Dear Senator / Rep. XXX XXXX
As a member of NACE International, the worldwide authority on corrosion, I am writing with respect to upcoming policy proposals that Congress is expected to consider in 2017. Among those proposals, NACE members can offer corrosion prevention expertise in relation to issues such as to transportation and infrastructure, energy generation and distribution, water and wastewater, maritime, and job creation and training measures.
From pipeline failures to the deterioration of the historic Arlington Memorial Bridge to the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan and throughout the U.S., unmitigated corrosion harms the environment, risks public safety, and costs the American taxpayer approximately $1,500 per citizen, per year. According to a 2002 study conducted by the Federal Highway Administration, corrosion costs the U.S. Government more than $276 billion annually, or more than $500 billion in today’s economy. The study notes that the cost of corrosion represents 3.1% of our national gross domestic product. Additionally, the study adds that if corrosion control technologies are properly installed and assets are consistently maintained, corrosion is largely preventable.
As a NACE member, I’ve dedicated my career to increasing public safety and saving taxpayers billions of dollars each year by advocating high-quality asset management programs that prevent the devastating and potentially catastrophic consequences of corrosion. Our association has more than 37,000 members in 130 countries worldwide, with more than half of them based in the U.S. NACE provides technical training and certification programs, conferences, industry standards, reports, publications, and technical journals. NACE represents the best corrosion expertise from a range of industries including: aerospace and military, chemicals and allied products, transportation and infrastructure, oil and gas, pipeline and underground systems, power and utilities, and water and wastewater.
As you consider proposals to rebuild America’s critical infrastructure, I ask that you ensure assets and federal investments are protected from the high costs ‒to public safety and to the economy‒ of unmitigated corrosion. Corrosion planning and today’s corrosion prevention technologies ensure that assets are properly maintained which in turn lowers the damaging risk of failure. Additionally, by promoting corrosion planning and asset management, Congress will reduce the deficit. When the federal government invests taxpayer funds into infrastructure programs, those funds can and should be protected. By promoting corrosion control, you can increase public safety, protect the environment, and create thousands of jobs throughout the country.
NACE’s government relations team looks forward to working with you and your staff to improve America’s infrastructure. Should you or your staff have any questions or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or NACE’s Manager of Government Relations Adam Christopher – .
Thanks for your time and service.
Sincerely,
(Insert Your Name)