SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009

Implementation of healthcare reform laws - Executive Branch actions re PL 111-148/PL 111-152. Repeal Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Acts (PL 111-148/PL 111-152) - HR 4901, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HR 4903, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HR 4910, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and enact the Empowering Patients First Act in order to provide incentives to encourage health insurance coverage; HR 4919, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HR 4972, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HR 5005, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HR 5073, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and enact the OPTION Act of 2009; HR 5216, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HR 5421, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, repeal the 7.5 percent threshold on the deduction for medical expenses, provide for increased funding for high-risk pools, allow acquiring health insurance across State lines, and allow for the creation of association health plans; HR 5424, Reform Americans Can Afford Act of 2010 ; HR 5444, Private Option Health Care Act; HR 6355, STAT Act of 2010; S 3147, Patient Choice Restoration Act; S 3152, A bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. *Medical liability reform - HR 1468, To provide health care liability reform, and for other purposes; S 45, A bill to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; HR 5690, Meaningful End to Defensive Medicine & Aimless Lawsuits (MedMal) Act of 2010; S 1734, A bill to reduce the cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform. *Antitrust exemption for physicians - HR 1493, To ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers. *Third-party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities - HR 1658, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability. * COBRA subsidies for the unemployed - S 2730, COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act of 2009. *COBRA extension - HR 5324, COBRA Health Benefits Extension Act of 2010; S 3393, COBRA Health Benefits Extension Act of 2010. *Transparency in healthcare pricing - HR 4700, Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act of 2010. *Health benefits plan information, transparency in hospital price and quality information - HR 4803, To ensure health care consumer and provider access to certain health benefits plan information and to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide transparency in hospital price and quality information. *Privacy protections for health information technology - HR 4061, To advance cybersecurity research, development, and technical standards, and for other purposes. *Fraud and abuse - S 458, A bill to amend the False Claims Act. *Cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements - S 988, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small businesses to set up simple cafeteria plans to provide nontaxable employee benefits to their employees, to make changes in the requirements for cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts, and benefits provided under such plans or accounts, and for other purposes. * Coverage expansion, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - HR 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. *Amendments on employer reporting requirements - S 510, FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. *Employer reporting requirement - S 3946, Small Business Paperwork Relief Act. *Data security - HR 2221, To protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect computerized data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach; S 139, A bill to require Federal agencies, and persons engaged in interstate commerce, in possession of data containing sensitive personally identifiable information, to disclose any breach of such information. *Price transparency - HR 2249, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. *Association health plans - HR 2607, To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees. *Privacy, identity theft - S 1490, A bill to prevent and mitigate identity theft, to ensure privacy, to provide notice of security breaches, and to enhance criminal penalties, law enforcement assistance, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information. *Premium assistance for unemployed - S 3421, Protecting Against Indebting our Descendants through Fully Offset Relief (PAID FOR) Temporary Extension Act of 2010; S 3548, Extend COBRA Premium Assistance Program Act of 2010. *Continuing resolution with temporary funding for HHS programs and agencies - HR 3081, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; HR 3082, Continuing Appropriations and Surface Transportation Extensions Act, 2011; S 3686, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011. *Data security, privacy - HR 5777, To foster transparency about the commercial use of personal information, provide consumers with meaningful choice about the collection, use, and disclosure of such information; S 3579, Data Security Act of of 2010; S 3742, Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2010. *Privacy proposal, collection and disclosure of certain personal information - Proposed legislation re this issue.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $100,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

S. 988; H.R.1843 - H-2-B visa program.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 8 H.R. 5970 H.R. 64 S. 420 S. 988

