For immediate release
Contact:
Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000
Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770
aharrison@franchise.org
mhaller@franchise.org
twitter.com/franchising411
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2011-The International Franchise Association today praised congressional leaders and the Obama Administration for reaching a deal to raise the nation’s debt limit and urged swift action on other items once Congress returns from its August recess.
“IFA applauds congressional leaders and the Obama administration for recognizing the need to raise the debt limit to ensure the stability of our economy and prevent the credit markets from further volatility amidst an already difficult lending, public policy and regulatory environment for franchise small businesses,” said IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira. “If Congress had allowed a default on the obligations of the United States, it would have had a dramatically negative impact on our economy and on the confidence of America’s small business owners and job creators.”
“Following the August recess, IFA urges Congress to move swiftly to other pressing issues impacting the franchise small businesses ability to create jobs, such as ensuring financial regulatory measures are not impeding small business access to credit, permanently extending the current tax rates for small businesses and repealing the provisions in the health care law that impose excessive costs on the backs of small business owners and stifle job creation,” said Caldeira.
Throughout the August recess, IFA’s Franchise Congress grassroots program will be activated to urge lawmakers at town hall meetings and in-district events to take action on issues such as permanently extending tax rates for small business, repealing the employer mandate requirement in the health care law, and improving the small business lending environment. Franchise Congress is a nationwide network of franchise business advocates in every state and congressional district, tasked with the job of advocating regarding the importance of franchising to the nation’s economy and how certain laws and regulations impact franchise small businesses.
On September 13-14, 2011, in Washington, D.C., IFA will gather more than 500 franchise business leaders to inform Congress how public policy impacts the economic health of the franchise industry on these same issues.
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About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising through government relations, public relations and educational programs. Through its awareness campaign highlighting the theme,
Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time,IFA promotes the nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic activity generated by franchising. IFA members include franchise companies in over 90 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.