Welcome to the latest ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update, a biweekly roundup of the latest public-policy issues impacting the full spectrum of the cleaning industry. This update touches on the extension of early-bird registration for the 2022 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, ISSA applauding the U.S. Senate’s introduction of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) Reinstatement Act, ISSA and the PPE Fraud Coalition asking Congress to address personal protective equipment (PPE) fraud, and more.

Want to stay informed about critical government affairs impacting the industry? Sign up here to have the ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update emailed to you every other week!

And be sure to check out the latest installment of our video series, Cleaning is Essential, with ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft, to learn about the top three advocacy issues impacting the cleaning industry right now, including the ERTC Reinstatement Act, ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, and PPE fraud.

ISSA Advocacy

Register for the 2022 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit
Register now for the 2022 ISSA Clean Advocacy—IOPFDA Workplace Solutions Summits, March 30-31, in Washington, D.C., as part of National Cleaning Week! During this two-day, premier ISSA advocacy event, participants will get up to speed on the pressing public-policy issues for the full cleaning supply chain and sharpen their advocacy acumen. Participants will then apply their new knowledge and skills by meeting with lawmakers and other Washington insiders to advance the industry. Early-bird registration has been extended to February 28—reserve your seat today!

ISSA Applauds Senate Introduction of ERTC Reinstatement Act
ISSA joined a coalition of over 70 organizations representing a variety of trade associations and charitable nonprofits to commend U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tim Scott (R-SC), Mark Warner (D-VA), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) for introducing the bipartisan Employee Retention Tax Credit Reinstatement Act and urge swift passage of the legislation to restore 2021 fourth-quarter access to the credit.

PPE Fraud Coalition, ISSA Ask Congress to Address PPE Fraud
The PPE Fraud Coalition, in conjunction with ISSA, requested U.S. congressional assistance to address fraud related to personal protective equipment (PPE). The coalition sent a letter to Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security ahead of a February 1, 2022, hearing on “Stopping COVID-19 Fraud and Price Gouging.”

Legislative

Senate Introduces Ocean Shipping Reform Bill
The U.S. Senate introduced its version of legislation aimed at promoting U.S. exports while curbing carriers’ power over both container service and equipment fees charged to shippers, American Shipper reported. The Ocean Shipping Reform Act is similar to legislation that passed overwhelmingly late last year in the U.S. House, which ISSA strongly supported, though the Senate version lacks some of the specifics of the earlier bill. Both bills would give the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission authority to initiate rulemaking, making it more difficult for ocean carriers to refuse service to American exporters. ISSA will continue to closely monitor this supply-chain issue and keep its members apprised of relevant implications for the cleaning industry. 

House Passes Stopgap Government Spending Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a short-term government funding bill to avert a shutdown at the end of this week, according to CNN. Funding is currently set to expire on February 18, but the measure that the House approved would extend funding through March 11. The vote was 272-162 and the legislation passed with bipartisan support. Now that the House passed the stopgap bill, the Senate needs to approve it before it can be sent to U.S. President Joe Biden to be signed into law.

Regulatory

Guidelines for Seeking PPP Loan Forgiveness Change
Some businesses seeking forgiveness for their Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding will see changes to the process, CBS 19 News reported. The U.S. Small Business Administration announced some changes to the process for borrowers that were denied either partial or full forgiveness.

Inflation Jumps 7.5%, 40-Year High
U.S. inflation soared over the last year at its highest rate in four decades, according to the Los Angeles Times. The U.S. Department of Labor said that consumer prices jumped 7.5% last month from a year earlier, the steepest year-over-year increase since February 1982. The acceleration of prices ranged across the economy, from food and furniture to apartment rents, airline fares, and electricity.

Imports Boost U.S. Trade Deficit to Record High
The U.S. trade deficit surged to a record high in 2021 as imports increased sharply amid the restocking of shelves by businesses to meet robust domestic demand, Reuters reported. The sharp widening in the trade gap reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce mostly reflected a shift in spending towards goods from services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

State/Local News

Expiring COVID-19 Liability Shield Laws Prompt Push for Their Revival
Business groups are urging the extension of COVID-19 liability shield laws as the measures enacted near the onset of the pandemic in places like Ohio, Georgia, and Tennessee expire, Bloomberg News reported. Visit here for more information on state-by-state COVID-19 liability protections.

Idaho COVID-19 Liability Shield Extension Bill Heads to Senate
Legislation headed to the Idaho Senate to extend a legal shield for Idaho businesses, schools, and government entities from lawsuits if someone contracts COVID-19, according to AP News.

California Votes to Require Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19 Cases
The California Legislature passed a bill requiring many companies to give workers up to two weeks of paid time off if they get sick from coronavirus, AP reported. The bill is retroactive to January 2022; Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign it into law.

L.A. Minimum Wage to Increase July 1
The city of Los Angeles will raise its minimum wage beginning July 1, from US$15 to $16.04, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced, according to KTLA-TV.