Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
SurplusGLOBAL Builds on SEMICON KOREA 2026 Success, Upgrades SemiMarket for Harvest Parts Discovery and Bulk Sourcing
MILPITAS, California, March 4 [Category: Electronic Products] -- SEMI, an association serving the manufacturing supply chain for the electronics industry, posted the following news release:
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SurplusGLOBAL Builds on SEMICON KOREA 2026 Success, Upgrades SemiMarket for Harvest Parts Discovery and Bulk Sourcing
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SurplusGLOBAL has rolled out a set of upgrades to SemiMarket ( www.SemiMarket.com ), its online marketplace for legacy semiconductor equipment and parts, aimed at making inventory discovery more actionable and sourcing workflows more practical for engineers and procurement teams operating
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MILPITAS, California, March 4 [Category: Electronic Products] -- SEMI, an association serving the manufacturing supply chain for the electronics industry, posted the following news release:
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SurplusGLOBAL Builds on SEMICON KOREA 2026 Success, Upgrades SemiMarket for Harvest Parts Discovery and Bulk Sourcing
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SurplusGLOBAL has rolled out a set of upgrades to SemiMarket ( www.SemiMarket.com ), its online marketplace for legacy semiconductor equipment and parts, aimed at making inventory discovery more actionable and sourcing workflows more practical for engineers and procurement teams operatingin the secondary supply chain.
A central update is the expansion of how SemiMarket publishes and organizes Harvest-completed parts. The platform has opened Special Event sections that group harvested inventories by their "parent" tool, enabling buyers to navigate end-of-life components in the same equipment-centric structure fabs use for maintenance planning and spares management. By surfacing harvested parts in a tool-based format within the marketplace, SurplusGLOBAL says SemiMarket is becoming a more direct channel for sustaining older tool fleets as OEM availability thins or ends.
SemiMarket is also adding functionality for high-volume sourcing and internal review. A new bulk download feature lets users request an item list by selecting a top-level category and clicking "Download list" from the front-end interface. Once approved by the operations team, the file becomes available for download. SurplusGLOBAL positions the tool as a practical bridge between marketplace browsing and the internal processes procurement groups use to compare options, circulate listings, and document sourcing decisions at scale.
The changes address a growing pain point across mature-node fabs: when a single discontinued spare can sideline a tool, downtime can extend while teams source across brokers, refurbishers, and regional networks. The legacy spares supply chain remains fragmented, and even organizations with donor-tool pools often face challenges extracting, verifying, and redeploying parts efficiently at scale. SurplusGLOBAL says the trend is increasingly reaching 300mm tools manufactured before 2010, intensifying demand for more structured, searchable legacy parts supply.
To respond, the company says it is expanding its Harvest program-disassembling used equipment and remarketing parts-supported by in-house verification and data standardization. SurplusGLOBAL said it has harvested about 60 tools to date and plans to harvest roughly 200 to 300 tools this year, backed by teams spanning Harvest operations, parts verification, AI, SemiMarket, database engineering, and sales.
The company also said it is applying AI and OCR-driven workflows to accelerate classification, imaging, standardization, and listing creation, while building tool-part relationships, parts BOM coverage, and personalized recommendations.
The upgrades follow a recent rise in platform engagement tied to industry events. During SEMICON KOREA 2026, held Feb. 11-13 at COEX in Seoul, SurplusGLOBAL said about 3,000 industry visitors stopped by its booth and more than 800 signed up for SemiMarket on-site. The company said many of the new members included process and maintenance engineers, as well as employees from global equipment makers-roles closely connected to day-to-day tool operation and purchasing decisions.
Bruce Kim, SurplusGLOBAL's CEO, said the updates reflect "growing demand for faster, clearer decision-making and more actionable inventory discovery in the mature-node ecosystem, where uptime pressures and supply variability often push teams beyond OEM channels." He added that the company is expanding Harvest-led supply and improving how SemiMarket organizes that inventory so buyers can move from discovery to decision more quickly.
SurplusGLOBAL also pointed to a near-term offline expansion intended to complement online sourcing. The company said a 39,670m2(12,000-pyeong) SemiMarket Offline Parts Mall is scheduled to be completed in July, enabling customers to view large-scale inventory in person and access services such as parts verification and repair, strengthening global support for legacy tool sustainment.
