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

ACCESS TO CAPITAL

JOBS Act 4.0: Continue to support this legislative package of access to capital measures and regulatory improvements introduced by Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA).

Improving Crowdfunding Rules: Continue to express support for enhancements to equity and debt-based crowdfunding (Title III crowdfunding) that would lower costs, unleash additional capital, and improve reporting and regulatory compliance for startups and small businesses.

Connecting Small Business to Capital Act (H.R. 945): Support the legislation.

TAX AND SPENDING POLICY

R&D Tax Credits: Advocated for the restoration of the R&D tax credit and its improvement for startups and small businesses.

"Inflation Reduction Act" (IRA): Opposed the legislation, as it raises business taxes and fuels inflationary pressures through new government spending.

Specifically, in IRA: Expressed concern and opposition to: the various tax increases including corporate taxes, extending the limitation on Main Street pass-through businesses to claim losses for two years without extending the 20% small business deduction; the size of the spending package and its impact on inflation and fiscal condition of the federal government; price controls on drugs; and the new spending for the IRS without implementing needed reforms and checks.

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA): Continue to express support for the permanency of various provisions of the TCJA including Section 199A, lower personal tax rates, expensing provisions and estate tax changes.

Main Street Certainty Act, H.R. 1381/S. 480: Continue to support the advancement of this bill to make permanent the 20% small business deduction in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

EBITDA: Continue to support the reinstatement of the IBITDA standard for business interest deductions.

Renewing Investment in American Workers and Supply Chains Act, H.R. 7229/S.4012: Support this legislation to allow accelerated depreciation for all structures.

"Wealth Taxes:" Continue to oppose various schemes to tax wealth based on unrealized gains on property.

REGULATION AND COMPETITION POLICY

Fair and Open Competition Act, S. 403/H.R. 1284: Continue to support this legislation, which would prevent the Administration from using project labor agreement (PLAs) in federal procurement contracts.

Project Labor Agreements (PLAs): Continue to express opposition to President Bidens Executive Order on the use of PLAs on federal procurement projects, including the bipartisan infrastructure package.

Employee Rights Act, S.3889: Continue to support this bill introduced by Senator Tim Scott to protect the status of independent contractors.

New Overtime Rules: Continue to express concern about DOL efforts to again alter overtime rules.

Independent Contractor Rule: Continue to express general support for streamlining and modernizing the independent contractor rule and oppose proposals that would make many independent workers inappropriately (and against their will and wishes) categorized at employees. Submitted comments to the Department of Labor regarding the proposed Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 87 Fed. Reg. 62218, and urged them to withdraw the proposal and allow a March 2021 rule to stand.

Joint Employer: Expressed concern for changing "joint employer" rules as they were recently improved and modernized. Submitted comments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) urging a withdrawal of the proposed Standard for Determining Joint-Employer Status, 87 Fed. Reg. 54641.

Franchise Rule: Have expressed support for the current franchise rule as it is undergoing a periodic decennial review by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): Continue to express concern about Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice action and changes to the regulatory framework governing M&A review and how this would impact the innovation and startup ecosystem in the United States.

President Biden Competition Executive Order: Continue to express concerns about the premise and actions behind the EO to regulate and micro-manage various sectors of the economy including technology, energy, bio-pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, railroads and other sectors that are dominated by small-to-mid-size businesses (SMBs).

Targeted Tech Legislation and Anti-Trust: Continue to express concerns about the impact and unintended consequences of legislation, regulation and anti-trust re-writes at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) aimed at big tech and how it would impact small business access to markets and capital, and the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem in general.

American Innovation and Online Choice Act, S.2992: Oppose the legislation.

Platform Competition and Opportunity Act, H.R. 3826/S.3197: Oppose the legislation.

Energy and Gas Prices: Continue to express concern about restrictive energy policies with respect to developing energy in the U.S. and how such restrictions are contributing to higher energy prices. Continue to express concern about the potential for higher taxes on this sector via a "windfall profits tax," restrictions and limitations placed on energy development on public lands, and red tape and lengthy reviews for permits and energy infrastructure projects.

Electronic Payments and Credit Card Regulation: Continue to voice concern about new regulations on the payments system, specifically credit routing requirements and how they undermine payment-systems innovation that has provided small businesses a lifeline during the pandemic and payments options for small businesses and startups. Expressed opposition to the Credit Card Competition Act of 2022.

Privacy Policy and Legislation: Support a national framework for privacy that is inclusive and equitable to all industries. Expressed areas where the "American Data Privacy and Protection Act" (H.R. 8152) could be improved for small businesses. Filed Joint comments with the FTC expressing concerns with an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking pertaining to so-called
commercial surveillance and lax security practices.

Railroad Strike: Supported H.J. Res 100 to avoid a rail strike. Expressed concern about the potential for a rail strikes and its impact on supply chains, inflation and economic disruption in general.

Implementation of the "Corporate Transparency Act": Continue to express concerns about the impact of the legislation (and implementing regulations) on small businesses.

AFFORDABLE AND COMPETITIVE HEALTH COVERAGE

Affordability/More Choices: Continue to urge members of Congress and the Administration to advance market-oriented reforms that will lower health coverage costs for small businesses and increase choices in the marketplace like improved health savings accounts, support for transitional plans and local-direct health care. Oppose efforts, generally, to impose new mandates and taxes that will add to small business costs and reduce access to health care.

Price Controls on Drugs: Continue to express concern about the impact of price controls on drugs either through Medicare negotiation, an international pricing mechanism, drug importation, and the effort to use march-in rights under the Bayh-Dole Act.

Virtual Health Care and Telehealth: Urged Congress to reinstate virtual care access advanced during COVID-19 that enabled employers and health plans to provide pre-deductible coverage for telehealth services for individuals with HDHP-HSAs.

ACCESS TO BROADBAND

Extending America's Spectrum Leadership Act (H.R. 7783): SBE Council supported the legislation. Continue to express support for freeing up spectrum to allow next gen broadband (such as 5G) to be more available to communities nationwide.

NTIA Rules on the Infrastructure Package: Continue to urge the adoption of simple, transparent rules and practices to ensure the effectiveness of these programs and taxpayer resources in delivering broadband to those lacking access, and to avoid waste and abuse of funds.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS

World Health Organization COVID IP Waiver: Continue to express opposition to the Biden Administrations support of a petition before the World Trade Organization that would waive vital intellectual property (IP) rights for COVID-19 vaccines and US innovators, which would essentially undercut American IP rights for U.S.-made innovations.

Bayh-Dole Act: Continue to express support for the principals and rational behind Bayh-Dole (which strengthened IP rights) and against effort to undermine its effectiveness such as the misuse of march-in rights to take away IP protections.

TRADE & GLOBAL MARKET ACCESS

Trade Agreements: Continue to push for U.S. leadership on trade deals and opening global markets for U.S. businesses.

International Trade Commission: Support general reforms that prevent foreign companies from abusing loopholes that undermine U.S. businesses and competitiveness.

GOOD GOVERNMENT

Improve the SBA Act (H.R. 7628): SBE Council continues to supports the legislation.

Monetary Policy: Continue to express the need for the Federal Reserve to rein in the supply of money, and leave interest rates to the market.

Workforce Policy/Access to Skilled Labor

Continue to express support for policies that will increase the supply of labor and skilled labor such as immigration reform, new service-sector visas, second-chance initiatives, improving the earned-income tax credit, and fixing penalties on social security benefits for those who return to work.

Commission on the American Workforce Act (H.R. 8784): Support the legislation.

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

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor - Dept of (DOL), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Natl Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

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