The Hearing Industries Association (HIA) re-elected Todd Murray of GN Hearing Care Corp, to another term as chairman of the board at its recent Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, which was held in conjunction with the organization’s biennial “Hearing on the Hill” event in Washington, DC, during late February.
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| HIA Board Members include Randy Raymond, Rayovac; Gordon Walker, Knowles Electronics; Scott Davis, Siemens Hearing Instruments; Robert Tong, ON Semiconductor; Jeff Newnham, Phonak; Carole Rogin, HIA; Todd Murray, GN; Jerry Ruzicka, Starkey Hearing Technologies; Peer Lauritsen, Oticon; and Jeff Taylor, Sonion. |
Murray is joined on the HIA Executive Committee by Vice Chairman Scott Davis, Siemens Hearing Instruments, and Secretary/Treasurer Robert Tong, ON Semiconductor, as well as Immediate Past Chairman Jerry Ruzicka, Starkey Hearing Technologies, and HIA President Carole Rogin. HIA also elected Jeffrey Newnham of Phonak as a new member to its Board of Directors, and re-elected Peer Lauritsen, Oticon; Jeff Taylor, Sonion; Robert Tong, ON Semiconductor; and Gordon Walker, Knowles Electronics. Randy Raymond, Spectrum Brands (Rayovac), continues on the Board. HIA members also reviewed annual progress reports for HIA and the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), and approved plans for 2013.
As part of the “Hearing on the Hill” event, HIA and Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) members attended more than 80 individual meetings on the Hill to support hearing health and reintroduction of the Hearing Aid Tax Credit. Teams from ADA, ASHA, and IHS also supported the effort by meeting with Congressional staff both during the Hearing on the Hill and in early March.
New Version of Hearing Aid Tax Credit Bill Introduced. HIA has announced that on March 21, 2013, Reps Tom Latham (R-Iowa) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) along with 8 other co-sponsors reintroduced the Hearing Aid Tax Credit, and they plan to work to ensure that the legislation is considered during this Congress when major federal tax reform is likely.
The bi-partisan bill (HR 1317) is similar to legislation considered in the past, although it would provide a tax benefit to people of all ages, whereas earlier bills were restricted to children and people ages 55 and older. HIA and HLAA members formed teams to meet with over 80 senators, representatives, and staffers during the Hearing on the Hill on February 28 to support the reintroduction effort.
SOURCE: HIA