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Original text here: https://www.semi.org/en/node/169876
GreatAmerica & CEO Juice Announce Enhanced Integration for Office Technology Dealers
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, March 4 -- The Business Technology Association issued the following news:
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GreatAmerica & CEO Juice Announce Enhanced Integration for Office Technology Dealers
GreatAmerica, in collaboration with CEO Juice, has announced the deployment of new enhancements to its existing integration for office technology dealers using e-automate. These updates further automate contract setup, reduce manual work and deliver real-time insights with AI-powered dashboards, making it even easier for dealers to do business.
"At GreatAmerica, we're committed to making business easier for
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri, March 4 -- The Business Technology Association issued the following news:
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GreatAmerica & CEO Juice Announce Enhanced Integration for Office Technology Dealers
GreatAmerica, in collaboration with CEO Juice, has announced the deployment of new enhancements to its existing integration for office technology dealers using e-automate. These updates further automate contract setup, reduce manual work and deliver real-time insights with AI-powered dashboards, making it even easier for dealers to do business.
"At GreatAmerica, we're committed to making business easier forour dealer partners," said Martin Golobic, CEO, GreatAmerica. "These enhancements to our CEO Juice integration streamline contract setup inside e automate, removing manual steps and saving dealers up to 10 to 12 minutes per contract; time they can reinvest in serving their customers."
Key benefits of the enhanced integration include:
* Automated contract setup: CEO Juice pulls contract details from GreatAmerica and sets up dealer contracts in e-automate, reducing setup time and errors.
* Simplified auditing: Dealers only need to audit the GreatAmerica setup, eliminating redundant paperwork.
* AI dashboards: Interactive dashboards provide visibility into contract status, user activity and retention rates.
"As the pace of technology change skyrockets, the Juice message is 'Integrate and Automate,'" said Gary Lavin, founder, CEO Juice. "It is not just about saving labor hours, but setting your data up for a future with AI agents. Look for partners like GreatAmerica who are ahead of the curve."
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Original text here: https://businesstechnologyassociation.growthzoneapp.com/news/Details/greatamerica-ceo-juice-announce-enhanced-integration-for-office-technology-dealers-316524
[Category: Business]
Crexendo Completes Highly Accretive Acquisition of Estech Systems
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, March 4 -- The Business Technology Association issued the following news:
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Crexendo Completes Highly Accretive Acquisition of Estech Systems
Crexendo Inc. has announced it has completed the acquisition of Estech Systems LLC (ESI), a provider of cloud communication solutions and one of Crexendo's longest-tenured NetSapiens platform licensees. The transaction represents a transformative step in Crexendo's growth strategy and significantly strengthens its position in the cloud communications market. The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to revenue and
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri, March 4 -- The Business Technology Association issued the following news:
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Crexendo Completes Highly Accretive Acquisition of Estech Systems
Crexendo Inc. has announced it has completed the acquisition of Estech Systems LLC (ESI), a provider of cloud communication solutions and one of Crexendo's longest-tenured NetSapiens platform licensees. The transaction represents a transformative step in Crexendo's growth strategy and significantly strengthens its position in the cloud communications market. The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to revenue andEBITDA, and positions Crexendo to approach $100-million run rate in annual revenue with enhanced operating leverage.
Strategic and Financial Highlights
* Acquisition expected to increase Crexendo's revenue, earnings and cash flow following closing.
* Purchase price of $35 million, consisting of $27.3 million in cash and $7.7 million in common stock, representing a multiple of approximately 1.35x unaudited 2025 revenue.
* ESI generated approximately $26 million in revenue in 2025.
* Expected cost synergies from facilities consolidation, licensing optimization, cross-utilization of employees, operational expenses, network expenses and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure migration.
* Significant opportunity for revenue synergies through cross-selling, expanded channel reach and platform expansion.
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Plano, Texas, ESI brings a strong sales- and engineering-driven organization, deep customer relationships and a proven track record of delivering mission-critical communications solutions. ESI currently supports more than 6,200 retail accounts and more than 75,000 seats. The acquisition enhances Crexendo's market presence and expands its operational scale.
Crexendo expects to realize meaningful cost synergies as workloads migrate to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and duplicative infrastructure is consolidated. Management anticipates operational efficiencies across facilities, overhead, licensing and network costs, while leveraging ESI's engineering and sales bench to reduce incremental hiring needs. These initiatives are expected to enhance EBITDA margins and cash flow over the next 12 to 24 months.
