News

ISSA LARU—The Latest on the Healthy & Safe Workplace Tax Credit

Welcome to the latest ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update (LARU, a biweekly roundup of the public-policy issues currently impacting the full cleaning supply chain. This update touches on recent developments related to the Healthy & Safe Workplace Tax Credit, ISSA urging congressional passage of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) Reinstatement Act, the new Healthy Workplaces Coalition, 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 the latest installment of our video series, Cleaning Is Essential, with ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft, to learn more about the top three advocacy issues impacting the cleaning industry right now.

ISSA Advocacy

ISSA Issues Update on Healthy & Safe Workplace Tax Credit
Since ISSA launched its Healthy & Safe Workplace Tax Credit advocacy campaign two years ago, the association has seen incredible advocacy engagement from the cleaning community. To date, 836 cleaning industry advocates have sent more than 5,000 messages to nearly every member of Congress, urging them to support this legislation. Their voices made clear to Congress the important role that the cleaning industry plays in advancing and maintaining healthy workplaces.

ISSA Urges Congressional Passage of ERTC Reinstatement Act
ISSA and IOPFDA, a Division of ISSA, joined more than 100 organizations to urge Congress to pass the bipartisan Employee Retention Tax Credit Reinstatement Act (ERTCRA, H.R. 6161/S. 3625). If enacted, the ERTCRA would reinstate fourth-quarter 2021 access to the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). Please take a moment to tell your congressional delegation to reinstate the ERTC by visiting the ISSA Advocacy Action Center. 

ISSA Members Join New Coalition to Advance Workplace Health and Safety
The International WELL Building Institute and ISSA announced the launch of the Healthy Workplaces Coalition, a new coalition of nearly 40 national organizations, industry leaders, and trade associations collaborating to support and advance federal policy aimed at helping businesses and organizations better afford and implement health and safety improvements in workplaces and across the built environment—to benefit the health and well-being of employees, customers, and the public.

Disinfectant Devices: A Regulatory Perspective
Register now for the ISSA webinar Disinfectant Devices: A Regulatory Perspective, 12 pm to 1 pm CT on Wednesday, July 27, to learn about the regulation of antimicrobial pesticide devices, including:

• The proliferation of antimicrobial pesticide devices, such as certain UV light systems, water filters, and air filters, in the marketplace
• Disinfectant or antimicrobial pesticide devices defined
• The “quasi-regulation” of disinfectant devices by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• EPA resources and guidance
• Challenges in substantiating efficacy claims
• The future regulatory direction from EPA

ISSA General Counsel Bill Balek, who has over 35 years of experience in the cleaning product regulations field, will lead this July 27 webinar.

A Clean View from Capitol Hill: Your Legislative & Regulatory Update
Save your seat for the free ISSA webinar A Clean View from Capitol Hill: Your Legislative & Regulatory Update, 12 pm to 1 pm CT on Wednesday, August 17. Now more than ever, government affairs impact your business and the cleaning industry. As the spotlight on our industry increases, so too has the interest of policymakers and regulators. Join us for the “inside scoop” about what is going on in Washington, DC and in the states on the top issues facing the industry, such as labor shortages, supply chain challenges, healthy workplace incentives, chemical regulations, and more. Speakers for this webinar include ISSA Government Affairs Director John Nothdurft.

Regulatory

SEC Proposed Rule Would Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed a new rule that would require and standardize publicly traded companies’ climate-change disclosures to investors. Under the proposed rules, which would apply to both domestic companies and foreign-private issuers, certain climate-related disclosures would be required in registration statements and annual reports, including information about climate-related risks that are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the company’s business, results of operations, or financial condition. Additionally, certain climate-related financial statement metrics would be required in a company’s audited financial statements. The public comment period on the proposed rule ends on Friday, June 17, 2022.

EPA Releases List of Disinfectants Effective against Monkeypox
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its emerging viral pathogen guidance in response to recent cases of monkeypox.

Inflation Rose 8.6% in May
Inflation accelerated further in May, with prices rising 8.6% from a year ago for the fastest increase since December 1981, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and CNBC reported.

DOL Announces Independent Contractor Rulemaking – June 24 “Employer Forum”
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) plans to engage in rulemaking on determining employee or independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). According to the DOL, the department remains “committed to ensuring that employees are recognized correctly when they are, in fact, employees so that they receive the protections the FLSA provides. At the same time, we recognize the important role legitimate independent contractors play in our economy. We need to hear from workers and employers as we develop our proposal.” The DOL will hold an online public forum from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm CT on Friday, June 24 to hear diverse perspectives from those who may be affected by employee or independent contractor classification. RSVP for this free Employer Open Forum here.

U.S. Treasury Awards First Round of Funding for State Small Business Credit Initiative
The U.S. Department of the Treasury awarded the first batch of funding awards as part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a program designed to increase access to capital for traditionally underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs, Financial Regulation News reported. The new, expanded SSBCI provides nearly US$10 billion to states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal governments to promote entrepreneurship, especially in traditionally underserved communities. SSBCI funding is expected to catalyze up to $10 of private investment for every $1 of SSBCI capital funding. State governments filed plans with the Treasury to use their SSBCI allocation to provide funding for small businesses.

OSHA’s Top Safety Violations
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued 5,271 fall-protection citations from October 2020 through August 2021, marking the 11th consecutive fiscal year that such issues were the agency’s most-cited violation, according to the National Safety Council and as reported by Insurance Journal. Respiratory protection issues were the second-most-cited violation, followed by violations related to ladders, scaffolds, and hazard communication.

Biden Lacks Funding to Rebuild EPA
President Joe Biden promised to “reinvigorate the EPA” as part of his push to tackle climate change and ease pollution. But the budgetary woes of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are preventing the nation’s top pollution regulator from doing its job, in ways large and small, according to The Washington Post. The agency’s funding has remained stagnant since his inauguration. Its work is hamstrung by low staffing levels not seen since Ronald Reagan left office.

US, Taiwan Launch New Trade Pact
The U.S. launched a new trade pact with Taiwan, hoping to forge closer economic ties with the island territory that China claims as its own, while blunting Beijing’s economic clout in the region, Voice of America reported.

Yellen: Some China Tariff Cuts May Be Warranted
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that the Biden administration was looking to “reconfigure” tariffs on Chinese imports but warned that such cuts would not be a “panacea” for easing high inflation, according to Reuters.

State News

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Push $12 an Hour Minimum Wage
State Representative Carol Hill-Evans is backing a proposal that would increase the minimum wage in Pennsylvania to US$12 an hour by July and $15 an hour by 2028, Fox43 reported. Pennsylvania’s governor has endorsed the proposal.

Gov. Polis Signs Colorado’s EPR for Packaging Bill
Governor Jared Polis signed HB22-1355, making Colorado the third state to pass an extended producer responsibility law for packaging, according to Waste Dive. Producers of packaging and printed paper will fund and operate the program and dues will be used to finance a statewide recycling program.