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

H.J.Res. 59 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 Bill would fund federal agencies at an annualized rate of more than $986 billion, the same level as for fiscal year (FY) 2013, but would also leave in place another round of automatic spending cuts known as sequestration, set to take effect in January 2014. NSBA supports.
H.R. 3 Northern Route Approval Act of 2013 Bill to expedite approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 25 Fair Tax Act of 2013 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enact a national retail sales tax. NSBA supports.

H.R. 30 Small Business Investment enhancement and Tax Relief Act - Establishes an early-stage investment program to provide equity financing to support early-stage businesses and provide a small business investment tax credit of 20%. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 168 Business Freedom of Commerce Act Bill would allow a small business operating in the United States to elect to be exempt from any federal rule or regulation issued on or after January 20, 2009, among other things. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 309 Regulatory Sunset and Review Act Bill requires federal agencies (either by someone who has been adversely affected or via a Congressional committee) to review their covered rules and modify, consolidate, or terminate such rules on a periodic basis. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 367 Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2013 Bill would require Congressional approval for major regulations. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 375 Made in America Manufacturing Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretaries of Commerce and Labor to establish a program for the joint award of incentive grants to a state or a regional partnership to support the U.S. manufacturing industry, among other things. NSBA supports.

H.R. 400 Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Assistance Act Bill establishes a Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund to ensure that U.S. clean energy technology firms have the information and assistance they need to be competitive and to create clean energy technology sector jobs, among other things. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 407 Clean Vehicles Incentive Act of 2013 Bill allows certain businesses located in areas designated as nonattainment areas under the Clean Air Act a general business tax credit for the cost of certain clean-fuel vehicle property and the use of clean-burning fuel. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 596 Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to each establishes a wind and solar leasing pilot program and establishes the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund for use in regions impacted by the development of wind or solar energy on public lands. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 624 Cyber Intelligence and Sharing Protection Act of 2013 Bill seeks to help foster voluntary cyber threat information sharing between the private sector and the federal government, while at the same time hope to ensure certain privacy and civil liberties protections. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 684 Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 Bill would allow states to require that Internet retailers located outside their borders collect sales taxes on purchases by their residents. Businesses with less than $1 million in annual online sales would be exempt, and the sponsors have estimated that fewer than 1,000 businesses would be required to collect sales taxes. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 688 Credit Union Small Business Jobs Creation Act of 2013 - Increases the credit union member business lending limit from 12.25 percent to 27.5 percent, among other things. NSBA supports.

H.R. 701 Bill amends a provision of the Securities Act of 1933 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to add a particular class of securities to those exempted under the Act and to provide a deadline for doing so. NSBA supports.

H.R. 756 - Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2013 Bill seeks to improve information sharing between the private sector and the federal government and continue much-needed cybersecurity research and development programs. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 763 The Jobs and Premium Protection Act Bill will act to amend the PPACA to repeal provisions imposing an annual fee on health insurance providers. NSBA supports.

H.R. 967 Advancing Americas Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2013 Bill seeks to foster information sharing between the private sector and the federal government and develop a strategic plan for information sharing and cybersecurity research and development within various relevant federal agencies. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 1002 Fair Access to Credit Scores Act of 2013 Provides consumers with free access to their credit scores along with free access to their credit reports once each year. NSBA supports.

H.R. 1062 SEC Regulatory Accountability Act Bill requires the SEC to undertake an enhanced cost-benefit analysis before adopting any new regulations. NSBA supports.

H.R. 1072 Freedom from Government Competition Act - Requires each executive or military department or independent establishment to obtain all goods and services necessary for or beneficial to the accomplishment of its authorized functions by procurement from private sources, with certain exceptions. NSBA supports.

H.R. 1120 Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act Bill would prohibit the National Labor Relations Board from taking any action that requires a quorum of the members of the Board until such time as Board constituting a quorum shall have been confirmed by the Senate. NSBA supports.

H.R. 1127 Rebuild American Manufacturing Act of 2013 Bill directs President to develop a comprehensive national manufacturing strategy. NSBA supports.

H.R. 1138 Small Business Clean Energy Financing Act of 2013 Bill would establish a new loan guarantee program within the U.S. Small Business Administration for clean technology companies. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 1219 Gulf Fisheries Fairness Act Bill would increase state water boundaries to 120 feet or 9 nautical miles (whichever is greater) and gives states greater control over their reef fisheries to open up more waters for commercial and recreational fishermen. NSBA supports.

