In a letter to Congressional leadership, the US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has emphasized its legislative focus for 2024, advocating for policies that enhance road safety, tire innovation, environmental stewardship and domestic jobs in manufacturing.
The highlighted priorities emphasize the need for ongoing collaboration to ensure the US tire manufacturing sector is well-prepared to tackle future challenges. These include the need to update antiquated regulations that impede innovation and the importance of collective efforts to progress solutions for intricate environmental issues.
“Tires support almost every facet of our mobile society and the members of USTMA urge Congress to promptly address several high-priority issues,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO.
USTMA and its members have outlined six key policy areas: advocating for new rules from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to enhance consumer tire information and performance standards and modernizing tire testing regulations; expanding sustainable solutions for scrap tires; researching mitigation strategies for roadway runoff to safeguard stormwater, creating domestic manufacturing jobs for retreated tires, particularly for commercial vehicles; ensuring fair access to digital vehicle data and infrastructure assets; and developing domestic sources of sustainable natural rubber.
“Technological advancements in mobility and complex environmental challenges are advancing at rapid rates, and federal action is needed to ensure that laws and regulations keep pace with the needs of both the industry and consumers. We reaffirm our commitment to work with Congress and the Biden Administration to advance the important solutions laid out in our Congressional correspondence,” added Luke.
In further engagement with legislators, USTMA’s tire manufacturing ambassadors, representing its 12 member companies, will convene on Capitol Hill later this year to discuss these industry priorities and promote National Tire Safety Week.