Leadership Commentary
"This acquisition is exactly the type of transaction we have been talking about for years," said Jeff Korn, chairman and CEO, Crexendo. "ESI is a best-in-class organization with exceptional people, strong engineering capabilities and a long history of success serving customers on our NetSapiens platform. By incorporating ESI into Crexendo, we are combining our strong double-digit organic growth with an accretive acquisition from our deep 'fishing pond' of licensees. The result is a stronger, more scalable company with expanded capabilities for our customers, partners and shareholders. I could not be more ecstatic about how this acquisition will positively affect our future growth and success and am excited to welcome the ESI team to Crexendo."
"We are incredibly excited to join the Crexendo team," said George Platt, president and CEO, Estech Systems LLC. "Crexendo has been a trusted partner for many years, and this transaction allows us to deliver even greater value to our customers by combining our sales, engineering and customer support expertise with Crexendo's scale, platform innovation and resources. Together, we are building a stronger organization that is well positioned to serve our customers for decades to come. I would also like to thank our founder, Eric Suder, for the immeasurable impact he has made on ESI's employees, their families, our customers and the community."
Strategic Rationale
The acquisition meaningfully strengthens Crexendo's competitive position by expanding its scale, deepening its expertise in cloud communications and reinforcing the power of the NetSapiens platform. The combined company benefits from a broader customer base, enhanced operational leverage, and a unified focus on delivering secure, scalable and AI-enabled communications solutions.
This transaction underscores Crexendo's disciplined M&A strategy: combining strong organic growth with highly accretive acquisitions drawn from its ecosystem of successful NetSapiens licensees.
Korn and the management team will discuss the acquisition in more detail on the upcoming year-end conference call.
In other news, Crexendo Inc. has announced its partnership with AppDirect, a technology service distributor that connects businesses to the technology services they need to operate and grow.
This partnership expands Crexendo's national distribution footprint and accelerates go-to-market execution by enabling AppDirect's extensive advisor and reseller ecosystem to seamlessly source and deliver Crexendo's cloud communications solutions. AppDirect enables advisors, resellers, and service providers to source, sell, and manage technology solutions through an online marketplace. By partnering with AppDirect, Crexendo gains access to a broad ecosystem that makes it easier for partners to deliver Crexendo's cloud-based communications services to its customers.
AppDirect's marketplace empowers thousands of technology advisors and service providers to discover, quote, provision and manage solutions through a unified platform. By integrating into this ecosystem, Crexendo strengthens its channel strategy and enhances scalability, positioning the company to drive incremental revenue growth through an expanded indirect sales network.
"We are excited to partner with AppDirect and look forward to a successful partnership," said Theresa Weitzel, director of channel sales, Crexendo. "This partnership supports our mission of supporting partner success while delivering immense value to customers."
"This partnership represents another important step in expanding Crexendo's distribution strategy and reinforcing our long-term growth initiatives," Korn said. "AppDirect's advisor community and marketplace capabilities provide a powerful channel to accelerate adoption of our cloud communications platform. We believe this relationship enhances our ability to scale efficiently while delivering meaningful value to partners, customers and shareholders.
"This strategic relationship underscores Crexendo's continued focus on expanding its indirect channel distribution, increasing partner activation and engagement, driving scalable, capital-efficient revenue growth and strengthening our competitive position within the UCaaS market," Korn continued.
The partnership aligns two organizations committed to innovation, operational excellence and enabling modern work environments through reliable, scalable cloud technology solutions.
"Partnering with Crexendo allows our advisors to deliver a robust, cloud-based communications platform that meets the evolving needs of today's businesses," said Jason DiFulvio, associate vice president of channel sales, AppDirect. "Crexendo's technology, combined with our advisor ecosystem, creates a strong opportunity to drive customer success and mutual growth."
Crexendo looks forward to building a strong relationship with AppDirect and supporting partners and customers through this collaboration.
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Original text here: https://businesstechnologyassociation.growthzoneapp.com/news/Details/crexendo-completes-highly-accretive-acquisition-of-estech-systems-316516
[Category: Business]
American Academy of Neurology: Air Pollution From Wildfires Linked to Higher Rate of Stroke
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, March 4 (TNSrep) -- The American Academy of Neurology issued the following news release on March 3, 2026:
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Air pollution from wildfires linked to higher rate of stroke
Highlights
* A preliminary study has found higher levels of air pollution in New Jersey from the 2023 Canadian wildfires were associated with a higher rate of stroke and more severe strokes.