H.R. 1240 - Commercial Real Estate and Economic Development (CREED) Act of 2013, which will extend for five years the low-interest refinancing provisions under the Local Development Business Program of the Small Business Administration (SBA). NSBA supports.

H.R. 1321 Small Business Paperwork Relief Act Bill would suspend civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns unless there is potential for serious harm to the public interest and other relevant conditions. NSBA supports.

H.R. 1332 American Jobs Matter Act of 2013 Bill to allow contracting officers to consider information regarding domestic employment before awarded a federal contract. NSBA is monitoring.

H.R. 1406 Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013 Bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to authorize private employers to provide compensatory time off to private employees at a rate of 1 1/2 hours per hour of employment for which overtime compensation is required. NSBA supports.

H.R. 1557 Plain Writing Act for Regulations for 2013 Bill requires all new or substantially revised federal regulations to be written in clear, concise and easy to understand, or plain language. NSBA supports.

H.R. 1772 The Legal Workforce Act Bill would make the use of E-Verify mandatory for new hires and impose severe employer penalties. NSBA opposes.

H.R. 1773 The Agricultural Guestworker Act Bill would create a simplified and expanded agricultural guest worker program. NSBA supports.
H.R. 1909 Export Coordination Act of 2013 Bill would establish stronger congressional oversight and coordination of trade assistance across 20 agencies. NSBA supports.
H.R. 1916 TRADE (Transparent Rules Allow Direct Exporting) for Small Businesses and Jobs Act Bill is directed at helping SMEs stay current on changing foreign regulations. It requires Commerce (via MAC) to publish changes in tariff/non-tariff and technical barriers on export.gov or a successor website. NSBA supports.
H.R. 1926 State Trade Coordination Act of 2013 Bill would establish the framework to ensure that federal and state trade agencies work in unison to assist their local exporters. NSBA supports.
H.R. 2122 Regulatory Accountability Act of 2013 Bill to reform the process by which federal agencies analysis and formulate new regulations and guidance documents. NSBA is monitoring.
H.R. 2131 The Supplying Knowledge Based Immigrants and Lifting Levels of STEM Visas Act Bill would allocate green cards to foreign graduates of U.S. universities with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, increase H-1B visas, repeal the employment-based per-country cap, establish a new entrepreneur visa program and strengthen the investor visa program. NSBA supports.
H.R. 2232 Make Every Small Business Count Act of 2013 Bill would allow prime contractors covered by a subcontracting plan under a single contract with a federal agency to receive credit against such a plan for using small business subcontractors and any level of subcontracting. NSBA is monitoring.
H.R. 2263 Export-Import Bank Termination Act Bill to abolish the Export-Import Bank of the United States three years after enactment of this Act. NSBA opposes.
H.R. 2429 Death Tax Repeal Act of 2013 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and (2) make permanent the maximum 35% gift tax rate and a $5 million lifetime gift tax exemption. Provides for an inflation adjustment to such exemption amount. NSBA supports.
H.R. 2542 Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2013 Bill amends the Regulatory Flexibility Act to ensure complete analysis of potential impacts on small entities of federal rules. NSBA is monitoring.
H.R. 2582 PATENT Jobs Act Bill exempts USPTO from Presidential Sequestration Order issued on March 1, 2013. NSBA supports.
H.R. 2593 Cost-Benefit and Regulatory Transparency Enhancement Act of 2013 Bill requires reports on the results of and methods used to calculate any cost-benefit or regulatory impact analysis. NSBA is monitoring.
H.R. 3169 IRS Rulemaking Fairness Act of 2013 Expands requirements relating to review of federal agency actions that have a significant economic impact on small entities (e.g., small organizations and businesses) to include rulemaking by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). NSBA is monitoring.
S. 15 Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2013 - Bill would require Congressional approval for major regulations. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 17 Energy Production and Project Delivery Act Bill would promote an all-of-the-above energy policy by opening up more areas to leasing, expediting energy projects, and preventing regulation of CO2 under the CAA. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 21 Cybersecurity and American Cyber Competitiveness Act of 2013 Sense of Congress bill to highlight the need for improved coordination and collaboration between the private sector and the federal government regarding cyber threat and cyber-attack information, and the need to incorporate certain privacy and civil liberties protections in any future cybersecurity-related legislation. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 63 Made in America Manufacturing Act - Directs the Secretaries of Commerce and Labor to establish a program for the joint award of incentive grants to a state or a regional partnership to support the U.S. manufacturing industry. NSBA supports.
S. 169 I-Squared Act Bill increase H-1B visa cap and establishes an economic demand model to determine future increases or decreases in cap, eliminates per country numerical limitation for employment-based visas, exempts certain categories of persons from employment-based green card cap (i.e. students w/ advanced degree in STEM field), increases fees on H-1B applications which will be used towards STEM education and training. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 189 Startup Visa Act Creates a new visa category for immigrant entrepreneurs. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 192 Expedited LNG for America Allies Act of 2013 Bill would expedite the approval process for LNG exports to allies of America. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 196 Assuring Contracting Equity Act of 2013 Increases govt wide contracting goal for small biz from 23% to 25 percent and requires federal agencies to consult with SBA to determine standards for procurement officers to follow re: past compliance of potential contractors with small business subcontracting goals. NSBA supports.

