ACD Press Release

Alliance for Chemical Distribution Members Gather for Annual Washington Fly-In

Arlington, VA –This week, 120 members of the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) are gathering on Capitol Hill for ACD’s annual Washington Fly-In. At this critical moment for the global supply chain, participants will meet with key lawmakers to discuss the issues impacting the chemical distribution industry, as well as hear firsthand from officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Attendees will also urge Congress to advance legislation and policies that strengthen the chemical supply chain, support the broader chemical distribution industry, and promote long-term national economic stability.  

“ACD members are navigating a particularly uncertain set of circumstances, pummeled by rising costs and geopolitical crises,” said ACD President and CEO Eric R. Byer. “Our annual fly-in is an unparalleled opportunity for federal policymakers to hear from the men and women who deliver the chemical products essential to Americans’ daily lives, most of whom are small businesses owners.”

Key issues ACD members will discuss during this year’s Fly-In include the proposed Union Pacific (UP)-Norfolk Southern (NS) merger, the Rail Safety Act, and regulatory compliance. Specifically, they will call on Congress to:

1. Protect A Competitive Freight Rail Industry: With the proposed merger between UP and NS on the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) review docket, the freight rail industry is in danger of becoming a monopoly. The merger, which will increase costs for American manufacturers, businesses, and consumers alike, will create dire consequences for the domestic economy. This will only exacerbate the operational challenges that shippers, large and small, have faced for years, endangering the delivery of chemical products Americans rely on every day. ACD encourages Congress to support the Rail Safety Act and call for the rejection of the UP-NS rail merger by the STB.
2. Support Commonsense Reforms for a Broken Freight Rail System: As one of freight rail’s largest customers, the chemical distribution industry depends on reliable rail service to move products essential to nearly every U.S. industry. But worsening service and workforce cuts have created major challenges for shippers. The bipartisan Railway Safety Act (H.R. 7748/S. 3903) would make long-overdue safety, service, and workforce improvements to strengthen the freight rail system. ACD urges Congress to pass legislation to implement commonsense rail safety and reform measures.
3. Support Chemical Facilities That Are Going Above and Beyond Compliance: ACD members operate in all 50 states, with more than 4,300 facilities. Our members are committed stewards of their communities and are dedicated to the tenets of the ACD Responsible Distribution™ program. Through this program, ACD members uphold the highest environmental, health, safety, and security standards. ACD encourages Members of Congress to visit chemical facilities in their districts and states to learn more about the industry and how ACD members are going beyond compliance to keep facilities and communities safe.

“Our members are at the front lines of the chemical distribution industry, making them intimately aware of the day-to-day impact of the policies coming out of Washington. I’m confident the conversations that will take place this week will translate to tangible change on Capitol Hill,” continued Byer. “The chemical distribution industry touches nearly every corner of the economy. We urge Congress to support commonsense policies that will ensure the U.S. chemical supply chain remains secure and competitive.”

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The Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) partners with our more than 400 chemical distribution industry members to provide the education, connection, standards, and advocacy they need to responsibly move the essential products our world depends on. As leaders in the $27B+ chemical distribution industry, ACD member companies commit to the highest standards in quality, safety, sustainability, and performance through ACD Responsible Distribution^TM. For more information, visit www.acd-chem.com.

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) is the leading trade association representing the makers of the fuels that keep us moving, the petrochemicals that are the essential building blocks for modern life, and the midstream companies that get our feedstocks and products where they need to go. We make the products that make life better, safer, and more sustainable — we make progress. For more information, visit https://www.afpm.org/.