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 25 - Fair Tax Act of 2009 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enact a national retail sales tax. NSBA supported. H.R. 275 - Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2009 A bill to repeal the mandatory three-percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supported. H.R. 933 Family-Friendly Workplace Act of 2009 To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide compensatory time for employees in the private sector. NSBA supported. H.R. 946 - The Plain Language Act of 2009 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 1409 - Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 To amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes. NSBA opposed. H.R. 1470 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2009 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. 2151 Fair Pay Act To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. H.R. 2460 Healthy Families Act Requires certain employers, who employ 15 or more employees for each working day during 20 or more workweeks a year, to permit each employee to earn at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. NSBA opposed. H.R. 2965 Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009 Bill would amend and reauthorize the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program. NSBA opposed. H.R. 3032 The Climate Change Center and Clearinghouse Act of 2009 Bill would establish within the SBA an Office of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change and a Climate Change Center and Clearinghouse to provide support and information on climate change to small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 3380 Promoting Lending to Americas Small Business 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, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3457 Small Business Credit Card Act of 2009 Bill would amend the Truth in Lending Act to provide coverage under such Act for credit cards issued to small businesses, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3615 - Home Office Tax Deduction Act of 2009 It amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. NSBA supported. H.R. 3905 - The Estate Tax Relief Act of 2009 Bill increases the estate tax exemption level to $5 million, and reduces the rate to 35 percent, both phased-in over ten years. NSBA supported. H.R. 4067 The Business Checking Fairness Act Bill would authorize interest-bearing transaction accounts at depository institutions. NSBA supported. H.R. 4213 Tax Extenders Act of 2009 The bill would extend the research and development tax credit, the deduction for state sales and real property taxes, an exception for Subpart F active financing income, and the deduction allowed for teachers who purchase their own classroom supplies. NSBA supported. H.R. 4302 The Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act Bill would increase loan limits for small business concerns, to provide for low interest refinancing for small business concerns. NSBA supported. H.R.4549 the Small Business Innovation to Job Creation Act of 2010 Bill would authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to make grants to small business concerns to assist the commercialization of research developed with funds received under the second phase of the Small Business Innovation Research Program. NSBA supported. H.R. 4855 Work-Life Balance Awards Act of 2010 To establish the Work-Life Balance Award for employers that have developed and implemented work-life balance policies. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. H.R. 4936 The Faster Access and Shorter Transaction Time for Checks Act Bill would make funds deposited in large depository institutions available more quickly to account holders. NSBA supported. H.R. 5107 Employee Misclassification Prevention Act of 2010 To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require persons to keep records of non-employees who perform labor or services for remuneration and to provide a special penalty for persons who misclassify employees as non-employees, and for other purposes. NSBA opposed. H.R. 5141 - Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act Repeal section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that requires any business that purchases more than $600 of goods or services from another business to submit a 1099 form to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). NSBA supported. H.R.5193 The Startup Visa Act Bill would establish an employment-based immigrant visa for alien entrepreneurs who have received significant capital from investors to establish a business in the United States. NSBA supported. H. R. 5249 The Capital Access for Main Street Act of 2010 Bill would provide amortization authority in certain situations, for purposes of capital calculation under the Financial Institutions Examination Council's Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income. NSBA supported. H.R. 5297 The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 Bill would create a Small Business Lending Fund Program amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for small business job creation. NSBA supported. H.R.5411 The Early-Stage Business Investment and Incubation Act Bill would establish an early-stage business investment and incubation grant program at the Department of Commerce. NSBA supported. H.R.5412 - The Small Business Asset Investment and Modernization (AIM) Act Bill would allow qualified small-business owners to refinance their existing debt through Fiscal Year 2012 through the SBA 504 lending program. NSBA supported. H.R. 5486 Small Business Jobs Tax Relief Act of 2010 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for small business job creation. NSBA supported. H.R. 5982 Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2010 Bill repeals the provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that amends the Internal Revenue Code to apply to corporations reporting requirements for payments of $600 or more to persons engaged in a trade or business. NSBA supported. S. 292 - Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2009 A bill to repeal the mandatory three-percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supported. S. 296 Fair Tax Act of 2009 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. 