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Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770

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REPS. DAN LIPINSKI AND TODD YOUNG NAMED AS RECIPIENTS OF IFA’S 2014 LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2014— The International Franchise Association has named Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and Todd Young (R-IN) as its 2014 Legislator of the Year award recipients during IFA’s 15 thAnnual Public Affairs Conference. The Legislator of the Year Award is given to lawmakers thatsupport a pro-franchising, pro-business agenda.

“We applaud the work of Reps. Young and Lipinski for their efforts in the House of Representatives, particularly through their sponsorship of bills that restore the Affordable Care Act’s 30-hour definition of a full-time employee to the more traditional 40-hour work week,” said IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira, CFE. “Their efforts on ACA reform highlight a commitment to providing workers more hours and employers more growth opportunities.”

Illinois congressman Dan Lipinski has dedicated his career to promoting innovative job growth, developing strategic American manufacturing and streamlining transportation infrastructure in Chicago. Known as a champion for the middle class, Lipinski is an integral member of the push to facilitate economic growth, foster community enrichment and further meaningful job creation. Rep. Lipinski has been a strong advocate for repealing the Affordable Care Act’s 30-hour definition of a full-time employee, by sponsoring bills such asH.R. 2988/S. 1188, the Forty Hours is Full Time Act. Redefining a full-time employee as one who works 30 hours per week could ultimately hurt employees by forcing employers to limit their workers’ hours to avoid penalties or significant cost increases.

In March of this year, Rep. Young, a Marine Corps veteran, introducedH.R. 2575, the Save American Workers Act. H.R. 2575 aims to redefine the Affordable Care Act’s 30-hour definition of full-time employee, particularly in relation to the Act’s provision of health care requirement. The provision will require small businesses to offer health care benefits to 30-hour, full-time employees or they will incur significant fines. This will harm small businesses’ growth opportunities, by reducing their ability to hire new employees and ultimately their financial capital.

“We commend both Rep. Young and Rep. Lipinski’s for their efforts to protect small business owners by making the employer mandate in the ACA easier to implement,” said Calderia.

IFA’s annual Public Affairs Conference gathers more than 300 franchise business leaders in Washington to educate Congress about public policy issues that specifically impact the economic health of franchise small businesses. Members of the franchise business community will meet with more than 200 lawmakers to stress the economic impact of franchising and its potential to create job growth.

The Public Affairs Conference is part of IFA’s Franchise Action Network (FAN) , astrategic initiative that seeks to mobilize the franchise industry at the grassroots level. It will present a united front against anti-franchising forces as well as educate policymakers on the franchise business model and its positive impact on communities across the country.

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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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