Help Promote Energy Efficiency & Job Growth

BACKGROUND: Today, the United States Congress and President Obama are working to develop and enact federal policies that directly impact our livelihoods. Specifically, our leaders in Washington, DC remain committed in 2010 to drafting, passing and implementing federal legislation that aims to encourage energy efficiency; specifically, policies that could incentivize retrofits for energy and environmental performance (i.e., window film products).

Federal legislation now being prepared in Congress hold tremendous hope and opportunity for our industry, and we must act today to ensure our voices are heard loud and clear.

Your help is needed today to educate our elected officials about the value and benefits of a window film tax credit!!!

Here is where things stand in the U.S. Congress:

· The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are scheduled to consider comprehensive energy legislation this year – and possibly as early as the end of July. The legislation will likely include provisions related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, along with a number of other policies that aim to create jobs, increase energy efficiency, and promote greater energy security.

· Key Senators are currently hard at work developing policies they hope to include in the energy package that Senate leaders are now assembling.

· In fact, Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus is preparing a number of energy tax provisions, of which could be very important to the window film industry, that he hopes to attach to the final energy bill.

TAKE ACTION NOW - WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

1) Write a letter or send an e-mail to your U.S. Senators with your comments. Please feel free to use our sample text in your letter or e-mail (see attached). Be sure to remind your Senators that you are a concerned constituent, and would like to hear back from them in writing regarding your correspondence. Call (202) 224-3121 or www.senate.gov to find your Senators in Washington, DC.

2) Please forward this message to your family and friends and encourage them to act, too.

Your utilization of The Call to Action and Sample Letter documents included here can be very important in making the general public, your customers, more aware of the value of the products and services the window film industry, your industry, can offer. And it does not matter whether you are an IWFA member or not, you can still help yourself, your business, and your industry by taking a few simple steps.

Once again, here is an opportunity for you to directly influence and assist in shaping the outcome of tremendous industry efforts by the IWFA manufacturer members and the IWFA office staff, just as many of you IWFA members did during the successful push to have window film included in the HomeStar legislation (which passed the House and is also in the Senate version, but not yet enacted into law) which may become part of a larger energy, climate, or jobs bill.

There may be a vote as early as next week (the week of July 26) on some type of tax credit legislation, so the importance of doing this quickly cannot be overstated. Although we would like to receive a copy of your faxed or e-mailed letters (as in the instructions), the most important part is that your senator receive it very soon. Let him or her know this is important to you as an employer and as a small business owner and ask other friends or colleagues or business owners to also help by sending in letters themselves. The more letters from more voters, the louder this message will be heard by your congressional representative.

We thank you in advance for your assistance in this very important issue for our industry. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact any of the staff in the IWFA office (admin@iwfa.com or 276-666-4932). They will be glad to respond!

Regards,
Darrell Smith
Executive Director
IWFA

As you know, the American economy has been in turmoil for quite some time now. With the unemployment rate hovering around 9.5 percent and a faltering economic recovery looming over our heads today, many individuals and small business owners in my community continue to struggle to make ends meet. I believe it’s now more important than ever for the federal government to create economic opportunities and incentives for our nation, ultimately stimulating the economy and fostering greater confidence amongst consumers and small businesses.

In fact, taking such action at the federal level to enact a new window film tax credit is a rational step forward that should be part of any discussion related to improving our economy. As a small business owner in [city, state], a tax incentive for the window film industry would help to create and sustain thousands of manufacturing and retrofitting jobs in both the commercial and residential building sector. Meanwhile, American consumers – from Florida to Hawaii – would see direct benefit from such action, as they would be well-positioned and encouraged to install window film on existing glass - an affordable, effective energy saving solution.

Taking into account the important role window film serves in terms of benefitting the American workplace and securing a clean energy future, I remain hopeful you will act expeditiously to pass a window film tax credit this year. I cannot overstate how critical it is for our elected leaders to embrace policies that put our country back on a path to stability.

Thank you for your attention to this very important request.

Sincerely, [Your Name]