Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011

H. Con. Res. 112 - FY 2013 Federal Budget The budget would substantially reduce the federal deficit by reducing federal spending levels compared to FY 2012 in the years FY 2013-2015 and substantially reducing the growth rate in federal spending thereafter. NSBA supported the outline of a tax reform plan contained in the resolution. H.R. 9 The Small Business Tax Cut Act Bill will allow businesses with fewer than 500 employees to take a tax deduction equal to 20 percentfor one yearof their active business income. This deduction also would apply to pass-through entities, which compose the majority of small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 25 Fair Tax Act of 2011 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enact a national retail sales tax. NSBA supported. H.R. 679 - Berry Amendment Extension Act This bill would require that any items purchased by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directly related to national security interests are grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the US, except with regard to issues of necessary quality and quantity. NSBA supported H.R. 880 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2011 The bill would allow self-employed individuals to fully-deduct the cost of their health insurance, thus eliminating the self-employed tax on health care. NSBA supported. H.R. 942 American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2011 Bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the research credit through 2012 and to increase and make permanent the alternative simplified research credit. NSBA supported. H.R. 1259 Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2011 Bill to repeal the estate tax. The effective date is the date of enactment, and the bill retains step-up basis. NSBA supported. H.R. 1418 - Small Business Lending Enhancement Act of 2011 Bill would increase the cap for credit union lending from 12.25 percent to 27.5 percent of total assets of the credit union. NSBA supported. H.R. 1663 Small Business Encouragement Act Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow small business employers whose gross receipts in the preceding taxable year did not exceed $20 million, or who did not employ more than 100 full time employees, a work opportunity tax credit for hiring unemployed individuals as full-time employees during 2012 and 2013. NSBA opposed. H.R. 1697 Communities First Act Bill would provide community bank regulatory relief. NSBA supported. H.R. 1827 Home Office Deduction Simplification Act Bill would allow home-based businesses to take a standard $1,500 deduction for home office expenses. NSBA supported. H.R. 2072 Securing American Jobs Through Exports Act of 2011 The bill reauthorizes the U.S. Export-Import Bank. It also would gradually increase the banks exposure cap from $100 billion to $160 billion; use a portion of its surplus to update information technology systems; establish clear guidelines on the content of goods and services for which it would provide financing; and require the bank to report to Congress if its default rate exceeded 2 percent. NSBA supported. H.R. 2312 - Department of Defense Textile and Apparel Procurement Fairness Act Among other things, prohibits DoD from purchasing more than 5 percent of any one textile or apparel product from the Federal Prison Industries (FPI). NSBA supported. H.R. 2501, H.R. 1113 Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 Would make unemployed a protected class for discrimination law purposes. NSBA opposed. H.R. 2885 Legal Workforce Act This bill would make the use of E-Verify Mandatory for all employers. NSBA opposed. H. R. 2941 Startup Expansion and Investment Act Bill would address SarbanesOxley internal control reporting for small entities. NSBA supported. H.R. 3012 - Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act Would eliminate the per-country numerical cap on the number of employment-based immigrant visas and increase the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrant visas from 7 percent to 15 percent annually. NSBA is monitoring. H.R. 3476 AGREE Act Bill would address SarbanesOxley internal control reporting for small entities. NSBA supported. H.R. 3634 - Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act Require the Federal Prison Industries (FPI) to compete for government contracts, requires FPI to provide a detailed analysis of the probable impact on the private sector, prohibit FPI from selling products commercially, and require agencies to research private sector products based on price, quality, and time of delivery, among other things. NSBA is monitoring. H.R. 3786 Plain Regulations Act of 2012 This bill would reform the regulatory process to require the use of clear and concise language in all new government regulations. NSBA supported. H.R. 3850 - Government Efficiency Through Small Business Contracting Act of 2012 Raise the government-wide small business contracting goal from 23% to 25%, the small business subcontracting goal from 35.9% to 40%, and also prevent senior officials from receiving bonuses in subsequent years where their respective agencies failed to meet the established small business contracting goals. NSBA supported. H.R. 3851 - Small Business Advocate (SBAA) This bill would enhance the role of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) by elevating the OSDBU Director to a Senior Executive Service position and would prohibit them from holding another position at the same time. NSBA supported. H.R. 3877 1099K Overreach Prevention Act Legislation would repeal the 1099-K reporting requirement on Schedule-C filers. Bill will statutorily remove burdensome reporting requirement by preventing the IRS from requiring new calculations by businesses on their tax returns based on the 1099-K reports. NSBA supported. H.R. 3893 - Subcontracting Transparency and Reliability (STAR) Act of 2012 Ensure that small businesses are the ones actually benefiting from the contracts set aside on their behalf. It would also allow