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 continues to support U.S. Senate passage.

R&D Tax Credit-Immediate Expensing: Continue to support restoring and making permanent full expensing for R&D expenditures for small businesses. Support "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.


Regulation

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

Regulation II as Proposed by the Federal Reserve: Opposed the notice of proposed rulemaking to amend Regulation II, which sets standards for debit card fee regulation. Urged the Federal Reserve to withdraw the proposal. Expressed opposition to further lower the cap on debit card interchange fees from 21 cents to 14.4 cents per transaction, which would harm small financial institutions and small business consumers.

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. Continue to express concern about the effects of the final rule on entrepreneurship and the economy, and support general efforts in the House and Senate to promote and strengthen independent work and self-employment.

DOL's Proposed Overtime Rule: Expressed concern about the final rule, support of the CRA to overturn the rule, and communicated to the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division about the need to delay implementation due to sudden and painful impact on small businesses and legal challenges to the rule.

OSHA Walkaround Rule - Oppose the final rule, and efforts in the Congress to implement the rule.

Save Local Businesses Act (S.1261, HR 2826) - 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, and continue to communicate concerns about widespread non-compliance due to lack of knowledge in the small business community.

Federal Acquisition Regulation: Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects - SBE Council opposed the final rule. SBE Council continues to educate lawmakers about the effects of PLA's on small business competition, to taxpayers and the efficacy of completing federal construction and infrastructure projects.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Pre-Merger Reporting Requirement Proposed Rule - SBE Council continue to oppose the rule and to point 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 supports efforts by House and Senate appropriators to hold the line on increased funding for the NLRB. Voiced support for language that would disallow funds to be used for implementation of the final "joint employer" rule.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus (CFPBs) Rule Capping Credit-Card Late Fees - SBE Council continues to voice concern about the rules unintended consequences for small businesses.

Prove-It Act (H.R. 7198) - SBE Council continues to support House passage of 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 legislation as well as proposals to further regulate the railroad industry, which is dominated by small businesses.

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

The Fishery Improvement to Streamline Untimely Regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act (FISHES Act) - Support the legislation in the House and Senate.

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. SBE Council expressed opposition to H.R. 8818, the American Rights Privacy Act.

Access to Capital

Expanding Access to Capital Act (H.R. 2799) - SBE Council supported House passage and action by the U.S. Senate.


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.

Telehealth Coverage: Urged the Drug Enforcement Administration to expedite the release of a revised proposed rule to permit and regulate the prescribing of controlled substances through telehealth, which is crucial for access to mental health, substance use disorder, and other telehealth care.

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

Paperwork Burden Reduction Act (H.R. 3797) - Supported 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

Commented on U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning proposed modifications to the rules of practice for inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Urged USPTO to consider the input of small inventors and innovative entrepreneurial firms.

Trade and Global Market Access

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 supports the legislation.


Access to Broadband and Next Gen Technology

BEAD Program Implementation - SBE Council continues to voice 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, Labor - Dept of (DOL), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), 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