515 The Patent Reform Act of 2009 Bill would reform U.S. patent system. NSBA opposed. S. 560 Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 To amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes. NSBA opposed. S. 574 - Plain Writing Act of 2009 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 725 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2009 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. S. 904 Fair Pay Act To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 988 SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009 Bill would update the tax code to allow small business employees to purchase employer-provided health insurance with pre-tax dollars. It also strengthens current law for all cafeteria plans by expanding dependent flexible spending accounts (DCFSA) and including coverage for long-term care benefits. NSBA has not taken a position on the legislation. S. 1152 Healthy Families Act Requires certain employers, who employ 15 or more employees for each working day during 20 or more workweeks a year, to permit each employee to earn at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. NSBA opposed. S. 1233 SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009 Bill would reauthorize and improve the SBIR and STTR programs. NSBA supported. S. 1615 Next Step for Main Street Credit Availability Act of 2009 Bill would amend the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to stop the small business credit crunch, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 1617 The Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act Bill would require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program for the award of grants to states to establish revolving loan funds for small and medium-sized manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and produce clean energy technology. NSBA supported. S. 1754 - Home Office Deduction Simplification Act of 2009 It amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. NSBA supported. S. 2784 Carper-Voinovich Estate Tax Proposal Bill would freeze the estate tax at the 2009 levelsany estate above $7 million per couple or $3.5 million per individual would be taxed at a 45 percent rate. NSBA supports permanent reform of the estate tax. S. 2919 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. 3018 Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010 A 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 supported. S. 3024 Job Impact Analysis Act of 2010 Bill to ensure that the creation of jobs by small businesses is considered during the Federal legislative and rulemaking process. NSBA supported. S. 3029 The Startup Visa Act Bill would establish an employment-based immigrant visa for alien entrepreneurs who have received significant capital from investors to establish a business in the United States. NSBA supported. S. 3089 Small Business Patent Data Collection Act of 2010 Bill would require a study and report by the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration regarding the effects of proposed changes in patent law. NSBA opposed. S. 3254 Employee Misclassification Prevention Act of 2010 To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require persons to keep records of non-employees who perform labor or services for remuneration and to provide a special penalty for persons who misclassify employees as non-employees, and for other purposes. NSBA opposed. S.3533 Responsible Estate Tax Act The bill will permanently fix the estate tax by combining the 2009 exemption levels with progressive rates for larger estates, including a new billionaires surtax. NSBA supports permanent reform of the estate tax. S. 3578 - Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act Repeal section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that requires any business that purchases more than $600 of goods or services from another business to submit a 1099 form to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). NSBA supported. S. 3772 Paycheck Fairness Act To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. NSBA is opposed. S. 3783 Information Reporting Modernization Act of 2010 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $600 to $5,000 the threshold amount for reporting to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) payments made to corporations. It also adjusts such increased amount for inflation, beginning after 2012. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 3793 The Job Creation and Tax Cuts Act Bill would extend expired business and individual tax provisions including the research and development tax credit, through the end of 2010. NSBA supported. S. 3932 Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2010 A bill to provide comprehensive immigration reform, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 4757 Health Insurance Rate Authority Act of 2010 To provide for the establishment of a Health Insurance Rate Authority to establish limits on premium rating, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. Agency Comments on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act NSBA filed comments with the Department of Health and Human Resources on the interim final rules for grandfathered health plans and the request for comments on American Health Benefits Exchanges.