more small businesses to partner and compete for federal contracts. NSBA supported. H.R. 3980 - Small Business Opportunity Act of 2012 Enhance the role of small-business advocates in the federal acquisition and procurement processes, create small-business contracting classes, and ensure that small business concerns are properly utilized in all applicable federal procurement and acquisition planning processes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3985 - Building Better Business Partnerships Act of 2012 This bill would allow the SBA to oversee all civilian mentor protege programs, improve small-businesses ability to win and perform on government contracts. NSBA supported. H.R. 3987 - Small Business Protection Act of 2012 Would ensure that the size standards assigned to each industry group are appropriate for each NAICS code and do not make it more difficult for small-business to compete for federal contracting opportunities. NSBA supported. H.R. 4032 - Help Entrepreneurs Create American Jobs Act Amends Section 195 of the Internal Revenue Code to increase the allowable deduction for business start-up expenses from $5,000 to $10,000, extending the 2010 temporary increase in the maximum deduction for start-up expenditures for ten years. NSBA supported. H.R. 4081 - Contractor Opportunity Protection (COP) Act of 2012 Protects small business contractors from unfair contract bundling by allowing the SBA (or a third party group if the SBA declined to appeal a decision via a GAO protest) to appeal an agencys decision to bundle contracts, clarifies statutory limits on contract bundling, and requires publication of bundling justification to increase transparency. NSBA supported. H.R. 4118 - Small Business Procurement Improvement Act of 2012 Requires federal agencies to include small business concerns in multiple award contracts, carry out a program to increase small business participation in multiple award contracts, and provide the SBA with representation on the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council. NSBA supported. H.R. 4121 - Early Stage Small Business Contracting Act of 2012 Requires SBA administrator to create and carry out a program to provide improved access to federal contract opportunities for early-stage small business concerns. NSBA supported. H.R. 4191 - Credit Union Small Business Lending Act Establishes a separate process by which credit unions participating in the 7(a) loan program may receive approvals and repurchases regarding loan guarantees under that program, creates a credit union outreach program, and authorizes the SBA Administrator to simplify the application process for credit union participation. NSBA is monitoring. H.R. 4196 Bonus Depreciation Bill extends 100 percent bonus depreciation through the rest of this year. Bonus depreciation allows businesses of all sizes to immediately expense the cost of property purchased and placed into service. NSBA supported. H.R. 4203 - Womens Procurement Program Improvement Act of 2012 This bill would expand contracting opportunities for women-owned small business concerns. NSBA supported. H.R. 4206 - Contracting Oversight for Small Business Jobs Act of 2012 Addresses contracting fraud by helping small businesses comply with complicated contracting and size rules, and providing a safe harbor for small businesses making a good faith effort to comply with those rules. NSBA supported. H.R. 4377 RAPID Act Would improve the environmental review and permitting process by, among other things, providing concurrent reviews, allow state-level environmental reviews to be used in certain situations, consolidate the process into a single Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and impose fixed deadlines for completion of an EIS or an Environmental Assessment (EA). NSBA supported. H.R. 4471 Gasoline Regulations Act of 2012 Bill would establish an interagency committee to analyze and report on the cumulative impact of certain EPA regulations and actions that affect gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas prices, jobs, the economy, and other relevant issues. NSBA is monitoring. H.R. 4480 - Strategic Energy Production Act of 2012 Bill would require the development of a plan to increase oil and gas exploration, development and production under oil and gas leases on Federal lands to offset any drawdown of petroleum reserves from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. NSBA is monitoring. H.R. 4628 - Interest Rate Reduction Act A bill to extend the current lower interest rates on federal student loans. The bill would be paid for by eliminating the unobligated balance of a controversial public fund in the 2010 health care reform law. NSBA supported. H.R. 5187 IMPACT Act Bill would, among other things, extend Production Tax Credits for renewable energy, extend the 1603 Grant Program, extend energy efficiency tax credits, provide incentives for heavy duty natural gas vehicles, and would eliminate certain tax breaks for major integrated oil companies. NSBA supported. The Domestic Energy and Jobs Act (Includes H.R. 4480, H.R. 4471, H.R. 4381, H.R. 4382, H.R. 4383, H.R. 2150, and H.R. 2752) This is a package of energy bills that will increase energy production on federal lands, require an interagency committee to conduct an analysis of certain EPA rules and actions that impact fuel prices, require the Secretary of the Interior to establish an all-of-the-above energy plan for federal lands, increase the amount of federal lands available for leasing and encourage onshore oil development and exploration, ensure development of oil and natural gas reserves in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska, and authorize the BLM to conduct Internet-based auctions for onshore leases. NSBA is monitoring. S. 13 Fair Tax Act of 2011 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enact a national retail sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services. It sets the sales tax rate at 23 percent in 2011, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. NSBA supported. S. 474 Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act Bill would reform the regulatory process and ensure that job creation by small businesses is considered during the Federal legislative and rulemaking process. NSBA supported. S. 509 The Small Business Lending Enhancement Act Bill would amend the Federal Credit Union Act to advance the ability of credit unions to promote small business growth and economic development opportunities. NSBA supported. S.727 Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2011 Comprehensive tax reform legislation with provisions consolidating tax brackets for individuals and businesses while at the same time lowering federal tax obligations, in part through a single, flat 24 percent corporate rate. NSBA is monitoring. S. 1289 Taxpayer Advocacy and Government Accountability Promotion Act Bill targets noncompliant tax filers with provisions to improve tax forms and tax administration and decrease tax avoidance by contractors, as a way to reduce the tax gap. NSBA is monitoring. S. 1471 -- Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 Would make unemployed a protected class for discrimination law purposes. NSBA opposed. S. 1547 Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2011 The bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to extend the termination of functions date for the Export-Import Bank of the United States to September 30, 2015. NSBA supported. S. 1590 - Fairness for Small Businesses in Federal Contracting Act of 2011 Requires the SBA and Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to replace the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) with a new small business size classification system. NSBA is monitoring. S. 1600 Communities First Act Bill would provide community bank regulatory relief. NSBA supported. S. 1736 Acquisition Savings Reform Act of 2011 Bill aims to streamline the federal procurement process by requiring online reverse auctions, consider strategic sourcing vehicles in procurement of commercial items, and direct the FAR council to amend the FAR to reflect the government-wide policy to pay small business concerns as quickly as possible, among other things. NSBA is monitoring. S. 1866 AGREE Act Bill would address SarbanesOxley internal control reporting for small entities. NSBA supported. S. 1965 Startup Act Provides 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, requires a cost-benefit analysis of all proposed federal regulations with an economic impact of $100 million or more, requires certain federal agencies to redirect .15 percent of their extramural budget for grant programs for American universities, and creates the State Startup Business Report. NSBA is monitoring. S. 2114 - Berry Amendment Extension Act Requires that any items purchased by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directly related to national security interests are grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the US, except with regard to issues of necessary quality and quantity. NSBA supported. S. 2172 Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act of 2012 Bill would eliminate the cap on women entrepreneurs and allow women-owned businesses to receive sole source contracts, among other things. NSBA is monitoring. S. 2231 The Small Business Lending Enhancement Act Bill would amend the Federal Credit Union Act to advance the ability of credit unions to promote small business growth and economic development opportunities. NSBA is monitoring. S. 2237 Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act of 2012 Bill is designed to give small businesses a 10-percent income tax credit on new payroll for hiring new workers or increasing employee wages and will allow businesses to fully deduct the cost of significant investments made this year. The $26 billion in tax cuts would be temporary and apply only to 2012 wages and investments. NSBA is monitoring. S.2242 Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2012 Bill to repeal the estate tax. The effective date is the date of enactment, and the bill retains step-up basis. NSBA supported. S. 2337 Plain Writing Act for Regulations for 2012 Bill would reform the regulatory process to require the use of clear and concise language in all new government regulations. NSBA supported. S.2343 Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act of 2012 A bill to extend the current lower interest rates on federal student loans. The measure would pay for the interest rate extension by ending an exemption that allows high-income earners who run S-Corps to shield some of their income from payroll taxes. NSBA opposed the pay-for in this bill. S. 3194 Small Business Common Application Act Bill would require a 12-member executive committee to review the feasibility of a common (or single) application for small businesses to use when applying for federal funding opportunities. NSBA is monitoring. S. 3275 Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) Parity Act Bill would allow MLPs to invest in renewable energy projects. NSBA is monitoring. Proposed Small Business Prompt Payments Act Bill would require OMB and SBA to consult with the FAR Counsel and propose new rules, if necessary, to accelerate payments to small business suppliers and subcontractors. NSBA supported. Proposed Fraudulent Misuse of Patent Reexaminations / Post Grant Reviews Bill Bill would close the integrity loophole in the patent reexamination and post grant review process. NSBA supported. Proposed AIA Technical Corrections Bill Bill would make technical corrections to certain provisions of the America Invents Act (AIA). NSBA is monitoring this legislation. EEOC - NSBA opposes efforts to treat educational attainment requirements as discrimination. NSBA opposes efforts to limit employer criminal background checks. DOC / NOAA Fishery Management Plan for Regulating Offshore Marine Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico This plan would establish rules concerning a permitting process for offshore aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexicos EEZ. NSBA opposes this plan.

