targeted amount of ethanol blended in gasoline.

With advances in vehicle fuel economy and as cars are being driven less, the United States has hit the “E10 blend wall.” SEMA has joined with a number of other organizations representing a variety of industries in asking Congress to repeal or scale-back the RFS biofuel mandates and to ban the sale of E15. While the EPA has approved E15 for use in ’01 and newer vehicles, the agency made it illegal to use in older vehicles for fear of equipment damage. However, the EPA only requires a gas pump warning label for unsuspecting consumers. Ethanol can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers, especially in older cars that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. Congress has held a number of hearings on the RFS and E15 and is expected to consider legislation to reduce ethanol mandates in 2014. 

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.
Federal Government Proposes Ethanol Reduction
Thu, 11/21/2013 - 07:15
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledged that a 2007 federal law sets unrealistic mandates on the amount of ethanol that can be blended into gasoline. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requires an increasing amount of biofuel be blended into gasoline each year, from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by 2022. However, nearly all gasoline sold in the United States contains up to 10% ethanol (E10) and there is widespread opposition to increasing that amount to 15% (E15). For the first time since the RFS became law in 2009, the EPA is lowering the targeted amount of ethanol blended in gasoline.

With advances in vehicle fuel economy and as cars are being driven less, the United States has hit the “E10 blend wall.” SEMA has joined with a number of other organizations representing a variety of industries in asking Congress to repeal or scale-back the RFS biofuel mandates and to ban the sale of E15. While the EPA has approved E15 for use in ’01 and newer vehicles, the agency made it illegal to use in older vehicles for fear of equipment damage. However, the EPA only requires a gas pump warning label for unsuspecting consumers. Ethanol can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers, especially in older cars that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. Congress has held a number of hearings on the RFS and E15 and is expected to consider legislation to reduce ethanol mandates in 2014. 

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.
SEMA Show Confirms Strong Specialty-Equipment Industry
Thu, 11/14/2013 - 16:38

By Della Domingo

  show
The 2013 SEMA Show featured 2,381 exhibiting companies representing all facets of the automotive specialty-equipment market.
  

The 2013 SEMA Show is history and has left no doubt that the automotive specialty-equipment industry is stronger than ever. While final attendance figures are being audited, organizers report that more than 126,000 credentials were issued prior to the event, with thousands more processed onsite. The numbers represented a 7% increase over the previous year, and the highest in SEMA Show history.

“A trade show is a reflection of the industry it serves,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “The unprecedented participation levels this year indicate the industry is moving into growth mode. This was a record-breaking year, and we’re seeing companies ready and eager to do business.”

On the Show floor were 2,381 exhibiting companies representing all facets of the automotive specialty-equipment market, including accessory and appearance products, performance products, wheels, tires and suspension—basically anything and everything anyone could want to personalize the more than 200 million cars, trucks, SUVs and power-sport vehicles on and off the road. Representing mostly small businesses, the exhibitors turn to the SEMA Show to connect with more than 60,000 buyers from throughout the world.

“We’re seeing more exhibitors take part in programs such as the New Products Showcase,” said Kersting. “This is an indication to us that exhibitors are looking for and taking advantage of ways to get the most out of their Show experience. They are actively looking to connect with new and existing buyers.” More than 2,000 entries were submitted into the Showcase, with the best of the best receiving special recognition.

The SEMA Annual Market Report, available exclusively to SEMA members, estimates there were $31.32 billion in retail sales in 2012, up from less than $28 billion during the height of the recession in 2009. Based on the excitement and attendance at the 2013 SEMA Show, this year promises to continue that upward trend.

There was a lot of action off the Show floor as well.

Four new members of the SEMA Hall of Fame were honored at the annual SEMA Awards Banquet—George Barris, Eric Grant, Joe Schubeck and Wade Kawasaki. SEMA’s first president and founder of Isky Cams Ed Iskenderian was there to partake in the festivities, headlined by "American Idol"-winning singer Taylor Hicks. And more than 250 SEMA Global Media Awards were handed out to exhibitors whose products had the most potential in overseas markets, as determined by the dozens of top international journalists attending the SEMA Show.

“Now it’s time for everyone to go home, tally their orders and prepare for another great year of selling more parts,” Kersting said.