H.Res. 1493 (Spratt) budget enforcement resolution; H.R. 1468, Medical Justice Act (Burgess) medical liability reform; H.R. 1493, Quality Health Care Coalition Act (Paul) antitrust exemption for physicians (cont.) H.R. 1658, Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act (Tiahrt) third party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities; H.R. 2221, Data Accountability and Trust Act (Rush) data security; H.R. 2249, Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act (Burgess) price transparency; H.R. 2607: Small Business Health Coverage (Johnson) association health plans; H.R. 3081, Continuing Appropriations Act (Lowey) continuing resolution with temporary funding for HHS programs and agencies; H.R. 4061, Cybersecurity Enhancement Act (Lipinski) privacy protections for health information technology; H.R. 4213, Tax Extenders Act (Rangel/Baucus) premium assistance for unemployed, Roberts amendment addressing individual coverage requirement; H.R. 4700, Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act (Kagen) transparency in health care pricing; H.R. 4803, Patients' Right to Know Act (Barton) health benefits plan information, transparency in hospital price and quality information; H.R. 5136, National Defense Authorization Act (Skelton) coverage for dependents under TRICARE; H.R. 5324, COBRA Health Benefits Extension Act (Davis) COBRA extension; H.R. 5690, MedMal Act (Gingrey) medical liability reform; H.R. 5777, Best PRACTICES Act (Rush) data security, privacy; DRAFT Boucher-Stearns privacy proposal collection and disclosure of certain personal information; S. 45, Medical Care Access Protection Act (Ensign) medical liability reform; S. 139, Data Breach Notification Act (Feinstein) data security; S. 458, False Claims Act Clarification Act (Grassley) fraud and abuse; S. 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act (Snowe) cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements; S. 1490, Personal Data Privacy and Security Act (Leahy) privacy, identity theft; S. 1734, Medical Liability Reform (Kyl) medical liability reform; S. 2730, COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act (Brown) premium assistance for unemployed; S. 3393, COBRA Health Benefits Extension Act (Brown) COBRA extension; S. 3421, Temporary Extension Act (Grassley) premium assistance for unemployed; S. 3548, Extend COBRA Premium Assistance Program Act (Casey) premium assistance for unemployed; S. 3579, Data Security Act (Carper) data security, privacy; S. 3686, Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act (Harkin) funding for HHS programs and agencies; S. 3742, Data Security and Breach Notification Act (Pryor) data security, privacy HCR (Regulatory Issues): HIPAA administrative simplification issues, including standards for privacy, security, and electronic transactions and code sets; HIPAA enforcement; FEHBP enrollment data clearinghouse initiative; issues relating to health insurance plan participation in FEHBP, including contract requirements related to interoperability of health information technology, community rating policies, and similarly sized subscriber group (SSSG) requirement; implementation of the health savings account provisions of the Medicare Act; issues related to Medicare Secondary Payer requirements; issues related to implementation of the National Health Information Infrastructure; issues relating to market consolidation; issues relating to quality improvement; issues related to potential priority research topics for the effective health care program; issues relating to the national health data stewardship; issues relating to hospital outpatient measurement and reporting; issues related to genetics and genetic nondiscrimination; issues relating to mental health parity; issues relating to data breach requirements; issues relating to "meaningful use" requirements for health information technology; issues relating to Form 5500 reporting requirements; medical loss ratios; review of rates for reasonableness; health insurance exchanges; pre-existing condition insurance plans; accountable care organizations; internal claims and appeals and external review processes; coverage of preventive services; pre-existing condition exclusions; lifetime and annual dollar limits on benefits rescissions; patient protections; grandfathered health plan provisions; health insurance web portal requirements; dependent coverage; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation.

