FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770

Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766

mhaller@franchise.org

jweisbord@franchise.org

IFA APPLAUDS LEGISLATION TO ACCELERATE CHANGES IN THE HEALTH-CARE LAW’S 30-HOUR WEEK DEFINITION

WASHINGTON, August 2, 2013—International Franchise Association President and CEO Steve Caldeira released the below statement following the introduction of H.R. 2988 by Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL). The Forty Hours is Full Time Actwould accelerate efforts to change the health-care law’s 30-hour work-week definition to the more traditionally used 40 hours.

“IFA has worked diligently to educate lawmakers since the law was passed that the definition of a full-time employee under the ACA is unworkable for small business franchise owners who work across various industries, including restaurants, retail, hotel and lodging, and service-related businesses.

“This bill will provide important relief from the Affordable Care Act’s mandates to both franchisees and small-business owners who are responsible for creating one out of every eight private-sector jobs in America, while allowing them to grow their businesses and provide flexible work hours to their employees. As members return to their districts during this August recess, they will be hearing from franchise business leaders about the impact this law is having on their business and we urge Congress to put employees first and support this reasonable and practical legislation.”

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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 over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the more than 825,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.

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