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ISSA Sends Letter to U.S. Governors Urging Them to Recognize Cleaning Industry As ‘Essential’

ISSA has sent a letter to the governors of all 50 U.S. states and territories urging them to recognize the cleaning industry as “essential,” providing products and services that are indispensable in the effort to combat the spread of COVID-19.

ISSA members play a vital role in protecting the public health through the manufacture of cleaning equipment, cleaning products, sanitizers, and disinfectants, and by providing contract cleaning services to hospitals, residential care facilities, schools, and institutional buildings across the country. Many of our members produce hospital grade disinfectants that are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use against emerging pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

“We support your efforts to combat the rapid transmission of COVID-19 and we understand and acknowledge that, in some instances, drastic steps are being taken, including shutting down businesses deemed non-essential. We look forward to partnering with the government when helpful to provide disinfectant products and services that are proven to drastically reduce the transmission of the virus,” wrote John H. Barrett, ISSA Executive Director. “As an essential industry, our members are dedicated to protecting the public health by providing vital products and cleaning services that protect schools, day care centers, grocery stores, medical institutions, residential care facilities, multifamily housing units, warehouses, office buildings, and other institutions.”

ISSA is working diligently to support the full spectrum of the cleaning industry, the U.S., and the world during this COVID-19 emergency. The association launched an advocacy campaign to urge elected officials to recognize the cleaning industry supply chain as essential. ISSA also created the Coronavirus Government Response Update to keep ISSA members up to date on fast-moving government affairs related to the pandemic. We’re offering a free webinar from 12 pm to 1 pm CT on March 25 as part of National Cleaning Week (March 22-28, 2020) on how governments in the U.S. are responding to COVID-19 as these actions impact the cleaning industry. Additionally, ISSA is analyzing and engaging with lawmakers on federal legislation related to the current emergency and continues to be in discussions with federal, state, and local policymakers about the “essential” need for keeping the cleaning supply chain open during this crisis.

For questions regarding ISSA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact John Nothdurft, ISSA Director of Government Affairs, at [email protected].