Implementation of healthcare reform legislation, coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public heath and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - Executive Branch actions re PL 111-148/PL 111-152 *Data security - HR 2221, To protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect computerized data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach; S 139, A bill to require Federal agencies, and persons engaged in interstate commerce, in possession of data containing sensitive personally identifiable information, to disclose any breach of such information. *Price transparency - HR 2249, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. *Association health plans - HR 2607, To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees. *Privacy, identity theft - S 1490, A bill to prevent and mitigate identity theft, to ensure privacy, to provide notice of security breaches, and to enhance criminal penalties, law enforcement assistance, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information. *Coverage for dependents under TRICARE - HR 5136, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. *Budget enforcement resolution - H.Res 1493, Providing for budget enforcement for fiscal year 2011. *Premium assistance for unemployed - S 3421, Protecting Against Indebting our Descendants through Fully Offset Relief (PAID FOR) Temporary Extension Act of 2010; S 3548, Extend COBRA Premium Assistance Program Act of 2010. *Continuing resolution with temporary funding for HHS programs and agencies - HR 3081, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; S 3686, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011. *Data security, privacy - HR 5777, To foster transparency about the commercial use of personal information, provide consumers with meaningful choice about the collection, use, and disclosure of such information; S 3579, Data Security Act of of 2010; S 3742, Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2010. *Privacy proposal, collection and disclosure of certain personal information - Proposed legislation re this issue. *Medical liability reform - HR 1468, To provide health care liability reform, and for other purposes; S 45, A bill to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; HR 5690, Meaningful End to Defensive Medicine & Aimless Lawsuits (MedMal) Act of 2010; S 1734, A bill to reduce the cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform. *Antitrust exemption for physicians - HR 1493, To ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers. *Third-party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities - HR 1658, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability. *COBRA assistance - HR 4213, American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. * COBRA subsidies for the unemployed - S 2730, COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act of 2009. *COBRA extension - HR 5324, COBRA Health Benefits Extension Act of 2010; S 3393, COBRA Health Benefits Extension Act of 2010. *Transparency in healthcare pricing - HR 4700, Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act of 2010. *Health benefits plan information, transparency in hospital price and quality information - HR 4803, To ensure health care consumer and provider access to certain health benefits plan information and to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide transparency in hospital price and quality information. *Privacy protections for health information technology - HR 4061, To advance cybersecurity research, development, and technical standards, and for other purposes. *Fraud and abuse - S 458, A bill to amend the False Claims Act. *Cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements - S 988, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small businesses to set up simple cafeteria plans to provide nontaxable employee benefits to their employees, to make changes in the requirements for cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts, and benefits provided under such plans or accounts, and for other purposes.

