News

ISSA LARU—Tell Congress to Pass a Healthy Workplace Tax Credit

Welcome to the ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update, our biweekly roundup of the latest public policy issues impacting the full spectrum of the cleaning industry. This update touches on an opportunity now to potentially pass the Healthy Workplace Tax Credit in Congress, strengthening the cleaning industry by supporting the ISSA Advocacy Fund, Illinois as the third state to require “Do Not Flush” labeling on non-flushable wipes, and more.

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 ISSA Advocacy

Call to Action – Tell Congress to Pass a Healthy Workplace Tax Credit
Use ISSA’s Advocacy Action Center to urge your congressional delegation to support a healthy workplace tax credit. The rise in the COVID-19 Delta variant reinforces the need for increased investment in cleaning-related expenses. There is presently an opportunity to potentially pass the tax credit in Congress. Take action now!

Strengthen the Cleaning Industry
Help ISSA strengthen the full spectrum of the cleaning industry by contributing to the ISSA Advocacy Fund (IAF). IAF Founding Supporter Products Chemical Company, LLC has generously agreed to match contributions to the IAF up to US$5,000 through November 30, 2021. Double your impact–contribute to the IAF today!

Illinois Latest State with Wipes Labeling Law; Federal Bill Introduced
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Wipes Labeling Act on August 6, 2021, making Illinois the third state to require “Do Not Flush” labeling on non-flushable wipes. Similar laws have been enacted in Washington and Oregon, with wipes legislation also pending in California, Massachusetts, and Minnesota.

ISSA Launches New Video Series – CLEANING IS ESSENTIAL 
Got two-and-a-half minutes? Check out the first installment of our new CLEANING IS ESSENTIAL video series to learn about the top three regulatory and legislative issues impacting the cleaning industry.

Register for ISSA-HCPA Event – Cleaning Products: A Regulatory Update
Stay ahead of the regulatory curve! Register today to participate in Cleaning Products: A Regulatory Update, a one-day, hybrid workshop, November 15, 2021, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, covering the latest regulatory issues that impact the manufacturing, packaging, marketing, and sale of household and commercial cleaning products.

Legislative

House Democrats Adopt $3.5 Trillion Budget Plan
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 220-212, strictly along party lines, to adopt a rule that allows Democrats to immediately begin work on a US$3.5 trillion budget plan, The Hill reported. The rule also requires the lower chamber to take up the Senate-passed bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill by September 27, 2021.

Regulatory

COVID-19 Vaccine Approval ‘Seismic’ Shift for Legality of Mandates
Formal U.S approval of the Pfizer Inc BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will make it nearly impossible to successfully challenge mandates by employers, according to Reuters.

Nursing Homes Must Mandate COVID-19 Vaccines for Staff
The nursing home industry is involved in an emergency federal regulation requiring vaccinations for all staff, including those in environmental services, Cleaning & Maintenance Management reported. This regulation, announced by U.S. President Joe Biden, would withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding from nursing homes that are not compliant.

EPA Calls for Nominations for 2022 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting nominations for the 2022 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards from companies or institutions that have developed a new green chemistry process or product that helps protect human health and the environment. Additionally, EPA announced a webinar on September 22, 2021, from 1-2:30 p.m. CT, to educate stakeholders on the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards and nomination process.

State News

States Can Pay Unemployment Benefits Past Sept. 6 Using Pandemic Funds
States can pay benefits to the unemployed past a September 6 expiration date using pandemic funds that Congress previously allocated to state and local governments, U.S. Labor and Treasury Department officials said and CNBC reported.

Cal/OSHA Endorses Indoor Masking for Workers
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health endorsed updated guidance from the California Department of Public Health advising employers and employees to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to surge across the state, according to Business Insurance.

Florida, Texas Report Surge in COVID-19 Comp Claims
COVID-19 worker compensation claims in Florida more than doubled in July from the previous month, Business Insurance reported. Texas also saw a sharp increase in COVID-19-related comp claims in July.