* During heavy wildfire smoke days, researchers found more people had strokes and those strokes tended to be more severe.
* The study does not prove that wildfires cause or worsen stroke. It only shows an association.
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... Show Full Article
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, March 4 (TNSrep) -- The American Academy of Neurology issued the following news release on March 3, 2026:
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Air pollution from wildfires linked to higher rate of stroke
Highlights
* A preliminary study has found higher levels of air pollution in New Jersey from the 2023 Canadian wildfires were associated with a higher rate of stroke and more severe strokes.
* During heavy wildfire smoke days, researchers found more people had strokes and those strokes tended to be more severe.
* The study does not prove that wildfires cause or worsen stroke. It only shows an association.
*Exposure to higher levels of ozone was associated with a higher incidence of stroke and more bleeding strokes.
* Exposure to higher levels of particulate matter was associated with longer hospital stays and more severe strokes.
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Short-term surges in air pollution in New Jersey from the 2023 Canadian wildfires were associated with a higher stroke rate and more serious strokes, according to a preliminary study (https://www.aan.com/hostedfiles/File/Download/d9f6b136-ebf6-4f86-8a96-39cd26236702) released March 3, 2026, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 78th Annual Meeting taking place April 18-22, 2026, in Chicago and online.
"Wildfire smoke contains pollutants like ozone and particulate matter, so it is more than a nuisance, it can be a public health hazard," said study author Elizabeth Cerceo, MD, of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. "The 2023 Canadian wildfires resulted in unprecedented declines in air quality across the northeastern United States. Our findings show that short-term exposure to elevated air pollution from these wildfires was associated with a higher incidence and severity of stroke."
For the study, researchers used a stroke registry to identify all cases of stroke that occurred during June and July 2023 and during the same months a year earlier. Ischemic strokes are the most common kind of stroke. Bleeding strokes are more severe and often more fatal.
Researchers reviewed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data for both periods from air quality monitors located in Camden, New Jersey. They calculated average daily exposures for ozone which, when inhaled, can cause shortness of breath, coughing and aggravation of conditions like asthma. They also calculated daily average exposures for fine particulate matter, also called PM2.5, which is air pollution with particles that are 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less.
Ozone levels peaked at 136 parts per billion (ppb) during the wildfires in 2023 compared to median ozone concentration of 36 ppb. Particulate matter reached 211 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m(3)) compared to median concentration of 48.5 ug/m(3).
Daily air quality data was matched with the timing of each stroke. Because pollution effects may take a few days to impact the body, researchers also took into account the levels from the preceding one to two days before participants had their stroke.
For ozone levels, 72% of the days were 50 ppb or less, with 28% of the days above the recommended level. The World Health Organization guideline for ozone is 50 ppb. Researchers compared 42 strokes that occurred on above average ozone days, with 80 strokes that occurred on below average days. For strokes that occurred on above average ozone days, the incidence of stroke, or the rate at which new stroke cases occurred, was 1.25 strokes per day compared to 0.93 strokes per day that occurred on below average days.
After adjusting for factors like age, sex, race, and cause of stroke, researchers found higher average ozone days were associated with a 0.32 higher incidence of stroke per day.
They also found for strokes on above average ozone days, there was a higher proportion of bleeding strokes and more large artery atherosclerosis, plaque buildup in major arteries.
For particulate matter levels, 38% of the days were above average days and 62% were below average days. Researchers compared 39 strokes that occurred on above average particulate matter days to 83 strokes that occurred on below average days. They found above average particulate matter was associated with longer hospital stays and higher scores on a scale measuring stroke severity.
"While longer-term air pollution has been recognized as a risk factor for stroke, less is known about short exposures to wildfire smoke," said Cerceo. "Our study addresses a critical gap by providing more information about the neurological impact of wildfire smoke. Our findings can help guide stroke prevention and underscore the need for public health interventions during wildfires."
Cerceo noted this analysis focused on a short wildfire period, and the findings represent an early signal rather than a complete picture of the association between wildfire smoke and risk of stroke. She said future research will look at longer periods of time.
