Dear IFA Members:

 

As we await the President’s State of the Union speech tonight, I wanted to send you the policy recommendations IFA has put forth to the President and Congress to help franchise small businesses grow. If the President and Congress were to implement the following initiatives, franchise businesses would have more certainty and would be better able to create new jobs. It is imperative that lawmakers and the President work to open access to capital, create certainty in the tax code, remove regulatory burdens within workforce policy, repeal the healthcare employer mandate, and help our returning veterans by offering small business ownership opportunities.

 

Our thoughts were quoted in a
Washington Postarticle today,

“Small business’ hope for the State of the Union: A remedy for uncertainty.”
The article notes that, ”
franchises could grow faster than their projected 2 percent growth rate this year if the government offered long-term certainty surrounding tax reform.” Additionally, IFA’s priorities were referenced in a


National Journal


story highlighting various trade groups’ lobbying efforts in advance of tonight’s speech.

 

There does appear to be some consensus developing around two of IFA’s priorities. A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), introduced the AGREE Act last year, a package of bills that included two IFA priorities. For instance, it includes language to extend bonus depreciation for restaurants and to provide veterans with a tax credit equal to 25 percent of a franchise fee of up to $100,000 for a new venture (language originally included as part of the IFA-backed Help Veterans Own Franchises Act). Reports from
Congressional Quarterlysurfaced this week that the President may “tip his cap” to some of these provisions in the State of the Union.

 

In an election year, it is more important than ever to take an active role in shaping policies on Capitol Hill that will impact the future of the franchise industry. IFA will continue to work this year and in the future to push for these important policy changes and to assist elected officials who support these important issues – and we hope you will do the same.

To send this letter to your own Members of Congress please click here and “Take Action”

 

To view a copy of IFA’s Press Release

click here
.

 

To view a copy of the letter,

click here
.

 

Sincerely,

Stephen J. Caldeira, CFE

President & Chief Executive Officer

International Franchise Association