U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (left) meets with Kim Mesfin, Affinity Truck Center president, and Roy Peters, general manager at the dealership.U.S. House Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) recently toured Affinity Truck Center in Bakersfield, Calif.
Rep. McCarthy was guided through the dealership by Kim Mesfin, president, Affinity Truck Center, and American Truck Dealers (ATD) Volvo line representative, and Roy Peters, the dealership’s general manager.
During the visit, H.R. 2381, the “Modern, Clean and Safe Trucks Act of 2019,” was discussed with Rep. McCarthy and his staff. The legislation would repeal the 12 percent federal excise tax (FET) levied on the sale of new heavy-duty trucks and trailers.
“We hope Rep. McCarthy’s experience touring our dealership and our conversation on the financial impact of the FET on truck sales will help him better understand our business and the need to fund future infrastructure through more stable and fair tax policy,” Mesfin said.
Rep. McCarthy met and spoke with dealership employees and drove a 2019 Volvo VNL 860 truck. He also was briefed on the newest safety and environmental technology equipment available on today’s modern trucks, ATD says.
“We were proud to host such a prominent member of the U.S. House leadership and explain that repealing the FET is good for the environment and good for America’s commercial trucking industry,” Mesfin says.
Rep. McCarthy has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2007 and currently serves as House Minority Leader, the highest-ranking position for a Republican in the House.