A limitation of the study was that it looked at daily average pollutants. Cerceo said more nuanced hourly measurements may also impact strokes but may not be reflected in averages. Similarly, other weather variables such as humidity and barometric pressure were not incorporated.
Discover more about stroke at BrainandLife.org, from the American Academy of Neurology. This resource also offers a website, podcast, and books that connect patients, caregivers and anyone interested in brain health with the most trusted information, straight from the world's leading experts in brain health. Follow Brain & Life(R) on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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The American Academy of Neurology is the leading voice in brain health. As the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 40,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN's mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.
Explore the latest in neurological disease and brain health, from the minds at the AAN at AAN.com or find us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
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Original text here: https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/5322
[Category: Medical]
Alliance Submits Comment Letter on the Department of Education's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 'Reimagining and Improving Student Education' (RISE)
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, March 4 -- The National Alliance for Care at Home issued the following news release:
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Alliance Submits Comment Letter on the Department of Education's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 'Reimagining and Improving Student Education' (RISE)
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) has submitted a response to The Department of Education's proposed rule, titled Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE).
While the Alliance appreciates the Department's aim of promoting fiscally responsible spending, the comment letter expresses concern that the proposed
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, March 4 -- The National Alliance for Care at Home issued the following news release:
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Alliance Submits Comment Letter on the Department of Education's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 'Reimagining and Improving Student Education' (RISE)
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) has submitted a response to The Department of Education's proposed rule, titled Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE).
While the Alliance appreciates the Department's aim of promoting fiscally responsible spending, the comment letter expresses concern that the proposedrule's narrow definition of professional degree, and the resulting exclusion of nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, and social work advanced degree programs, would have a unintended consequence for the healthcare workforce and the millions of Americans who depend on care delivered in the home.
The letter details the pipeline impacts this decision would have on home health, hospice, palliative care, and home and community-based services. It states, "[c]are in the home requires healthcare professionals to exercise a heightened degree of autonomy, independent judgment, and specialized skillsets that are cultivated through both advanced education and training. These are precisely the skills that advanced healthcare education programs are designed to develop, and restricting access to federal student loans for these degree programs could restrict the pipeline of professionals delivering safe, effective care in the home."
Our healthcare system is already facing workforce challenges, and the Alliance believes this action may have an unintentional impact on an already constrained workforce at a time when demand for care at home is rising. This is especially true in rural and underserved communities, where access to care is needed most.
"At a time when providers are already struggling to recruit and retain staff, it is important to support the workforce pipeline that provides care for seniors and people with disabilities who rely on care in the home," said Jennifer Sheets, CEO of the Alliance. "We look forward to collaborating with policymakers to seek solutions that protect access to care for the millions of Americans who rely on these services."
The full comment letter can be found here. The Alliance stands ready to partner with the Department of Education to ensure a sustainable pipeline for an educated healthcare workforce.
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About the National Alliance for Care at Home
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is the leading authority in transforming care in the home. As an inclusive thought leader, advocate, educator, and convener, we serve as the unifying voice for providers and recipients of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and Medicaid home and community-based services throughout all stages of life. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.
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Original text here: https://allianceforcareathome.org/alliance-submits-comment-letter-on-the-department-of-educations-notice-of-proposed-rulemaking-reimagining-and-improving-student-education-rise/
[Category: Health Care]
AXPC Releases Updated Policy Roadmap to Secure Energy Affordability Through American Energy Competitiveness
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The American Exploration and Production Council issued the following news release on March 3, 2026:
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AXPC Releases Updated Policy Roadmap to Secure Energy Affordability Through American Energy Competitiveness
The American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC) today released its 2026 Energy Policy Roadmap: Securing Energy Affordability Through American Energy Competitiveness, which lays out a comprehensive set of policy priorities designed to lower costs for families and businesses, support local job creation, and cement the United States' position as the world's
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The American Exploration and Production Council issued the following news release on March 3, 2026:
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AXPC Releases Updated Policy Roadmap to Secure Energy Affordability Through American Energy Competitiveness
The American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC) today released its 2026 Energy Policy Roadmap: Securing Energy Affordability Through American Energy Competitiveness, which lays out a comprehensive set of policy priorities designed to lower costs for families and businesses, support local job creation, and cement the United States' position as the world'sleading energy producer and exporter.
