With Congress now in recess through the Labor Day holiday, the American Truck Dealers (ATD) has issued a call-to-action to its 1,800 members across the country, the association announced Wednesday.
ATD is urging commercial truck dealers to contact their U.S. House members while they are in their home districts and rally support for H.R. 2946, a bill that would repeal the federal excise tax (FET) on the retail sale of most heavy-duty trucks, tractors and trailers.
“Congressional recesses are the perfect time for truck dealers to meet face-to-face with their House members at their district offices or invite them to the dealership,” says ATD Chairman Steve Parker. “Comprehensive tax reform will be one of the main focuses for Congress this fall, and the FET repeal will likely be part of the tax reform bill.”
The bill, “Heavy Truck, Tractor and Trailer Retail Federal Excise Tax Repeal Act of 2017,” which was introduced by U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) on June 20, has a growing list of cosponsors. ATD says the bill became bipartisan with the addition of Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) agreeing to support it.
H.R. 2946 currently has 11 cosponsors, including Rep. Ralph Lee Abraham (R-La.), Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.), Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Fla.), Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.), and Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas).
ATD says its legislative affairs office is encouraging truck dealers to contact the current cosponsors of H.R. 2946 and thank them for their support.
The 12-percent federal excise tax, which adds $12,000 to $22,000 to the price of a new heavy-duty truck, is the highest percentage rate of any federal excise tax that Congress levies.
