Welcome to the latest ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update, a biweekly round up of the public policies currently impacting the cleaning and facility solutions industry. This update touches on the introduction of the Safer Choice Program Authorization Act, helping ISSA restore the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, a July 29 ISSA Advocacy reception in Chicago, and more.

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ISSA Applauds Bipartisan Introduction of Safer Choice Program Authorization Act

What it means: ISSA applauds the introduction of the Safer Choice Program Authorization Act of 2026 (S. 4664) on June 3. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jon Husted (R-OH), would formally authorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safer Choice Program, which has operated for more than a decade as a voluntary, science-based certification program identifying cleaning and consumer products formulated with ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment.

Why it matters: The Safer Choice Program provides manufacturers, institutional purchasers, and consumers with reliable information to guide product selection, while helping companies differentiate their offerings in an increasingly sustainability-focused marketplace. The bill would codify the program’s structure, establish transparent procedures for product certification, authorize qualified third-party profilers to support technical evaluations, and require annual reporting to Congress on program performance.

What ISSA is doing: The introduction of this bill is due in part to the advocacy efforts of the 140+ ISSA members who participated in the association’s Clean Advocacy Summit fly-in event that took place in Washington, DC, March 23-24. Authorization of the Safer Choice Program was a top legislative priority for the more than 150 Capitol Hill meetings as part of the summit, where ISSA members made the case firsthand to congressional offices across both chambers and political parties. The introduction of this legislation is a testament to the power of industry voices coming together around a shared goal and a reminder that showing up matters. Learn more

Take action now: ISSA strongly encourages industry members, cleaning professionals, and stakeholders to contact their congressional delegation today and urge swift passage of the Safer Choice Program Authorization Act of 2026 (S. 4664). Send a message directly to your U.S. Senators and Representative using ISSA’s Advocacy Action Center

Your Voice Needed to Restore Work Opportunity Tax Credit

What it means: The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) officially expired on December 31, 2025. For nearly 30 years, this federal tax credit helped cleaning and facility solutions employers hire, train, and retain workers who faced barriers to employment, including veterans, second-chance workers, and SNAP recipients.

Why it matters: WOTC is a proven workforce tool for cleaning and facility solutions companies navigating persistent labor shortages. Without it, employers lose a meaningful financial incentive to hire from underserved talent pools at precisely the moment when the industry needs every recruitment advantage it can get.

What ISSA is doing: In March, ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit attendees urged their members of Congress to support the WOTC Act (S. 3265 / H.R. 6231)—a legislative priority for the association.

Take action now: ISSA also is partnering with the Critical Labor Coalition’s WOTC Works! campaign to push Congress to retroactively extend and permanently restore the credit. Here’s how you can help amplify that effort:

• Share your WOTC story via a short video for the WOTC Works! platform
• Complete the employer survey to put your experience directly in front of Capitol Hill policymakers

Contact your members of Congress through the coalition’s Action Alert Center

Bills & Spills: Connect with Lawmakers. Shape the Future.

Join ISSA and IICRC members on July 29 from 4:30–6 pm in Chicago for Bills & Spills, an exclusive networking reception held during the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit. This is a rare opportunity to connect directly with state lawmakers and legislative staff from across the country while building relationships that can help advance the cleaning and restoration industries.

Why attend? State legislatures are where many of the policies affecting your business, from extended producer responsibility to PFAS in cleaning products, are debated, shaped, and enacted. Bills & Spills offers a relaxed, informal setting to engage with policymakers, share your expertise, and discuss the issues impacting cleaning, restoration, workforce development, and facility management.

At Bills & Spills, you’ll:

• Build relationships with state legislators and key staff
• Share your industry expertise and real-world perspective
• Gain insights into legislative priorities across the country
• Network with fellow ISSA and IICRC members engaged in advocacy
• Help shape conversations that impact your business and our industry

Who should attend?

• Business owners and executives
• Facility managers and industry professionals
• Advocacy-minded members
• Anyone interested in how state policy affects the cleaning and restoration sectors

The venue: Chicago’s iconic Miller’s Pub provides the perfect backdrop for meaningful networking, complete with drinks, appetizers, and plenty of opportunities to connect. Seats are limited. Register now and make your voice part of the conversation

Additional Updates

Legislative

President Signs $70B Immigration Funding Bill
President Trump signed a US$70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies through the end of his term. The package to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection passed out of Congress last week after months of debate and delays amid Democratic concerns about overly aggressive immigration enforcement. Learn more (CNBC)

• House passes bill to reshape first union contract negotiations: what employers need to know (JD Supra)

Regulatory

U.S. Proposes New Tariffs over Forced Labor Trade Practices
The U.S. proposed tariffs of up to 12.5%, under Section 301, on imports from 60 economies for failing to ban forced labor goods. Economies with partial forced labor bans face a 10% duty; all others face 12.5%. The move marks a major step in Trump’s push to reinstate his country-specific tariffs that were mostly struck down. Washington also sought public comment on a new U.S.-China Board of Trade that could lead to mutual tariff reductions. Learn more (CNBC)

• The President may not renew USMCA (The Hill)
• EPA announces $1B initiative to combat PFAS in drinking water (EPA)

Judicial

Judge Voids Trump Immigration Policies Targeting 39 Countries
U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell, Jr. vacated four policies that halted asylum processing and froze other immigration benefits for people from 39 countries. He said that the measures were “contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious” and that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services acted without proper authority while letting anti-immigrant sentiment influence its decisions. The rules, enacted after a 2025 shooting by an Afghan national, affected applications for asylum, work permits, green cards, and citizenship, leaving many in prolonged uncertainty. Learn more (MSN)

• U.S. trade judge urges the administration to speed up tariff refunds (Spectrum News)

State & Local News

Connecticut Signs Mold Remediation Reform into Law
ISSA applauds the signing of Connecticut HB 5222 into law, which requires that residential mold remediation contractors be certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), National Organization of Remediators and Microbial Inspectors (NORMI), or another organization approved by the commissioner, and all remediation projects follow the ANSI-IICRC S520 Standard for Professional Mold Remediation. Learn more (CleanFax)

• 2026 midyear state, local minimum wage increases (JD Supra)

The New York State Legislature passed a bill limiting PFAS in drinking water