Client expense: $55,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: 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, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Natl Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), White House Office

H.R. 564, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act H.R. 881, Americans with Disabilities Act Notification Act H.R. 1113, Fair Employment Act of 2011 H.R. 1397 / S. 811, Employment Non-Discrimination Act H.R. 1493 / S. 788, Fair Pay Act H.R. 1519 / S. 797 / S. 3220, Paycheck Fairness Act H.R. 2501 / S. 1471, Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 H.R. 3356, ACCESS (ADA Compliance for Customer Entry to Stores and Services) Act of 2011 H.R. 4200, To Amend the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (pool lifts) H.R. 4256, Pool Safety and Accessibility for Everyone (pool SAFE) Act H.R. 5326 / S. 2323, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013 - provisions Funding the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and provisions relating to DOJ guidance on requiring pool lifts under the ADA H.R. 5978/S. 3317, Equal Employment Opportunity Restoration Act of 2012 S. 2189, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act S. 3256, End Pay Discrimination Through Information Act S. 3295 and Un-numbered House counterpart, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013, provisions funding the Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Regulations related to "reasonable factors other than age" under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (77 Fed. Reg. 19,080, March 30, 2012) Proposed regulations related to affirmative action for protected veterans (76 Fed. Reg. 23,358, April 26, 2011) Proposed extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements related to the "non-construction supply and service information collection" (76 Fed. Reg. 27,670, May 12, 2011) Proposed regulations related to affirmative action under section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (76 Fed. Reg. 77,056, Dec. 9, 2011) Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to a compensation data collection tool (76 Fed. Reg. 49,398, Aug. 10, 2011) Proposed changes to OFCCP Scheduling Letter and Itemized Listing (76 Fed Reg. 60,083, Sept. 28, 2011) Proposed withdrawal of Compensation Discrimination Interpretative Standards (71 Fed. Reg. 35,124, June 16, 2006) Proposed regulation delaying Department of Justice requirement under the ADA for pools to have lifts (77 Fed. Reg. 16,196, March 20, 2012) EEOC Enforcement Guidance on Employer Use of Criminal History (No. 915.002, adopted 4/25/12) Various issues relating to employer use of employee credit history; employer consideration of applicant employment status; EEOC Strategic Plan; OFCCP interpretation of its jurisdiction; potential Senate ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

H.R. 9 - The Small Business Tax Cut Act Bill will allow businesses with fewer than 500 employees to take a tax deduction equal to 20 percent-for one year-of their active business income. This deduction also would apply to pass-through entities, which compose the majority of small businesses. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. H.R. 25 Fair Tax Act of 2011 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enact a national retail sales tax. NSBA supported. H.R. 679 - Berry Amendment Extension Act This bill would require that any items purchased by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directly related to national security interests are grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the US, except with regard to issues of necessary quality and quantity. NSBA supported H.R. 880 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2011 The bill would allow self-employed individuals to fully-deduct the cost of their health insurance, thus eliminating the self-employed tax on health care. NSBA supported. H.R. 942 American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2011 Bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the research credit through 2012 and to increase and make permanent the alternative simplified research credit. NSBA supported. H.R. 1070 Small Company Capital Formation Act of 2011 Bill would provide a Regulation A ceiling increase from $5 million to $50 million. NSBA supported. H.R.1081 Consumers Payment System Protection Act Bill would delay the implementation of the Durbin swipe-fee reform amendment to the Dodd-Frank Act. NSBA opposed. H.R. 1137 Small Business Credit Card Act of 2011 Bill would amend the Truth in Lending Act to provide coverage for credit cards issued to small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 1259 Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2011 Bill to repeal the estate tax. The effective date is the date of enactment, and the bill retains step-up basis. NSBA supported. H.R. 1418 - Small Business Lending Enhancement Act of 2011 Bill would increase the cap for credit union lending from 12.25 percent to 27.5 percent of total assets of the credit union. NSBA supported. H.R. 1663 Small Business Encouragement Act Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow small business employers whose gross receipts in the preceding taxable year did not exceed $20 