S. 988; H.R.1843 - H-2-B visa program.

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 8 H.R. 5970 h.r. 64 S.420 S.988

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 25 - Fair Tax Act of 2009 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enact a national retail sales tax. NSBA supported. H.R. 275 - Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2009 A bill to repeal the mandatory three-percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supported. H.R. 627The Credit CARD Act of 2009 Bill would amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan. NSBA supported. H.R. 933 Family-Friendly Workplace Act of 2009 To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide compensatory time for employees in the private sector. NSBA supported. H.R. 946 - The Plain Language Act of 2009 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 1409 - Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 To amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes. NSBA opposed. H.R. 1470 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2009 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. 2151 Fair Pay Act To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. H.R. 2382 Credit Card Interchange Fees Act Bill would amend the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit unfair practices in electronic payment system networks, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 2460 Healthy Families Act Requires certain employers, who employ 15 or more employees for each working day during 20 or more workweeks a year, to permit each employee to earn at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. NSBA opposed. H.R. 2910 S Corporation Modernization Act of 2009 To provide permanent relief, the bill would allow S corporations to liquidate unproductive assets after seven yearsfreeing up capital to be used to grow the business and create jobs. NSBA supported. H.R. 2965 Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009 Bill would amend and reauthorize the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program. NSBA opposed. H.R. 3032 The Climate Change Center and Clearinghouse Act of 2009 Bill would establish within the SBA an Office of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change and a Climate Change Center and Clearinghouse to provide support and information on climate change to small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 3380 - Promoting Lending to America's Small Business 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, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3457 Small Business Credit Card Act of 2009 Bill would amend the Truth in Lending Act to provide coverage under such Act for credit cards issued to small businesses, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3615 - Home Office Tax Deduction Act of 2009 It amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. NSBA supported. H.R. 3639 - Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009 Bill would amend the Credit CARD Act of 2009 to establish an earlier effective date for various consumer protections, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3721 Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act The bill amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to clarify the appropriate standard of proof. NSBA is monitoring. H.R. 3905 The Estate Tax Relief Act of 2009 Bill increases the estate tax exemption level to $5 million, and reduces the rate to 35 percent, both phased-in over ten years. NSBA supported. H.R. 4067 The Business Checking Fairness Act Bill would authorize interest-bearing transaction accounts at depository institutions. NSBA supported. H.R. 4213 Tax Extenders Act of 2009 The bill would extend the research and development tax credit, the deduction for state sales and real property taxes, an exception for Subpart F active financing income, and the deduction allowed for teachers who purchase their own classroom supplies. NSBA supported. H.R. 4302 The Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act Bill would increase loan limits for small business concerns, to provide for low interest refinancing for small business concerns. NSBA supported. H.R. 4321 Comprehensive Immigration Reform ASAP Act of 2009 A bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform by providing a path the citizenship for non-documented individuals through the establishment of a set of criteria. In addition, the bill addresses border security and employee legality. NSBA has advocated for provisions that would protect small businesses against overly burdensome regulations resulting from mandates on small businesses. NSBA continues to monitor developments and advocate with staff the potential for unintended consequences resulting from immigration legislation to small businesses. H.R.4549 the Small Business Innovation to Job Creation Act of 2010 Bill would authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to make grants to small business concerns to assist the commercialization of research developed with funds received under the second phase of the Small Business Innovation Research Program. NSBA supported. H.R. 4855 Work-Life Balance Awards Act of 2010 To establish the Work-Life Balance Award for employers that have developed and implemented work-life balance policies. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. H.R. 5107 - Employee Misclassification Prevention Act of 2010 To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require persons to keep records of non-employees who perform labor or services for remuneration and to provide a special penalty for persons who misclassify employees as non-employees, and for other purposes. NSBA opposed. H.R. 5141 - Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act Repeals section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that requires any business that purchases more than $600 of goods or services from another business to submit a 1099 form to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). NSBA supported. H.R. 5297 The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 Bill would create a Small Business Lending Fund Program amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for small business job creation. NSBA supported. H.R. 5486 Small Business Jobs Tax Relief Act of 2010 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for small business job creation. NSBA supported. S. 182 Paycheck Fairness Act To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 292 - Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2009 A bill to repeal the mandatory three-percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supported. S. 296 Fair Tax Act of 2009 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. 