INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION for INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN

Increase transparency and improve conditions for small business merchants dealing with credit card agencies S. 414, the Credit CARD Act; H.R. 627 & S. 235, Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act; H.R. 3126, Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act; S. 1212 & H.R. 2695, Credit Card Fair Fee Act; H.R. 2382, Credit Card Interchange Fees Act.

Contacted: Treasury, Dept of; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); White House Office; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Small Business Administration (SBA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: S. 414 (111th), S. 1212 (111th), S. 235 (111th), H.R. 627 (111th), H.R. 3126 (111th), H.R. 2695 (111th), H.R. 2382 (111th)

Constitution CON

H.R. 1020/S. 931, the Arbitration Fairness Act

Contacted: Treasury, Dept of; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Small Business Administration (SBA); SENATE; White House Office; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS)

Bills named: H.R. 1020 (111th), S. 931 (111th)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Estate tax repeal; H.R. 1083, the Business Activity Tax Simplification Act (BATSA); H.R. 2672, the Help Veterans Own Franchises Act; H.R. 273, 15-year depreciation schedule for restaurants; Extend expiring small business tax credits; H.R. 4154, Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act; H.R. 3905, the Estate Tax Relief Act; H.R. 4306, permanently extend 15 year depreciation for restaurants/retail

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Treasury, Dept of; Labor, Dept of (DOL); White House Office; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); SENATE; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Small Business Administration (SBA)

Bills named: H.R. 4306 (111th), H.R. 2672 (111th), H.R. 273 (111th), H.R. 1083 (111th), H.R. 4154 (111th), H.R. 3905 (111th)

Health Issues HCR

Legislative initiatives to make access and affordability easier for small businesses such as Small Business Health Plans, expansion of Health Savings Accounts and Health IT. H.R. 859, the Small Business CHOICE Act; H.R. 3200/S. 1679, Affordable Health Choices Act; America's Healthy Future Act; H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Contacted: Commerce, Dept of (DOC); White House Office; Small Business Administration (SBA); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Treasury, Dept of

Bills named: S. 1679 (111th), H.R. 859 (111th), H.R. 3200 (111th), H.R. 3590 (111th)

Postal POS

Prevent enactment of legislation restricting use of direct mail advertising (Do Not Mail legislation)

Contacted: White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); SENATE; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Small Business Administration (SBA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Treasury, Dept of

Veterans VET

H.R. 942, the Veteran's Self-Employment Act H.R. 2672, the Help Veterans Own Franchises Act Efforts to encourage veteran's ownership of franchised businesses

Contacted: Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Small Business Administration (SBA); White House Office; Treasury, Dept of; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 2672 (111th), H.R. 942 (111th)

Small Business SMB

H.R. 1, American Recovery & Reinvestment Act; SBA Standard Operating Procedures Revision (SOP 50 10 5(A)); H.R. 2352, Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act; S. 1615, the Next Step for Main Street Credit Availability; Expand capital access programs; S. 2869, the Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); White House Office; Treasury, Dept of; Small Business Administration (SBA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); SENATE; Commerce, Dept of (DOC)

Bills named: H.R. 1 (111th), H.R. 2352 (111th), S. 1615 (111th), S. 2869 (111th)

Energy/Nuclear ENG

H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act Cap and trade issues

Contacted: White House Office; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Treasury, Dept of; SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Small Business Administration (SBA)

Bills named: H.R. 2454 (111th)

Immigration IMM

H.R. 1934, American Job and Seasonal Business Preservation Act; H.R. 1136, Save our Small & Seasonal Businesses Act; S. 388, Save our Small & Seasonal Businesses Act; DHS E-Verify "no-match" regulations; Comprehensive Immigration Reform; Promote foreign franchisees ability to obtain "business tourist" visas for U.S. training.

Contacted: Small Business Administration (SBA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Treasury, Dept of; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); White House Office; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Commerce, Dept of (DOC)

Bills named: S. 388 (111th), H.R. 1934 (111th), H.R. 1136 (111th)

Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.) FOO

H.R. 1398 & S. 558, Labeling Education and Nutrition Act H.R. 2426, Menu Education and Labeling Act

Contacted: Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Treasury, Dept of; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Small Business Administration (SBA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); White House Office; Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Bills named: S. 558 (111th), H.R. 1398 (111th), H.R. 2426 (111th)

Travel/Tourism TOU

S. 1023/H.R. 2935, the Travel Promotion Act Efforts to promote and encourage travel & tourism industry Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

Contacted: Small Business Administration (SBA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); White House Office; SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Treasury, Dept of; Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Bills named: S. 1023 (111th), H.R. 2935 (111th)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

H.R. 1409/S. 560, the Employee Free Choice Act; H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act; H.R. 2460/S. 1152, the Healthy Families Act; H.R. 2564, the Paid Vacation Act; H.R. 635, National Commission on State Workers Comp Laws Act; RESPECT Act; H.R. 3548, Unemployment Compensation Extension Act

Contacted: Labor, Dept of (DOL); Treasury, Dept of; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Small Business Administration (SBA)

Bills named: S. 1152 (111th), S. 560 (111th), H.R. 1409 (111th), H.R. 635 (111th), H.R. 2564 (111th), H.R. 12 (111th), H.R. 3548 (111th), H.R. 2460 (111th)