FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jenna Weisbord, 310-995-0839
jweisbord@franchise.org
@franchising411
IFA Praises House Action to Roll Back Joint Employer Standard
Save Local Business Act will provide small businesses with much-needed clarity
(Washington, D.C.) [November 7, 2017] – The International Franchise Association (IFA), the nation’s leading advocate for small and franchise businesses, issued the following statement today on behalf of President and CEO Robert Cresanti in response to passage of the Save Local Business Act (H.R. 3441) by the U.S. House of Representatives:
“Today’s bipartisan vote is a significant milestone for the 733,000 franchise businesses and the 7.6 million employees who need certainty to flourish in our modern economy. IFA has led the charge in this broad effort, encouraging Congress to provide commonsense clarity to franchise and other local businesses. This is the first step in re-establishing a business environment where American entrepreneurs can hire new employees, train existing ones, and unlock the full economic potential of their communities. The franchise model has made the dream of small business ownership a reality for thousands of hard-working families, affording them the opportunity to go into business for themselves, but not by themselves.
“The Save Local Business Act is the most important legislation for franchising in a generation — a commonsense bill with bipartisan support that protects business relationships and promotes economic growth. The NLRB-created joint employer definition is far too broad and poses an existential threat to the franchise and small business community.
“We are pleased to see the House moving this important piece of legislation forward and commend Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Reps. Bradley Byrne (R-AL), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), and Lou Correa (D-CA) on their leadership in introducing the bill and seeing it through. We urge the Senate to follow the House’s lead with swift passage.”
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About the International Franchise Association
Celebrating 56 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 2.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.