515 The Patent Reform Act of 2009 Bill would reform U.S. patent system. NSBA opposed. S. 560 Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 To amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes. NSBA opposed. S. 574 - Plain Writing Act of 2009 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 725 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2009 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. S. 904 Fair Pay Act To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 988 SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009 Bill would update the tax code to allow small business employees to purchase employer-provided health insurance with pre-tax dollars. It also strengthens current law for all cafeteria plans by expanding dependent flexible spending accounts (DCFSA) and including coverage for long-term care benefits. NSBA has not taken a position on the legislation. S. 996 S Corporation Modernization Act of 2009 To provide permanent relief, the bill would allow S corporations to liquidate unproductive assets after seven yearsfreeing up capital to be used to grow the business and create jobs. NSBA supported. S. 1152 Healthy Families Act Requires certain employers, who employ 15 or more employees for each working day during 20 or more workweeks a year, to permit each employee to earn at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. NSBA opposed. S. 1233 SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009 Bill would reauthorize and improve the SBIR and STTR programs. NSBA supported. S. 1615 Next Step for Main Street Credit Availability Act of 2009 Bill would amend the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to stop the small business credit crunch, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 1617 The Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act Bill would require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program for the award of grants to states to establish revolving loan funds for small and medium-sized manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and produce clean energy technology. NSBA supported. S. 1754 - Home Office Deduction Simplification Act of 2009 It amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. NSBA supported. S. 1756 Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act To amend the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to clarify the appropriate standard of proof. NSBA is monitoring. S. 1832 Small Business Access to Capital Act of 2009 Bill would increase loan limits for small business concerns, provide for low interest refinancing for small business concerns, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 2784 Carper-Voinovich Estate Tax Proposal Bill would freeze the estate tax at the 2009 levelsany estate above $7 million per couple or $3.5 million per individual would be taxed at a 45 percent rate. NSBA supports permanent reform of the estate tax. S. 2869 The Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act Bill would increase loan limits for small business concerns, to provide for low interest refinancing for small business concerns. NSBA supported. S. 2919 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. 3018 Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010 A 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 supported. S. 3024 Job Impact Analysis Act of 2010 Bill to ensure that the creation of jobs by small businesses is considered during the Federal legislative and rulemaking process. NSBA supported. S. 3089 Small Business Patent Data Collection Act of 2010 Bill would require a study and report by the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration regarding the effects of proposed changes in patent law. NSBA opposed. S. 3254 Employee Misclassification Prevention Act of 2010 To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require persons to keep records of non-employees who perform labor or services for remuneration and to provide a special penalty for persons who misclassify employees as non-employees, and for other purposes. NSBA opposed. S.3533 Responsible Estate Tax Act The bill will permanently fix the estate tax by combining the 2009 exemption levels with progressive rates for larger estates, including a new billionaires surtax. NSBA supports permanent reform of the estate tax. S. 3578 - Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act Repeals section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that requires any business that purchases more than $600 of goods or services from another business to submit a 1099 form to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). NSBA supported. S. 4757 Health Insurance Rate Authority Act of 2010 To provide for the establishment of a Health Insurance Rate Authority to establish limits on premium rating, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. Issue: Comprehensive Immigration Reform A general outline for comprehensive immigration reform was been discussed in the Senate. NSBA has advocated for provisions that would protect small businesses against overly burdensome regulations resulting from mandates on small businesses. NSBA continues to monitor developments and advocate with staff the potential for unintended consequences resulting from immigration legislation to small businesses. Agency Comments on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Jointly filed comments were sent to Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Department of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Substantial health plan design changes (e.g., no annual/lifetime limits, bans on cost-sharing of preventative services) have September 2010 effective dates. NSBA requested at least six months to comply with regulations once they are implemented, and a good-faith standard for measuring compliance.

