NEMA Is Dismayed Tax-extender Legislation Was Not Passed

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has expressed dismay that the Senate was not able to find a bipartisan basis for passing needed tax-extender legislation, including a two-year extension of the Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction (also known as Section 179D) as part of the Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act (S 2260).

Previously passed on a bipartisan vote by the Senate Finance Committee, the legislation would have extended 55 tax provisions that expired at the end of 2013. The vote was 53 to 40 (60 votes were needed).

According to NEMA President and CEO Evan R. Gaddis: “The failure by the Senate to pass tax-extender legislation is very disheartening. Earlier this week the Senate failed to pass bipartisan energy-efficiency legislation, and now tax extenders. Both of these bills have strong bipartisan support. Our elected leaders need to work together to overcome the hyper partisanship that has infected the ability to get things done.”

In addition to the 179D provision, the Senate bill also included extension of the research and development tax credit, the credit for electric vehicle charging stations, the production tax credit for wind power, and other renewable provisions. All of these expired on Dec. 31, 2013.

NEMA is the association of electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers, founded in 1926 and headquartered in Rosslyn, Va. Its 400-plus member companies manufacture a diverse set of products including power transmission and distribution equipment, lighting systems, factory automation and control systems, and medical diagnostic imaging systems. Total U.S. shipments for electroindustry products exceed $100 billion annually.