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 the introduction of the Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act in the U.S. Senate and House, the reintroduction of the Period PROUD Act in the House, ISSA and businesses uniting to support EPA’s Safer Choice program, and more.

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ISSA Advocacy

ISSA Strongly Supports Bipartisan Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act
What it means: ISSA signed on to a letter strongly supporting the bipartisan Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act, which was introduced in the U.S. Senate (S. 492) and House of Representatives (H.R. 1177) by Senators Cassidy (R-LA) and Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Smucker (R-PA-11) and Suozzi (D-NY-3), respectively.

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is an important tax preference that has been utilized for nearly three decades to build workforces in local communities across the country. WOTC provides those in disadvantaged groups, facing poverty, stigma, or other barriers to employment with opportunities for meaningful work.
Why it matters: The legislation would make WOTC more effective in achieving the goals of providing job opportunities and on-the-job training for individuals, including eligible veterans, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, individuals with disabilities, second-chance workers, and long-term unemployed individuals so that they can remain in the workforce.

This bill also would address the amount of the WOTC credit, which has remained stagnant for decades. The legislation would (1) increase the current credit percentage from 40% to 50% of qualified wages and (2) add a second level of credit for employees who work 400 or more hours. In addition, the bill would increase the age at which SNAP recipients are eligible for WOTC, providing an incentive to hire older workers.
What ISSA is doing: ISSA thanks Senators Cassidy and Hassan and Representatives Smucker and Suozzi for their leadership introducing this priority legislation for the cleaning and facility-solutions industry. We look forward to working with them to achieve its enactment, including at the 2025 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, March 31-April 1 in Washington, DC. Learn more

House Bill Reintroduced to Expand Access to Menstrual Products
What it means: U.S. Representatives Casten (D-IL-06) and Meng (D-NY-06) reintroduced the Period PROUD (Providing Resources to Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act to expand accessibility to menstrual products for those with limited access.
Why it matters: The Period PROUD Act would provide funding through the Social Services Block Grant program to remove cost barriers to menstrual products and educate school officials on how best to communicate with students in need of these products.
What ISSA is doing: ISSA thanks Representatives Casten and Meng for reintroducing this bill to help end period poverty. The association strongly endorses the Period PROUD Act and will advocate for support of this priority legislation as part of our 2025 Clean Advocacy Summit. Learn more

ISSA, 200+ Businesses Support EPA’s Safer Choice
What it means: A coalition of over 200 businesses and industry groups, including ISSA, rallied to express their strong support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safer Choice program. This voluntary certification program, which labels cleaning products meeting stringent health and environmental standards, is seen by businesses as a vital tool for communicating product safety to consumers and workers.

The coalition, led by prominent organizations like ISSA, the Household & Commercial Products Association, the Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition, the American Cleaning Institute, the American Sustainable Business Network, Change Chemistry, and the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility, sent a coalition letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin highlighting the Safer Choice program’s numerous benefits.
Why it matters: The letter emphasizes the program’s crucial role in meeting the growing consumer and worker demand for ingredient transparency and safer products. It calls on the EPA to maintain the program’s integrity and ensure its continued success.
What ISSA is doing: “ISSA has long been a strong supporter of the EPA’s Safer Choice program,” says Meché Ragland, ISSA Regulatory Affairs Manager. “We recognize the program’s value in driving innovation, promoting safer chemistry, and empowering consumers and businesses to make informed choices.” Learn more

EPA Launches MyPest App, Streamlining Pesticide Registration
What it means: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its new MyPest App, which allows registrants of disinfectants, sanitizers, and other pesticide products to monitor the status of their pesticide registration submissions in real-time.
Why it matters: For ISSA members involved in manufacturing, formulating, or distributing disinfectants, sanitizers, and other pesticide products that require EPA registration, MyPest will hopefully improve transparency and provide an easier way for registrants to communicate with the agency through the app.

