News

ISSA LARU – Tell Congress to Retain the Employee Retention Credit

Welcome to the ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update (LARU), our biweekly roundup of the latest public policy issues impacting the full spectrum of the cleaning industry. This update touches on a possible early end to the federal Employee Retention Credit, an opportunity to double your impact with the ISSA Advocacy Fund, new federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, 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 our new CLEANING IS ESSENTIAL video series with ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft to learn about the top three legislative and regulatory issues impacting the cleaning industry right now. Watch the latest installment on topics such as the Healthy Workplace Tax Credit, COVID-19 vaccination plan, and unemployment benefits below.

ISSA Advocacy

Call to Action – Tell Congress to Retain the Employee Retention Credit
The infrastructure bill recently passed by the U.S. Senate would end the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) starting October 1, 2021, versus the original end date of January 1, 2022. Contact your elected officials to let them know how important the ERC is for the survival of your business. 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!

Biden Announces New Vaccine Mandates for Large Employers, Federal Workers
All organizations with 100 or more employees would have to require that their workers be vaccinated or undergo at least weekly COVID-19 testing under a new plan announced by U.S. President Joe Biden. This ISSA article summarizes those aspects of the plan that are particularly relevant for the cleaning industry.

Straight Talk with Jeff Cross – What President Biden’s Vaccine Mandate Means for the Cleaning Industry
President Biden announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be mandated for large employers and federal workers. What this means for the cleaning industry, facilities, and companies is yet to be completely understood. But this video will help us get a head start on this upcoming challenge.

EPA to Sunset Temporary Disinfectant Supply Chain Flexibilities
ISSA members, particularly U.S. formulators and manufacturers of disinfectants, should be aware that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that the agency will sunset temporary disinfectant supply chain flexibilities.

ISSA Supports Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021
ISSA joined more than 152 companies and trade associations representing U.S. importers, exporters, transportation providers, and other supply chain stakeholders in strongly supporting the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021. The bipartisan legislation would update the Shipping Act to recognize the significant changes to the international maritime transportation system over the past two decades.

Save the Date for ISSA’s 2022 Clean Advocacy Summit
ISSA will host its premier advocacy event for industry leaders, the Clean Advocacy Summit, March 30-31, 2022, as part of National Cleaning Week and in conjunction with the Independent Office Products and Furniture Dealers Association’s Workplace Solutions Summit. Participants will spend the first day of the summit getting up to speed on the pressing public policy issues for the industry and sharpening their advocacy acumen. On March 31, they’ll apply their new knowledge and skills meeting with their congressional delegation to “advocate for clean!”

Legislative

What House Democrats’ Budget Bill Would Do for Workers
The budget reconciliation measure for labor that Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives began marking up would make employee misclassification a labor law violation and outlaw class-action waivers in workplace contracts, Bloomberg Law reported.

House Democrats Propose New Tax Hikes to Pay for $3.5 Trillion Bill
Democrats in the House of Representatives outlined tax hikes on corporations and wealthy Americans to fund an investment in the social safety net and climate policy that could reach $3.5 trillion. The plan calls for top corporate and individual tax rates of 26.5% and 39.6%, respectively, according to CNBC.

Regulatory

SBA Enhances Disaster Loan Program
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced improvements to its disaster loan program in an effort to help more small businesses access financial support from the government as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to stall business operations, according to CBS News. The SBA is raising loan limits in its Economic Injury Disaster Loan program from $500,000 to $2 million and also deferring repayment of the loans for two years after their origination. 

DOL Files Discrimination Complaint against Custodial Service Provider
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) filed an administrative complaint against a custodial service provider after an evaluation by the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs alleged systematic racial discrimination against Black and a smaller number of white applicants for positions in its Baltimore and Alexandria, Virginia, locations, Cleaning & Maintenance Management reported.

Raises Set for Minimum Wage Federal Contract Workers
The U.S. Department of Labor announced an annual minimum wage increase for federal contract workers, according to Cleaning & Maintenance Management. The increase from $10.95 to $11.25 per hour becomes effective January 1, 2022, and is part of an executive order, which established a minimum wage rate for federal contractors that is adjusted annually based on inflation.

FMC Announces Two Detention, Demurrage, and Compliance Initiatives
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) voted to move forward with two initiatives related to demurrage and detention, Supply Chain Dive reported.

Biden Administration Unveils $65 Billion Plan to Combat Pandemics after COVID-19
The Biden administration laid out a $65 billion plan that U.S. officials say will help the nation combat the next biological threats after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, according to CNBC.

State News

California Lawmakers Pass Recyclability Labeling Bill
California lawmakers in the state Senate passed a recyclability labeling bill that aims to ensure that claims related to the recyclability of a product or packaging are truthful. The bill heads to Governor Gavin Newsom for final approval and must be signed into law by October 10, Recycling Today reported.