IFA Applauds Bipartisan Congressional Support for the Regulatory Accountability Act

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 


Contact:

Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770

Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766

mhaller@franchise.org

jweisbord@franchise.org


IFA APPLAUDS BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE REGULATORY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT



Locally-owned franchise business owners support requirement for federal government to determine net economic impacts of regulations prior to implementation

Washington, Jan. 13, 2015 – The International Franchise Association applauded the bipartisan passage of the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015 that would require the federal regulatory process to be more transparent, agencies to be more accountable and regulations to be more cost-effective. 


“The bipartisan support for the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015 demonstrates congressional understanding that unbalanced and vague regulations stifle growth,” said IFA Executive Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy Robert Cresanti.  “We appreciate the House’s action today and its commitment to small businesses, including locally-owned franchise businesses across the country that are struggling against the heavy hand of federal regulation.  We urge the Senate to pass a companion bill to allow President Obama to sign into law this commonsense legislation.” 


On Monday, IFA joined with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and dozens of other organizations in sending a letter to Members of Congress asking them to support the Regulatory Accountability Act.  In the letter, IFA and others pointed to several principles in the bill they believe will enhance the regulatory process including: 


  • Increasing public participation in shaping the most costly regulations before they are proposed; 

  • Requiring that agencies choose the least costly option, unless they can demonstrate that public health, safety or welfare requires a more costly requirement; 

  • Giving interested parties the opportunity to hold agencies accountable for their compliance with the Information Quality Act; 

  • Providing for on-the-record administrative hearings for the most costly regulations to ensure that agency data is well-tested and reviewed; 

  • Restricting agencies’ use of interim final regulations where no comments are taken before a regulation takes effect and providing for expedited judicial review of whether that approach is justified; and 

  • Providing for a more rigorous test in legal challenges for those regulations that would have the most impact. 


On behalf of its members, IFA is currently combating a number of regulations that negatively impact locally-owned franchise businesses – most notably recent joint employer rulings coming out of the National Labor Relations Board.  In fact, according to the recent IFA Franchise Business Leader Survey, 97 percent of respondents believe that the joint-employer ruling, were it to take effect, would have a negative impact on their business, with 82 percent saying the impact would be “significant.” 


“Government should find ways to strengthen our nation’s economy, not implement regulations that stifle growth. We will continue to work with Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to help ensure that happens,” Cresanti said. 


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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 55 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 770,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million direct and indirect 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. 


1900 K St., N.W., Suite 700   Washington, DC 20006  USA 


Phone: +1 202/628-8000    Fax: +1 202/628-0812     www.franchise.org


 

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