Note: This new system only affects tracking and communication. The process for submitting pesticide registrations remains unchanged.
What ISSA is doing: ISSA encourages all eligible members to take advantage of this valuable tool to streamline their pesticide-registration processes and improve communication with EPA. Learn more

Deadline Extended for ISSA’s Spotless Spaces Competition
What it means: Our inaugural Spotless Spaces Competition, in conjunction with International Cleaning Week 2025, March 23-29, is your chance to showcase your cleaning team’s or a customer’s tireless dedication and spotlight the pristine space that they maintain.
Why it matters: Your or your customer’s cleaning team doesn’t just clean—they create environments where safety, health, and well-being thrive. And this is your opportunity to showcase their hard work.
What ISSA is doing: This exclusive ISSA member benefit spotlights cleaning and facilities teams and their exceptional environments on a global stage. The deadline for members to nominate a space has been extended to February 28. Thank you to the Spotless Spaces Competition sponsor, Tork, an Essity Brand! Learn more

Still haven’t registered for ISSA’s Clean Advocacy Summit?
Still haven’t registered for the 2025 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, March 31-April 1 in Washington, DC? Time is running out to seize this unique opportunity to:

• Receive briefings on the major public-policy issues facing your business and industry, such as front-line workforce training, streamlining the process to register cleaning products with EPA, ending period poverty, and more
• “Hike the Hill” to meet with your congressional offices and inform them how the cleaning and facility-solutions industry strengthens America’s health and economy
• Hear from special guest speakers and Washington insiders about the new Congress and administration
• Learn how to be an effective ISSA Advocate for Clean
• Network with industry leaders from across the country

But don’t take our word for it. Hear from your cleaning-industry colleagues why you don’t want to miss this premier advocacy event for our industry:

Registration is limited for the Clean Advocacy Summit and closes March 21, so reserve your seat today!

Thank you to Tork, an Essity Brand for serving as the Presenting Sponsor, BradyPlus as the Platinum Sponsor, Imperial Dade and Route as Gold Sponsors, and Aunt Flow, Bobrick, Citron Hygiene, Hospeco Brands Group, Maid Brigade, MaskIT, Products Chemical, Spartan Chemical, and You’ve Got Maids of Northern Virginia as Silver Sponsors of the 2025 summit.

How Restaurants and Food Services Can Address Period Poverty
What it means: In this issue of Total Food Service, Laura Craven, Vice President of Marketing at Imperial Dade and a member of ISSA’s Board of Directors, writes about the importance of advocating to end period poverty, which is the lack of access to menstrual products and proper hygiene facilities.
Why it matters: Period poverty impacts millions globally and thousands in our local communities. Yet, it remains a topic too often overlooked, even in industries dedicated to serving the public.
What ISSA is doing: Ending Period Poverty is an advocacy priority for ISSA that the association will advocate for as part of its 2025 Clean Advocacy Summit. Learn more

Additional Updates

Regulatory

Trump Threatens New Tariffs
President Trump tasked his economic team with devising plans for reciprocal tariffs on every country that taxes U.S. imports, Reuters reports. Howard Lutnick, Trump’s selection for Secretary of Commerce, said that the administration would address each affected country one by one and that studies on the issue would be completed by April 1.

Trump has already announced tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports beginning on March 12, imposed 10% tariffs on goods from China, and put a 30-day hold on planned tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico. Learn more

Largest Wildfire Hazardous Material Removal in EPA’s History
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is undergoing the largest wildfire hazardous waste cleanup in the history of the agency as it assists local governments and residents in the wake of catastrophic fires in Los Angeles County, according to Cleaning & Maintenance Management. Learn more

Legislative

House Panel Advances Budget
The U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee advanced a budget resolution, clearing the first hurdle in the Republican conference’s effort to pass President Trump’s legislative agenda, The Hill reports. Passage of the budget resolution marks a significant step forward in the House GOP’s quest to enact Trump’s domestic policy priorities in one large bill, a measure that would extend his 2017 tax cuts and appropriate more money for the border.

The lower chamber also is going to have to reach a compromise with the Senate, where the Budget Committee advanced its own, contrasting budget resolution last week. Learn more

State News

NH Bill to Remove Period-Products Requirement in Schools Defeated
State lawmakers in New Hampshire recently and unanimously voted down H.B. 415, keeping in place a state requirement that all middle and high schools provide free period products to their students who need them. This ensures that students in the Granite State will continue to have the access that they need to thrive and represents a significant legislative victory for ISSA. Learn more

Green Guides Update Pending as States Lead on Labeling
As the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s update to its Green Guides remains pending, states like California are moving forward with their own labeling laws and regulations, Packaging Dive reports. Learn more

New Study – CA’s Proposition 65 Product Labels
A recent study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, found that California’s right-to-know law, also known as Proposition 65, has effectively swayed dozens of companies from using chemicals known to cause cancer, reproductive harm, or birth defects. Learn more