million, or who did not employ more than 100 full time employees, a work opportunity tax credit for hiring unemployed individuals as full-time employees during 2012 and 2013. NSBA opposed. H.R. 1697 Communities First Act Bill would provide community bank regulatory relief. NSBA supported. H.R. 1812 Small Business Growth Act Legislation would establish a federal contracting pilot program for mid-sized businesses. NSBA opposed. H.R. 1827 Home Office Deduction Simplification Act Bill would allow home-based businesses to take a standard $1,500 deduction for home office expenses. NSBA supported. H.R. 2072 Securing American Jobs Through Exports Act of 2011 The bill reauthorizes the U.S. Export-Import Bank. It also would gradually increase the banks exposure cap from $100 billion to $160 billion; use a portion of its surplus to update information technology systems; establish clear guidelines on the content of goods and services for which it would provide financing; and require the bank to report to Congress if its default rate exceeded 2 percent. NSBA supported. H.R. 2312 - Department of Defense Textile and Apparel Procurement Fairness Act Among other things, prohibits DoD from purchasing more than 5 percent of any one textile or apparel product from the Federal Prison Industries (FPI). NSBA supported. H.R. 2501, H.R. 1113 Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 Would make unemployed a protected class for discrimination law purposes. NSBA opposed. H.R. 2885 Legal Workforce Act This bill would make the use of E-Verify Mandatory for all employers. NSBA opposed. H.R. 2930 Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act Bill would create a crowdfunding exemption from SEC registration requirements. NSBA supported. H.R. 2940 Access to Capital for Job Creators Bill would provide for general solicitation and general advertising for accredited investors. NSBA supported. H. R. 2941 Startup Expansion and Investment Act Bill would address Sarbanes Oxley internal control reporting for small entities. NSBA supported. H.R. 3012 - Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act Would eliminate the per-country numerical cap on the number of employment-based immigrant visas and increase the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrant visas from 7 percent to 15 percent annually. NSBA is monitoring. H.R. 3476 AGREE Act Bill would address Sarbanes Oxley internal control reporting for small entities. NSBA supported. H.R. 3606 Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act) Signed into law by President Obama on April 5, 2012. This bill will delay compliance with or provide exemptions for certain registration and reporting requirements of U.S. securities laws, and also creates a crowdfunding exemption, preempting state blue sky laws. NSBA supported. H.R. 3630 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011 The bill extends the existing 2011 payroll tax holiday for one year, through 2012, at a 4.2 percent rate. NSBA supported. H.R. 3634 - Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act Require the Federal Prison Industries (FPI) to compete for government contracts, requires FPI to provide a detailed analysis of the probable impact on the private sector, prohibit FPI from selling products commercially, and require agencies to research private sector products based on price, quality, and time of delivery, among other things. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. H.R. 3786 Plain Regulations Act of 2012 This bill would reform the regulatory process to require the use of clear and concise language in all new government regulations. NSBA supported. H.R. 3850 - Government Efficiency Through Small Business Contracting Act of 2012 Raise the government-wide small business contracting goal from 23% to 25%, the small business subcontracting goal from 35.9% to 40%, and also prevent senior officials from receiving bonuses in subsequent years where their respective agencies failed to meet the established small business contracting goals. NSBA supported. H.R. 3851 - Small Business Advocate (SBAA) This bill would enhance the role of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) by elevating the OSDBU Director to a Senior Executive Service position and would prohibit them from holding another position at the same time. NSBA supported. H.R. 3877 1099K Overreach Prevention Act Legislation would repeal the 1099-K reporting requirement on Schedule-C filers. Bill will statutorily remove burdensome reporting requirement by preventing the IRS from requiring new calculations by businesses on their tax returns based on the 1099-K reports. NSBA supported. H.R. 3893 - Subcontracting Transparency And Reliability (STAR) Act of 2012 Ensure that small businesses are the ones actually benefiting from the contracts set aside on their behalf. It would also allow more small businesses to partner and compete for federal contracts. NSBA supported. H.R. 3980 - Small Business Opportunity Act of 2012 Enhance the role of small-business advocates in the federal acquisition and procurement processes, create small-business contracting classes, and ensure that small business concerns are properly utilized in all applicable federal procurement and acquisition planning processes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3985 - Building Better Business Partnerships Act of 2012 This bill would allow the SBA to oversee all civilian mentor protege programs, improve small-businesses ability to win and perform on government contracts. NSBA supported. H.R. 3987 - Small Business Protection Act of 2012 Would ensure that the size standards assigned to each industry group are appropriate for each NAICS code and do not make it more difficult for small-business to compete for federal contracting opportunities. NSBA supported. H.R. 4032 - Help Entrepreneurs Create American Jobs Act Amends Section 195 of the Internal Revenue Code to increase the allowable deduction for business start-up expenses from $5,000 to $10,000, extending the 2010 temporary increase in the maximum deduction for start-up expenditures for ten years. NSBA supported. H.R. 4081 - Contractor Opportunity Protection (COP) Act of 2012 Protects small business contractors from unfair contract bundling by allowing the SBA (or a third party group if the SBA declined to appeal a decision via a GAO protest) to appeal an agencys decision to bundle contracts, clarifies statutory limits on contract bundling, and requires publication of bundling justification to increase transparency. NSBA supported. H.R. 4118 - Small Business Procurement Improvement Act of 2012 Requires federal agencies to include small business concerns in multiple award contracts, carry out a program to increase small business participation in multiple award contracts, and provide the SBA with representation on the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council. NSBA supported. H.R. 4121 - Early Stage Small Business Contracting Act of 2012 Requires SBA administrator to create and carry out a program to provide improved access to federal contract opportunities for early-stage small business concerns. NSBA supported. H.R. 4191 - Credit Union Small Business Lending Act Establishes a separate process by which credit unions participating in the 7(a) loan program may receive approvals and repurchases regarding loan guarantees under that program, creates a credit union outreach program, and authorizes the SBA Administrator to simplify the application process for credit union participation. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. H.R. 4203 - Womens Procurement Program Improvement Act of 2012 This bill would expand contracting opportunities for women-owned small business concerns. NSBA supported. H.R. 4196 Bonus Depreciation Bill extends 100 percent bonus depreciation through the rest of this year. Bonus depreciation allows businesses of all sizes to immediately expense the cost of property purchased and placed into service. NSBA supported. H.R. 4206 - Contracting Oversight for Small Business Jobs Act of 2012 Addresses contracting fraud by helping small businesses comply with complicated contracting and size rules, and providing a safe harbor for small businesses making a good faith effort to comply with those rules. NSBA supported. S. 13 Fair Tax Act of 2011 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enact a national retail sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services. It sets the sales tax rate at 23 percent in 2011, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. NSBA supported. S. 474 Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act Bill would reform the regulatory process and ensure that job creation by small businesses is considered during the Federal legislative and rulemaking process. NSBA supported. S. 509 The Small Business Lending Enhancement Act Bill would amend the Federal Credit Union Act to advance the ability of credit unions to promote small business growth and economic development opportunities. NSBA supported. S.727 Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2011 Comprehensive tax reform legislation with provisions consolidating tax brackets for individuals and businesses while at the same time lowering federal tax obligations, in part through a single, flat 24 percent corporate rate. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 1289 Taxpayer Advocacy and Government Accountability Promotion Act Bill targets noncompliant tax filers with provisions to improve tax forms and tax administration and decrease tax avoidance by contractors, as a way to reduce the tax gap. NSBA is monitoring the legislation. S. 1471 -- Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 Would make unemployed a protected class for discrimination law purposes. NSBA opposed. S. 1544 Small Company Capital Formation Act of 2011 Bill would provide a Regulation A ceiling increase from $5 million to $50 million. NSBA supported. S. 1547 Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2011 The bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to extend the termination of functions date for the Export-Import Bank of the United States to September 30, 2015. NSBA supported. S. 1590 - Fairness for Small Businesses in Federal Contracting Act of 2011 Requires the SBA and Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to replace the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) with a new small business size classification system. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 1600 Communities First Act Bill would provide community bank regulatory relief. NSBA supported. S. 1791 Democratizing Access to Capital Act of 2011 Bill would create a crowdfunding exemption from SEC registration requirements. NSBA supported. S. 1831 Access to Capital for Job Creators Act of 2011 Bill would provide for general solicitation and general advertising for accredited investors. NSBA supported. S. 1866 AGREE Act Bill would address Sarbanes Oxley internal control reporting for small entities. NSBA supported. S. 1965 Startup Act Provides 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, requires a cost-benefit analysis of all proposed federal regulations with an economic impact of $100 million or more, requires certain federal agencies to redirect .15 percent of their extramural budget for grant programs for American universities, and creates the State Startup Business Report. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 1970 Capital Raising Online While Deterring Fraud and Unethical Non-Disclosure Act of 2011 Bill would create a crowdfunding exemption from SEC registration requirements. NSBA supported. S. 2114 - Berry Amendment Extension Act Requires that any items purchased by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directly related to national security interests are grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the US, except with regard to issues of necessary quality and quantity. NSBA supported. S. 2190 Capital Raising Online While Deterring Fraud and Unethical Non-Disclosure Act (CROWDFUND Act) of 2012 Bill would create a crowdfunding exemption from SEC registration requirements. NSBA supported. S. 2231 The Small Business Lending Enhancement Act Bill would amend the Federal Credit Union Act to advance the ability of credit unions to promote small business growth and economic development opportunities. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 2237 Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act of 2012 Bill is designed to give small businesses a 10-percent income tax credit on new payroll for hiring new workers or increasing employee wages and will allow businesses to fully deduct the cost of significant investments made this year. The $26 billion in tax cuts would be temporary and apply only to 2012 wages and investments. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S.2242 Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2012 Bill to repeal the estate tax. The effective date is the date of enactment, and the bill retains step-up basis. NSBA supported. S.J. Res. 36 and H.J. Res. 103 would disapprove under the Congressional Review Act the union elections rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board. NSBA supported. EEOC - NSBA opposes efforts to treat educational attainment requirements as discrimination. NSBA opposes efforts to limit employer criminal background checks.

H.R. 1113, Fair Employment Act of 2011 H.R. 1397 / S. 811, Employment Non-Discrimination Act H.R. 1493 / S. 788, Fair Pay Act H.R. 1519 / S. 797, Paycheck Fairness Act H.R. 2501 / S. 1471, Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 S. 2189, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act Fiscal Year 2013 Appropriations Legislation - Provisions Funding the Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Regulations related to "reasonable factors other than age" under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (77 Fed. Reg. 19,080, March 30, 2012) Proposed regulations related to affirmative action for protected veterans (76 Fed. Reg. 23,358, April 26, 2011) Proposed extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements related to the "non-construction supply and service information collection" (76 Fed. Reg. 27,670, May 12, 2011) Proposed regulations related to affirmative action under section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (76 Fed. Reg. 77,056, Dec. 9, 2011) Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to a compensation data collection tool (76 Fed. Reg. 49,398 (Aug. 10, 2011)) Proposed changes to OFCCP Scheduling Letter and Itemized Listing (76 Fed Reg. 60,083 (Sept. 28, 2011)) Proposed withdrawal of Compensation Discrimination Interpretative Standards (71 Fed. Reg. 35,124 (June 16, 2006)) Department of Justice guidance on requirement under the ADA for pools to have lifts, January 31, 2012 Various issues relating to employer use of employee credit history; employer use of criminal history; employer consideration of applicant employment status; EEOC Strategic Plan; OFCCP interpretation of its jurisdiction; potential Senate ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