S. 279 - Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to each establishes a wind and solar leasing pilot program and establishes the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund for use in regions impacted by the development of wind or solar energy on public lands. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 289 Commercial Real Estate and Economic Development (CREED) Act of 2013, which will extend for five years the low-interest refinancing provisions under the Local Development Business Program of the Small Business Administration (SBA). NSBA supports.
S. 310 Startup Act 3.0 - This bill seeks to provide capital gains and income tax incentives to incentivize entrepreneurs and facilitate the growth of new start-ups, creates a new STEM visa for up to foreign students and establishes a new category of visas for immigrant entrepreneurs. NSBA supports.
S. 320 Closing Regulatory Loopholes Act of 2013 Bill would require Congressional review over federal agency guidance documents and major guidance documents prior to implementation. NSBA supports.
S. 418 Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2013 Bill would require the promulgating of regulations to address the collection and use of personal information obtained via the tracking of online activity. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 450 Financial Regulatory Responsibility Act of 2013 Bill requires enhanced cost-benefit analysis and justification for certain regulations proposed by federal banking, securities, commodities, and housing regulators. NSBA supports.
S. 471 Fair Access to Credit Scores Act of 2013 - Provides consumers with free access to their credit scores along with free access to their credit reports once each year. NSBA supports.
S. 537 Communicating Lending Activity Reports from the Small Business Administration Act (CLEAR SBA) Act - require the SBA Administrator make publically available on the SBA website certain information regarding lenders making covered loans to small firms. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 544 Rebuild American Manufacturing Act of 2013 - Bill directs President to develop a comprehensive national manufacturing strategy. NSBA supports.
S. 601 Water Resources Development Act Bill to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources and to authorize the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the U.S. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 603 The Jobs and Premium Protection Act The legislation would repeal the annual fee on health insurance providers enacted by the PPACA. NSBA supports.
S. 718 Increasing American Jobs Through Greater Exports to Africa Act of 2013 -- Directs the President to establish a comprehensive U.S. strategy for public and private investment, trade, and development in Africa that focuses on: (1) increasing exports of U.S. goods and services to Africa by 200% in real dollar value within 10 years, (2) promoting the alignment of U.S. commercial interests with development priorities in Africa, (3) improving the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in Africa, (4) encouraging a greater understanding among U.S. business and financial communities of the opportunities Africa holds for U.S. exports, and (5) fostering partnership opportunities between U.S. and African small- and medium-sized enterprises. NSBA supports.
S. 743 Marketplace Fairness Act Bill would allow states to require that Internet retailers located outside their borders collect sales taxes on purchases by their residents. Businesses with less than $1 million in annual online sales would be exempt, and the sponsors have estimated that fewer than 1,000 businesses would be required to collect sales taxes. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 744 Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act Bill would comprehensively reform immigration system and impose mandatory E-Verify. NSBA supports some provisions and opposes other provisions.
S. 749 15-Year Depreciation bill A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the 15-year recovery period for qualified leasehold improvement property, qualified restaurant property, and qualified retail improvement property. NSBA supports.
S. 761 Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013 - Bill would promote energy savings in residential and commercial buildings and industry, and for other purposes. NSBA supports.
S. 786 Restoring Honesty for our Economy Act Bill to require agencies to quantify costs associated with proposed economically significant regulations. NSBA is monitoring
S. 787 Restoring Integrity to our Government Act Bill to require agencies to set forth reasons for determining that a proposed regulatory action is significant. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 807 Plain Writing Act for Regulations for 2013 - Bill requires all new or substantially revised federal regulations to be written in clear, concise and easy to understand, or plain language. NSBA supports.
