ISSA LARU—International Cleaning Week Is Here!
Welcome to the latest ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update, a biweekly roundup of the public-policy issues currently impacting the full cleaning supply chain. This update touches on International Cleaning Week 2024, PRIA updates, the last chance to register for the 2024 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, and more.
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ISSA Advocacy
Unprecedented Recognition of International Cleaning Week 2024
The U.S. House of Representatives, 24 states, Puerto Rico, and multiple municipalities all across the country proclaimed March 24-30, 2024, International Cleaning Week, which celebrates the value of clean and the important, positive impact that cleaning has on public health, the environment, and our economy. This designated week represents a unique opportunity to raise public awareness about the value of clean and show appreciation for cleaning professionals around the world. Learn more
PRIA Update
On March 9, President Joe Biden signed into law a six-bill spending package for Fiscal Year 2024 that funds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies. The final EPA funding bill decreases funding for the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) by approximately US$6 million, taking funding for OPP from $140.457 million in FY 2023 down to $134.275 million this fiscal year. This funding is well short of the $166 million required by PRIA 5.
EPA is currently reviewing how to implement these mid-fiscal year funding cuts in a manner that minimizes the impacts on OPP. However, the $6 million budget cut equates to the cost of roughly 30 full-time employees. EPA will try to minimize staff cuts by not filling vacant positions and cutting back on contractors, but there will likely be negative impacts on pesticide registration processing. OPP will keep us updated as it develops its plan to implement the budget cut.
As a leading member of the PRIA Coalition, ISSA is advocating for Congress to fund OPP at a minimum of $166 million for fiscal year 2025, which starts on October 1. The President’s Fiscal 2025 budget request calls for about $175 million for OPP. While the Fiscal 2024 budget cuts are final, we will work hard to restore OPP funding in FY 25.
Attend the 2024 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, April 10-11 in Washington, DC, to urge your congressional delegation to support a minimum of $166 million in federal funding for OPP, so that EPA has sufficient resources to process registrations for the sanitizers and disinfectants that keep our homes, schools, and workplaces clean, healthy, and safe. Learn more and register
ISSA Urges Congress to Pause CTA
ISSA, along with more than 120 other trade associations, called on Congress to enact the Protect Small Business and Prevent Illicit Financial Activity Act (S. 3625). The legislation, championed by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), would delay by one year the onerous Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) filing requirements and accompanying jail time and penalties. A similar bill sponsored by Representatives Zach Nunn (R-IA) and Joyce Beatty (D-OH) passed the U.S. House of Representatives late last year 420-1. In a letter to Senators Scott and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the signatories point out that such a delay would allow the ongoing legal battle to play out, be consistent with lawmakers’ original intent to give covered businesses two years to file their CTA reports, and give regulators more time to continue their outreach and education of affected entities. Learn more
Last Chance to Register – ISSA’s Clean Advocacy Summit
Time is running out to register for the 2024 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, April 10-11 in Washington, DC! Join cleaning-industry leaders as we impact legislation and regulations important to you and our industry.
Five Reasons Why You Should Attend
- You’ll meet in-person with your congressional delegation about the issues that impact your business, including labor shortages, workforce-training incentives, and EPA funding. As the old adage goes, if you aren’t at the table, you are probably on the menu!
- Network with 100+ cleaning-industry leaders–70%+ of summit attendees are business owners or at the c-suite level. Businesses that will be represented at the 2024 summit include Imperial Dade, Tork, BradyPlus, Midlab, Verde Clean, Spartan Chemical, Pritchard Industries, Servepro, and many more.
- ISSA will schedule all of your congressional meetings, as well as train and brief you, so that you can advocate effectively. Participating in our democratic process is one of the most exciting and rewarding endeavors that you can do for your profession.
- The 2024 election could be the most consequential of our lifetime. Hear from Washington insiders about the election and what it could mean for your business and the cleaning industry.
- Only a few seats remain for this year’s summit and the registration deadline of April 3 is fast approaching!
Legislative
President Signs Second 2024 Funding Package
President Joe Biden signed into law US$1.2 trillion legislation that completes the funding of federal agencies through the fiscal year, which ends September 30, CNN reports. The bill addresses a slate of critical government operations, including the U.S. departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, State, and the legislative branch. Learn more
Regulatory/Judicial
Federal Judge Blocks Joint-Employer Rule
A federal judge in Texas blocked a new rule by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NRLB) that would have set new standards for determining when two companies should be considered “joint employers” in labor negotiations, AP reports. The new rule, which was due to go into effect on March 11, would have expanded the joint-employer definition to say that companies may be considered joint employers if they have the ability to control–directly or indirectly–at least one condition of employment. Conditions include wages and benefits, hours and scheduling, the assignment of duties, work rules, and hiring. The NRLB is reviewing the court’s decision and considering its next steps in the case. Learn more
Court Halts SEC Climate Disclosure Rule
A federal court halted a new federal rule that would require publicly traded companies to reveal climate change-related information, according to The Hill. A panel of Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals judges issued an order that pauses the rule as litigation against it plays out. Learn more
Register for Safer Choice Webinar on GSA Advantage
Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safer Choice for a free webinar, Updates to GSA Advantage and What It Means for Safer Choice-Certified Products, April 9, from 1 pm to 2 pm CT. In this webinar, Safer Choice will describe updates to federal purchasing and GSA Advantage. The updates to the U.S. General Service Administration’s online shopping and ordering system elevate Safer Choice-certified products. Safer Choice will discuss how product manufacturers can highlight their certified products in the system. Learn more and register
State News
Ohio Could Vote on Raising Minimum Wage
A battle between frontline workers and business owners could land on Ohio’s statewide ballot this November if a sufficient number of voter signatures are collected by July 5, The Columbus Dispatch reports. Learn more
Minnesota Considers Bill to Increase Minimum Wage
A new bill that would increase Minnesota’s minimum wage is making its way through the state legislature, according to CBS News. Minnesota’s minimum wage was just adjusted for inflation on January 1 to US$10.85 an hour for large employers and $8.85 an hour for other state minimum wages. Learn more