H.R. 1113, Fair Employment Act of 2011 H.R. 1397 / S. 811, Employment Non-Discrimination Act H.R. 1493 / S. 788, Fair Pay Act H.R. 1519 / S. 797, Paycheck Fairness Act H.R. 2501 / S. 1471, Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 S. 2189, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act Fiscal Year 2013 Appropriations Legislation - Provisions Funding the Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Regulations related to "reasonable factors other than age" under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (77 Fed. Reg. 19,080, March 30, 2012) Proposed regulations related to affirmative action for protected veterans (76 Fed. Reg. 23,358, April 26, 2011) Proposed extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements related to the "non-construction supply and service information collection" (76 Fed. Reg. 27,670, May 12, 2011) Proposed regulations related to affirmative action under section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (76 Fed. Reg. 77,056, Dec. 9, 2011) Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to a compensation data collection tool (76 Fed. Reg. 49,398 (Aug. 10, 2011)) Proposed changes to OFCCP Scheduling Letter and Itemized Listing (76 Fed Reg. 60,083 (Sept. 28, 2011)) Proposed withdrawal of Compensation Discrimination Interpretative Standards (71 Fed. Reg. 35,124 (June 16, 2006)) Department of Justice guidance on requirement under the ADA for pools to have lifts, January 31, 2012 Various issues relating to employer use of employee credit history; employer use of criminal history; employer consideration of applicant employment status; EEOC Strategic Plan; OFCCP interpretation of its jurisdiction; potential Senate ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

H.R. 1113, Fair Employment Act of 2011 H.R. 1397 / S. 811, Employment Non-Discrimination Act H.R. 1493 / S. 788, Fair Pay Act H.R. 1519 / S. 797, Paycheck Fairness Act H.R. 2501 / S. 1471, Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 Potential legislation regarding mixed motive causes of action for employment claims (specific legislation not introduced) Proposed regulations related to "reasonable factors other than age" under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (75 Fed. Reg.7, 212, February 18, 2010) Proposed regulations related to affirmative action for protected veterans (76 Fed. Reg. 23,358, April 26, 2011) Proposed extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements related to the "non-construction supply and service information collection" (76 Fed. Reg. 27,670, May 12, 2011) Proposed regulations related to affirmative action under section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (76 Fed. Reg. 77,056, Dec. 9, 2011) Proposed changes to OFCCP Scheduling Letter and Itemized Listing (76 Fed Reg. 60,083 (Sept. 28, 2011)) Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to a compensation data collection tool (76 Fed. Reg. 49,398 (Aug. 10, 2011)) Potential Senate ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Various issues relating to employer use of employee credit history; employer use of criminal history; employer consideration of applicant employment status; overcoming barriers to the employment of veterans with disabilities; EEOC outreach to small businesses; OFCCP interpretation of its jurisdiction, including Executive Order 11246

Client expense: $14,250,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act - Discussion of draft legislation to restore law to its state before 2009 SCOTUS decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services. (no bill) Discussed Family and Medical Leave Act enforcement activities with DOL. (no bill) Supported legislation to continue extensions of Unemployment Insurance. Supported Arbitration Fairness Act (S.987/H.R. 1873) regarding mandatory predispute arbitration. Supported Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 (S.1471, H.R. 2501) and EEOC actions regarding discrimination against the unemployed. Discussed Fair Labor Standards Act coverage of home care workers with DOL. No position the bill that's been introduced) Supported proposed final regulation on disparate impact age discrimination and urged more attention to age discriminatory hiring practices. (no bill) Supported improved improvements for older workers in workforce Investment Act Reauthorization of 2011. (no bill)

Client expense: $2,740,000 · Firm income: Not reported

H.R. 1113, Fair Employment Act of 2011 H.R. 1397 / S. 811, Employment Non-Discrimination Act H.R. 1493 / S. 788, Fair Pay Act H.R. 1519 / S. 797, Paycheck Fairness Act H.R. 2501 / S. 1471, Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 Potential legislation regarding mixed motive causes of action for employment claims (specific legislation not yet introduced) Proposed regulations related to "reasonable factors other than age" under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (75 Fed. Reg. 7,212, February 18, 2010) Proposed regulations related to affirmative action for protected veterans (76 Fed. Reg. 23,358, April 26, 2011) Proposed extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements related to the "non-construction supply and service information collection" (76 Fed. Reg. 27,670, May 12, 2011) Anticipated proposed regulations related to affirmative action under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (75 Fed. Reg. 43,116, July 23, 2010) Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to a compensation data collection tool (76 Fed. Reg. 49,398 (Aug. 10, 2011)) Various issues relating to employer use of employee credit history (EEOC public meeting on Oct. 20, 2010); employer use of criminal history (EEOC public meeting on July 26, 2011); employer consideration of applicant employment status (EEOC public meeting on Feb. 16, 2011); use of leave as a reasonable accommodation (EEOC public meeting on Jun. 8, 2011); OFCCP interpretation of its jurisdiction, especially under Executive Order 11246

Client expense: $10,010,000 · Firm income: Not reported