News

ISSA LARU—ISSA Creates New Regulatory Committee

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 new ISSA Regulatory Affairs Committee, ISSA submitting comments to the USTR on Section 301 tariffs, submitting a Cleaning Week proclamation request to your state for National Cleaning Week, and more.

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ISSA Advocacy

ISSA Establishes Regulatory Affairs Committee
ISSA recently announced the establishment of the ISSA Regulatory Affairs Committee. This newly-formed committee is part of ISSA’s continued investment and expansion of its advocacy efforts. Learn more

ISSA Submits Comments to USTR
ISSA, as an Americans for Free Trade member, submitted comments to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai on a Four-Year Review of Actions Taken in the Section 301 Investigation: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation. In the comments, the signatories urged the removal of Section 301 tariffs against products from China and elucidated how the tariffs have failed to achieve their stated goal and harmed U.S. businesses, workers, and consumers. Learn more

Ohio Proclaims Official Cleaning Week. Will Your State?
ISSA thanks Governor Mike DeWine and Mayor Muriel Bowser for proclaiming an official Cleaning Week in Ohio and Washington, DC, respectively, as part of National Cleaning Week, March 26-April 1–a time when the entire cleaning industry celebrates the value of clean. Help ISSA raise awareness about the industry by submitting a proclamation to designate an official week of cleaning for your state. Nearly every state has an online proclamation form or process that a resident of that state can use to submit a proclamation request free of charge. ISSA has already written a template proclamation, but we need your help submitting proclamation requests by February 17. Learn more

ISSA Webinar: How to Leverage National Cleaning Week
How will your business recognize your employees, thank your customers, and demonstrate the value of clean during National Cleaning Week, March 26-April 1? Get ideas and jumpstart your planning for this week dedicated to the cleaning industry by participating in this free ISSA webinar from 12 pm to 1 pm CT on Wednesday, February 22. Learn more

Advocate, Influence, Impact, but First ATTEND the Clean Advocacy Summit
Advocate, influence, and impact legislation on behalf of your business and the cleaning industry by attending the 2023 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, March 28-29 in Arlington, VA and Washington, DC as part of National Clean Week! On the first day of this two-day premier advocacy event, participants will receive the “inside scoop” on the top public policy issues facing their business and industry and training on how to be an effective Advocate for Clean, as well as network with leaders across the industry. On the second day, participants will apply their new knowledge and skills meeting with their congressional delegation to advance the industry. Learn more

Latest State Legislative Activity
Maine proposes to increase registration fees for disinfectants and other pesticides, and a growing number of states are focused on reducing plastic waste. Learn more

Legislative

Immigration Fight Looms in Senate
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators attempting to craft an immigration compromise have a challenging task ahead of them–finding a deal that can attract the support of Democrats, moderate Republicans, and hardline conservatives who have newfound power in the House of Representatives, The Hill reported. Learn more

Regulatory

EPA Re-Invoicing Annual Pesticide Registration Maintenance Fee
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is notifying pesticide registrants that the agency will soon send supplemental invoices to reflect the new annual pesticide registration maintenance fee for fiscal year 2023. To meet new statutory requirements in the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022, the revised fee for fiscal year 2023 for each registered pesticide product will be US$4,875, increased from the $3,400 level. Learn more

OSHA Increases 2023 Penalties
The U.S. Department of Labor said that, effective January 17, 2023, it will increase its penalties, including those for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), The Construction Broadsheet reported. OSHA’s maximum penalty increases are:

• US$15,625 (from $14,502) per violation for serious, other-than-serious, and posting requirement violations
• $15,625 (from $14,502) per day for failure to abate beyond the abatement date
• $156,259 (from $145,027) for willful or repeated violations

The minimum penalty for a willful violation is now $11,162, an increase from $10,360. Learn more

OSHA Proposal to Broaden Injury, Illness Data Submissions Moves Forward
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) regulation to change which workplaces are required to submit annual injury and illness data is one step closer to finalization, according to Safety + Health. Learn more

FTC Proposes Banning Employee Noncompete Clauses
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a rule that would ban U.S. employers from imposing noncompete clauses on workers, a sweeping measure that could make it easier for people to switch jobs and increase competition for labor across a wide range of industries. Learn more