Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page

9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code SMB

16. Specific lobbying issues

Tax Relief and Reform

Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 - SBE Council supported U.S. House passage of the legislation and advocated for passage by the U.S. Senate.

R&D Tax Credit: Continue to support extending and making permanent full expensing for R&D expenditures for small businesses. Voiced Support for "American Innovation and Jobs Act" (S. 866) in the Senate and "American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act" (H.R. 2673) in the House.

Main Street Tax Certainty Act of 2023 (S. 1706, H.R. 4721) - Support House and Senate versions of the legislation to make permanent the 20-percent deduction for small-and individually-owned businesses (Section 199A).

Death Tax Repeal Act of 2023 (S. 1108): Support House and Senate bills to permanent repeal the death tax and continue to support action by Congress.

Capital Gains Tax Indexing - Voiced support for this reform measure and continue to support action by Congress.

Regulation

Resolution of Disapproval to Overturn NLRBs Joint Employer Rule (HJ. Res 98) - SBE Council supported U.S. House passage and for the U.S. Senate to quickly follow suit.

Basel III Endgame Implementation - SBE Council expressed concern and opposition to the proposal to the U.S. Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit and Insurance Corporation regarding the impact on small business capital access and affordability.

Congressional Review Act (CRA) Resolution to Overturn the Department of Labors Independent Contractor Rule: SBE Council supported H.J. Res 116 and S.J. Res 63 to nullify the rule.

DOL's Proposed Overtime Rule: Continue to express concern about the proposed rule.

Save Local Businesses Act (S.1261, HR 2826) - Continue to support the legislation.

Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (S. 567) - Continue to oppose the legislation.

The Protect Small Business and Prevent Illicit Financial Activity Act - SBE Council supports S. 3625 to delay implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act.

Federal Acquisition Regulation: Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects - SBE Council opposed the final rule.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Pre-Merger Reporting Requirement Proposed Rule - SBE Council opposes the rule and pointed out that the FTC mistakenly certified that small businesses will not be affected by the significant changes being proposed, therefore the rule needs to be pulled.

National Labor Relation Board (NLRB) Funding - SBE Council urged House and Senate appropriators to hold the line on increased funding for the NLRB.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus (CFPBs) Rule Capping Credit-Card Late Fees - SBE Council voiced concern about the rules unintended consequences. That is, backfiring on small business consumers who use credit responsibly and make their payments on time.

Prove-It Act (H.R. 7198) - SBE Council supported House Judiciary Committee action that advanced the legislation, which gives small businesses a more effectual voice in federal rulemakings and strengthens federal government accountability when proposed regulations impact small businesses.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Safeguarding and Securing the Open Internet Rule - SBE Council continues to express concerns about intrusive government control of the internet as proposed by the rule and Section 214 regulations under the proposal.

The Credit Card Competition Act - SBE Council continues to oppose the legislation.

Railway Safety Act (S. 576) - SBE Council continues to express concern about the heavy-handedness of the legislation as well as proposals to further regulate the railroad industry, which is dominated by small businesses.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Proposal on Medicare Advantage Plans - SBE Council expressed concerns about the proposal that would significantly alter the marketing and broker compensation structures of the plans.

The Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act - Continue to supported full House passage.

Privacy Policy - Continue to express the need for a national regulatory framework, but for Congress to consider a framework that avoids adding to the growing patchwork burden of state privacy laws, and to carefully consider unintended consequences on small businesses.

Access to Capital

Expanding Access to Capital Act (H.R. 2799) - SBE Council supported House passage.

The Budget

Further Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2024 - SBE Council supported House passage.
Republican FY 2025 Budget Resolution - SBE Council supported the budget resolution framework.

President Bidens Budget Proposal - SBE Council voiced concern about the excessive spending in the proposal as well as the various tax increases that would fall on small businesses, investors and the business community.

Affordable Health Coverage and Health Care Innovation

Voiced ongoing concerns about the rising costs of health coverage, lack of choices, and dwindling choices in many markets against the backdrop of challenging economic conditions. Voiced support for these various reforms: enhancing tax credits for small businesses, expanding and making additional fixes to HSAs, reforming QSEHRAs, and making CARESs Act telehealth provisions permanent.

CHOICE Arrangement Act (H.R. 2799) - Supported House passage and continue to support Senate action on the legislation.

Tax Credit for Small Businesses: Support making reforms to the restrictive and temporary health care tax credit for small businesses to make it more practical for small businesses.

HSA Modernization Act (H.R. 5687) and Bipartisan HSA Improvement Act (H.R. 5688) - Continue to support full House passage.

Telehealth Expansion Act of 2023 (H.R. 1843) (S. 1001)- Continue to support full House and Senate passage.

Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act (H.R. 3800) - Support full House passage.

Paperwork Burden Reduction Act (H.R. 3797) - Support full House passage.

Employer Reporting Improvement Act (H.R. 3801) - Support full House passage.

Small Business Flexibility Act (H.R. 3798) - Support full House passage.

Custom Health Option and Individual Care Expense Arrangement Act (H.R. 3799) - Support full House passage.

SMART Prices Act (S. 1264) - Continue to oppose the legislation.

Property Rights and IP

Submitted Comments to the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) Regarding the Draft Interagency Guidance Framework for Considering the Exercise of March-in Rights-SBE Council urged NIST to withdraw the proposed guidance.

Submitted Comments to United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on WIPO IGC Negotiations on Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge - SBE Council expressed concern regarding the IGCs proposed mandatory patent disclosure requirements (PDRs) for the origin of genetic resources and traditional knowledge, which would irreparably harm the startup and small business ecosystems that drive innovation.

Trade and Global Market Access

Digital Trade - The Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions permanent during the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) - SBE Council urged World Trade Organization members to support an extension of the moratorium.

Digital Trade Principles - Continue to express concern about the U.S. pulling away from the principles and the need for President Biden to revisit the United State Trade Representatives action to withdraw from for foundational positions on digital trade policy within the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Supporting Business Competitiveness and Startup Activity

Comprehensive Resources for Entrepreneurs in the Arts to Transform the Economy (CREATE) Act - SBE Council supported Senate introduction of the bill.

Paid Leave Policy in U.S. House: Continue to express support for bipartisan exploration in identifying paid leave policy solutions that help support business owners and working families.

Access to Broadband and Next Gen Technology

BEAD Program Implementation - SBE Council expressed concern about the National Telecommunications and Information Administrations rate regulation provisions for broadband internet service that was specifically prohibited by Congress as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Rural Internet Improvement Act of 2023 (S.130) (H.R. 3216) - Continue to support the legislation.

Development of a National Spectrum Strategy (NSS) - Continue to express support for such a policy and the need for more spectrum to deploy next Gen technologies and 5G.

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Labor - Dept of (DOL), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Commerce - Dept of (DOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), President of the U.S., U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Natl Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

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Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.

20. Client new address

21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)

22. New General description of client’s business or activities

LOBBYIST UPDATE

23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client

ISSUE UPDATE

24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains

AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)

Internet Address:

26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client

FOREIGN ENTITIES

27. Add the following foreign entities:

28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization

CONVICTIONS DISCLOSURE

29. Have any of the lobbyists listed on this report been convicted in a Federal or State Court of an offense involving bribery, extortion, embezzlement, an illegal kickback, tax evasion, fraud, a conflict of interest, making a false statement, perjury, or money laundering?
No Yes