aem’s new ad puts faces to the tax fight, urging congress to “tax smarter, build stronger”

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6/12/2025

this week, aem is putting the spotlight on the men and women who keep america running with a new ad urging congress to pass pro-growth tax policies.  

the ad and the larger campaign, titled “tax smarter, build stronger,” highlight the manufacturing workers who depend on a tax code that rewards investment, innovation, and long-term job growth. 

with several key tax provisions from the 2017 tax cuts and jobs act set to expire at the end of this year, aem is putting faces to an often faceless policy debate. the ad features real employees from a member facility who build, power, and feed our world. 

“we wanted to remind lawmakers that this debate is about families, communities, and jobs for those in our industry,” said kip eideberg, aem’s senior vice president of government and industry relations. “now more than ever, u.s. equipment manufacturers need certainty so they can invest in their communities, grow their businesses, and create more family-sustaining jobs in america.  

as part of the “tax smarter, build stronger” campaign, aem is urging congress to: 

  • protect the 21 percent corporate tax rate;
  • increase the pass-through deduction for small equipment manufacturers;
  • restore immediate r&d expensing;
  • revive full expensing for capital equipment purchases;
  • reinstate an ebitda-based standard for interest deductibility;
  • increase and make permanent the estate tax exemption;
  • preserve the international tax system by making fdii, gilti, and beat regimes permanent. 

the ad will run nationwide for the next 30 days on digital platforms and connected television. it will also be amplified across aem’s grassroots advocacy network, i make america.    

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