S. 884 Deter Cyber Theft Act Bill requires the Director of National Intelligence to develop a watch list and a priority watch list of foreign countries that engage in economic or industrial espionage in cyberspace regarding U.S. trade secrets or other proprietary information. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 1009 Chemical Safety Improvement Act Bill to reauthorize and modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 1029 Regulatory Accountability Act of 2013 - Bill to reform the process by which federal agencies analysis and formulate new regulations and guidance documents. NSBA is monitoring.
S. 1102 Export-Import Bank Termination Act -- Bill to abolish the Export-Import Bank of the United States three years after enactment of this Act. NSBA opposes.
S.1179 Small Business Export Growth Act of 2013 Bill will further lower barriers to exporting for small businesses by improving federal export assistance programs. NSBA supports.
S. 1183 - Death Tax Repeal Act of 2013 - Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and (2) make permanent the maximum 35% gift tax rate and a $5 million lifetime gift tax exemption. Provides for an inflation adjustment to such exemption amount. NSBA supports.
S. 1342 Small Business Investment Promotion Act Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the expensing allowance for depreciable business property, to make permanent: (1) the increased $200,000 expensing allowance for such property, (2) the increased $800,000 threshold amount for such property over which the expensing allowance is reduced. NSBA supports.
S. 1353 Cybersecurity Act of 2013 Bill would implement and codify certain aspects of the Presidents Cybersecurity Executive Order, among other things. NSBA supports.
White House Conference on Small Business National Conference to develop a comprehensive, long-term small business agenda. NSBA supports.
Patent Litigation Reform Discussion Draft Bill seeks to address the perceived increase in patent litigation through various reform measures.
House and Senate Minimum Wage Legislation NSBA opposes an increase in minimum wage.
House and Senate National Regulatory Budget NSBA supports implementation of a national regulatory budget.
House and Senate NSBA supports repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
EEOC - NSBA opposes efforts to treat educational attainment requirements as discrimination. NSBA opposes efforts to limit employer criminal background screening.
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights NSBA opposes efforts to limit employer criminal background screening.
SEC NSBA supports reasonable regulations implementing the JOBS Act (in particular relating to general solicitation, crowdfunding, Regulation A and emerging growth companies). NSBA supports safe harbor from registration as broker-dealers for finders and business brokers. NSBA opposed increases in the accredited investor thresholds.
DOL, HHS, IRS NSBA opposes efforts to restrict employer provided health care benefit self-insurance with stop loss.
DOL NSBA opposes proposed rule under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act that would require employers to report on consultants assisting with speech-writing, public relations advice, labor campaigns, web sites, emails or other materials for employer communication to employees or the public, no matter how minor or indirect the relation to any labor dispute. In addition, modification of personnel policies and practices fall under the persuader activities list. Therefore, arrangements with and the content of the work by attorneys, insurance agents, HR consultants, pension consultants, accountants or financial advisers who review benefits packages or other personnel practices would be reportable.
HHS Federally Facilitated Exchanges. NSBA supports health insurance exchanges and is seeking rapid implementation and adequate guidance. NSBA supports allowing any QHP that meets all certification standards to sell insurance on the exchanges.
HHS SHOPS. NSBA supports immediate implementation of SHOPs in the health insurance exchanges.
HHS Age Rating Bands. NSBA supports transition relief on age rating bands.
IRS Health care FSAs. NSBA supports elimination of the so-called use-it or lose-it rule. NSBA also supports revision of the uniform coverage rule if the use-it or lose-it rule is changed.
IRS Shared Responsibility for Employers Regarding Health Coverage. NSBA supports the affordability safe harbors and deferral of employer penalties.
NLRB NSBA opposes micro collective bargaining units, accelerated union elections and aspects of NLRB social media policies.
OPM - Multi-State Plan Program. NSBA supports immediate implementation of SHOPs in the MSPP.

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

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce - Dept of (DOC), Energy - Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank), Federal Reserve System, Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor - Dept of (DOL), Natl Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Adminstration (SBA), Treasury - Dept of, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), White House Office

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

​

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