Americans continue to face cost-of-living pressures, with energy prices remaining a core component of household expenses. At the same time, the onshore independent producers responsible for the overwhelming share of national production are operating in a more volatile and price-sensitive environment where long-standing inefficiencies, and years of regulatory delays and policy uncertainty materially affect investment decisions and long-term supply. The need to address these challenges is urgent, with energy demand rising at an unprecedented rate at home and global demand projected to grow through 2050.
Building on the momentum of key legislative and administrative progress in 2025, which reinforced the strategic role of domestic oil and natural gas production, this roadmap provides Congress and the Trump Administration with actionable solutions across six key priorities:
* Promote global competitiveness of U.S. oil and natural gas
* Prioritize meaningful permitting reform to reduce delay and lower costs
* Improve regulatory frameworks to support greater efficiency, workability, and durability
* Unlock America's federal energy resources
* Build smarter, faster agency systems and processes
* Power grid reliability with American natural gas
"As energy demand enters an era of unprecedented growth, increasing supply and access to more affordable energy requires smart, durable policies that empower domestic independent producers to maximize America's energy potential," said Anne Bradbury, CEO of AXPC. "AXPC's 2026 Energy Policy Roadmap outlines a clear, practical path forward to streamline project approvals, reduce idle capital, and restore regulatory predictability that lowers production costs, catalyzes investment, and delivers real savings to American households."
To learn more, read the summary or download the full roadmap (https://axpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AXPC-2026-Policy-Roadmap.pdf).
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Original text here: https://axpc.org/education-resource/indepenent-producers-power-a-decade-of-u-s-lng-export-leadership-2/
[Category: Energy]
AICPA Expresses Strong Support for Bipartisan Bill to Improve IRS Administration
NEW YORK, March 4 -- The American Institute of CPAs issued the following news release:
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AICPA Expresses Strong Support for Bipartisan Bill to Improve IRS Administration
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is signaling its strong support for a bipartisan bill which contains 63 provisions designed to improve tax administration and reduce the burdens on taxpayers and their preparers. The Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act, introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), addresses important tax provisions that the AICPA has long-advocated
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, March 4 -- The American Institute of CPAs issued the following news release:
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AICPA Expresses Strong Support for Bipartisan Bill to Improve IRS Administration
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is signaling its strong support for a bipartisan bill which contains 63 provisions designed to improve tax administration and reduce the burdens on taxpayers and their preparers. The Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act, introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), addresses important tax provisions that the AICPA has long-advocatedfor, including:
* Sec. 101. Digitization of Tax Returns and Correspondence.
* Sec. 102. Establishment of Dashboard to Inform Taxpayers of Backlogs and Wait Times.
* Sec. 103. Expansion of Electronic Access to Information about Returns and Refunds.
* Sec. 104. Expansion of Callback Technology.
* Sec. 105. Expansion of Online Accounts.
* Sec. 108. Individuals Facing Economic Hardships Informed of Collection Alternatives.
* Sec. 405. Operations to Assist Taxpayers Experiencing Hardships During Lapse in Appropriation.
* Sec. 504. Authority to Deny, Revoke, or Suspend Preparer Tax Identification Numbers.
* Sec. 902. Establishment of Failure-to-Pay Penalty Safe Harbor for Individuals.
* Sec. 903. Extension of Mailbox Rule to Electronic Submissions and Payments.
"The TAS Act is a meaningful step toward a tax system that better serves taxpayers and the advisors who assist them. By implementing modernized processes and addressing inefficiencies, this legislation would enhance taxpayer compliance, improve interactions with the IRS and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, including through important provisions such as those found in the SAFE Act. Additional measures in the bill will help ensure the profession is well-positioned to meet taxpayers' needs by establishing clear, minimum educational, ethical and professional standards for paid tax preparers," said Melanie Lauridsen, Vice President of Tax Policy and Advocacy for the AICPA. "We appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Chairman Crapo and Ranking Member Wyden and support continued progress on the TAS Act."
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About the American Institute of CPAs
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is the world's largest member association representing the CPA profession, with 397,000 members and a history of serving the public interest since 1887. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education, and consulting. A founding member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession, attestation standards, and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and federal, state, and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, offers specialized credentials, partners across the profession to build future talent, and drives continuing education to advance the vitality, relevance, and quality of the profession.8
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Original text here: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-expresses-strong-support-for-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-irs
[Category: Accounting]
