Thank you to all of those who participated in the myriad of advocacy activities as part of the ISSA Show North America 2021. It was a sincere pleasure meeting many of you for the first time in person. As we close out the year, your ISSA government affairs team wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on some of our advocacy successes in 2021—all of which would not have been possible without strong member engagement and provide a preview of what lies ahead for ISSA advocacy in 2022.

The increased attention on the cleaning industry has also brought increased prominence and interest from policymakers and regulators. The voice of the cleaning industry is being sought and listened to by Congress, governors, regulators, and even the White House. The strength of the industry’s voice with these key audiences has never been stronger.

ISSA advocacy successes in 2021

Healthy Workplace Tax Credit introduced in Congress—On March 2, 2021, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced the Healthy Workplaces Act, which would create a Healthy Workplace Tax Credit to help businesses provide a safe and sanitary environment for their workers and customers. U.S. Representatives Tom Rice (R-SC), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Darin LaHood (R-IL), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced similar legislation in the House on March 16, 2021. ISSA is leading a coalition of more than 50 trade associations to pass the bipartisan and common-sense Healthy Workplace Tax Credit in Congress.

Safer Choice program gets expanded—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will restore its Safer Choice program, as well as add new product categories, identify additional safer chemicals for use in products, and update and strengthen its standards. In June of 2021, ISSA signed on to a letter to Congress expressing dedicated support for the EPA’s Safer Choice program. ISSA is proud of this success and will continue to advocate for a strong and robust Safer Choice program.

National Cleaning Week—National Cleaning Week (March 28-April 3, 2021) was officially introduced in Congress by U.S. Representative Darin LaHood and proclaimed by five governors in Alabama, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas, as well as the Mayor of Chicago.

ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit—During National Cleaning Week, ISSA hosted the industry’s inaugural virtual fly-in—the Clean Advocacy Summit. More than 100 Advocates for Clean participated in the event, representing the entire cleaning supply chain. Advocates from more than 20 states met with nearly 50 congressional offices over the course of the two-and-a-half-day event to advocate for policies impacting the industry.

ISSA Advocacy Fund (IAF)—We have raised nearly US$63,000 from 48 member companies since lSSA created the lAF in June 2020, to expand our grassroots advocacy, lobbying, coalition building, and public relations efforts.

Grassroots Advocacy—161 ISSA advocates sent a total of 584 messages to 209 members of Congress. Additionally, ISSA celebrated more than 1,000 Advocates for Clean. Advocates receive the biweekly ISSA Legislative and Regulatory Update and are the first to hear about pressing legislation, compliance deadlines, ISSA advocacy events, and more.

What to look forward to in 2022

Your ISSA government affairs team will continue to closely monitor, influence, and apprise our members of important regulations from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as legislation at both the federal and state levels. Some hot-button issues next year will likely be workplace standards, supply chain issues, labor shortages, and tariffs.

Save the dates for ISSA’s 2022 Clean Advocacy Summit—ISSA will host its signature advocacy event for industry leaders, the Clean Advocacy Summit, March 30-31, 2022, in Washington, DC, as part of National Cleaning Week and in conjunction with the Independent Office Products and Furniture Dealers Association’s Workplace Solutions Summit. Participants will spend the first day of the summit getting up to speed on the pressing policy issues for the industry and sharpening their advocacy acumen. On March 31, 2022, they will apply their new knowledge and skills, meeting with their congressional delegation to advocate for clean!

As we move into 2022, I hope each ISSA member understands how important your voice is in our government affairs efforts at the federal and state levels. Weighing in on key legislative and regulatory issues is critically important in helping your business, employees, and the industry to thrive. The successes we have had together over the last two years are a testament to the strength of the cleaning industry.

Warmest wishes to you and yours this holiday season!