BIFMA INTERNATIONAL for BIFMA
What was lobbied
4 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Manufacturing MAN
Worked with the office of U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, who, along with Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Barney Frank, and Jim Sensenbrenner, introduced legislation (H.R. 3634) to allow manufacturers to compete with Federal Prison Industries (Unicor) on equal footing for contracts with the federal government.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRADLEY PETER MILLER | — |
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX
As a member of the Government Withholding Relief Coalition, BIFMA strongly urged Congress to vote for bipartisan legislation to fully repeal the burdensome 3% Withholding Tax mandate enacted in Section 511 of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-222). BIFMA has also supported H.R. 1864, "The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2011" by signing on to letters as part of the Council On State Taxation (COST). The bill would protect the thousands of American workers that travel outside their home states each day for business purposes from complex and unfair tax burdens.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRADLEY PETER MILLER | — |
Environment/Superfund ENV
Worked with EPA stakeholders in continued development/maintenance of ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard. Worked with EPA participants on the Green Products Roundtable to develop a system for understanding and ranking standards and ecolabels. Provided input to Section 13 Interagency Product Standards and Ecolabels Subgroup co-chaired by EPA (Assessment Survey of the ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard and level Certification Program). Attended White House GreenGov Symposium. Participated in EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) Committee studying alternatives to phthalates (several BIFMA members participating). Solicited comments on new Product Category Rules for seating from over 1,000 parties including EPA representatives. Met with Representative Justin Amash to brief him on our activities in these and other issues.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRADLEY PETER MILLER | — |
Government Issues GOV
Participated in several presentations by GSA representatives on the Section 13 Interagency Product Standards and Ecolabels Subgroup where BIFMA provided survey input and seeks recognition of the ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard and level Certification Program by government when furniture and furnishings are considered for purchase by agencies. Attended GSA Industry Day in Baltimore for furniture sector and provided GSA staff with suggestions for incorporation of level into the procurement process. Requested removal of "green icons" added to the GSA Advantage website in March of 2011 that provided an unfair competitive advantage for some vendors; the icons were added without the benefit of the Section 13 criteria under development and BIFMA supports use of that criteria for any icons used on the system or in other places such as GSA's Sustainable Furnishings (SF) Tool; The SF Tool developers were contacted with the same request. Informed US Rep. Justin Amash of our activities on these and other matters.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BRADLEY PETER MILLER | — |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.