HR 460/S 210, The Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2009, support helping working families afford quality child care; HR 2298, Improving Dependent Care Tax Assistance Act, S 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, and S997, Family Tax Relief Act of 2009, support an increase to the cap on Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA); Promoting and publicizing the 2010 Best of Congress Awards, Disconnected Youth Tax Credit

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE, White House Office

H.Res. 1493 (Spratt) budget enforcement resolution; H.R. 1468, Medical Justice Act (Burgess) medical liability reform; (cont.) H.R. 1493, Quality Health Care Coalition Act (Paul) antitrust exemption for physicians; H.R. 1658, Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act (Tiahrt) third party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities; H.R. 2221, Data Accountability and Trust Act (Rush) data security; H.R. 2249, Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act (Burgess) price transparency; H.R. 2607: Small Business Health Coverage (Johnson) association health plans; H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Reid) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; H.R. 4061, Cybersecurity Enhancement Act (Lipinski) privacy protections for health information technology; H.R. 4213, Tax Extenders Act (Rangel/Baucus) premium assistance for unemployed, Roberts amendment addressing individual coverage requirement; H.R. 4691, Temporary Extension Act (Rangel) premium assistance for unemployed; H.R. 4700, Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act (Kagen) transparency in health care pricing; H.R. 4803, Patients' Right to Know Act (Barton) health benefits plan information, transparency in hospital price and quality information; H.R. 4851, Continuing Extension Act (Levin) premium assistance for unemployed, electronic health records; H.R. 5136, National Defense Authorization Act (Skelton) coverage for dependents under TRICARE; H.R. 5324, COBRA Health Benefits Extension Act (Davis) COBRA extension; H.R. 5486, Small Business Jobs Tax Relief Act (Levin) Camp motion addressing individual coverage requirement; H.R. 5690, MedMal Act (Gingrey) medical liability reform; S.Con.Res. 60, FY 2011 Budget Resolution (Conrad) reserve funds for health priorities; S. 45, Medical Care Access Protection Act (Ensign) medical liability reform; S. 139, Data Breach Notification Act (Feinstein) data security; S. 458, False Claims Act Clarification Act (Grassley) fraud and abuse; S. 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act (Snowe) cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements; S. 1490, Personal Data Privacy and Security Act (Leahy) privacy, identity theft; S. 1734, Medical Liability Reform (Kyl) medical liability reform; S. 2730, COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act (Brown) premium assistance for unemployed; S. 3393, COBRA Health Benefits Extension Act (Brown) COBRA extension; S. 3421, Temporary Extension Act (Grassley) premium assistance for unemployed; S. 3548 (Casey) premium assistance for unemployed HCR (Regulatory Issues): HIPAA administrative simplification issues, including standards for privacy, security, and electronic transactions and code sets; HIPAA enforcement; FEHBP enrollment data clearinghouse initiative; issues relating to health insurance plan participation in FEHBP, including contract requirements related to interoperability of health information technology, community rating policies, and similarly sized subscriber group (SSSG) requirement; implementation of the health savings account provisions of the Medicare Act; issues related to Medicare Secondary Payer requirements; issues related to implementation of the National Health Information Infrastructure; issues relating to market consolidation; issues relating to quality improvement; issues related to potential priority research topics for the effective health care program; issues relating to the national health data stewardship; issues relating to hospital outpatient measurement and reporting; issues related to genetics and genetic nondiscrimination; issues relating to mental health parity; issues relating to data breach requirements; issues relating to "meaningful use" requirements for health information technology; issues relating to Form 5500 reporting requirements; and issues relating to health care reform implementation.

S. 988; H.R.1843 - H-2-B visa program.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Public Law 111-148, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - implementation issues related to preserving and improving tax treatment for flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. Public Law 111-152, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act - implementation issues related to preserving and improving tax treatment for flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts in the context of health care reform legislation. S. 988, the SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, to allow small businesses to set up flexible spending accounts for their employees. H.R. 2526, the Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2009 - improve flexible spending accounts by reforming use-or-lose-it structure.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $75,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

HR 460/S 210, The Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2009, support helping working families afford quality child care; HR 2298/S 3067, Improving Dependent Care Tax Assistance Act, S 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, and S 997, Family Tax Relief Act of 2009, support an increase to the cap on Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA).

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

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE

Implementation of healthcare reform legislation, PL 111-148 (coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system refors, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse) - Executive Branch actions re these issues. *Data security - HR 2221, To protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect computerized data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach; S 139, A bill to require Federal agencies, and persons engaged in interstate commerce, in possession of data containing sensitive personally identifiable information, to disclose any breach of such information. *Price transparency - HR 2249, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. *Association health plans - HR 2607, To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees. *Privacy, identity theft - S 1490, A bill to prevent and mitigate identity theft, to ensure privacy, to provide notice of security breaches, and to enhance criminal penalties, law enforcement assistance, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information. *Coverage for dependents under TRICARE - HR 5136, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. *Camp motion addressing individual coverage requirement - HR 5486, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for small business job creation, and for other purposes. *Budget enforcement resolution - H.Res 1493, Providing for budget enforcement for fiscal year 2011. *Premium assistance for unemployed - S 3421, Protecting Against Indebting our Descendants through Fully Offset Relief (PAID FOR) Temporary Extension Act of 2010; S 3548, Extend COBRA Premium Assistance Program Act of 2010. *Reserve funds for health priorities - S Con Res 60, An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2011, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2010, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2012 through 2015. *Medical liability reform - HR 1468, To provide health care liability reform, and for other purposes; S 45, A bill to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; HR 5690, Meaningful End to Defensive Medicine & Aimless Lawsuits (MedMal) Act of 2010; S 1734, A bill to reduce the cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform. *Antitrust exemption for physicians - HR 1493, To ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers. *Third-party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities - HR 1658, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability. *COBRA assistance - HR 4213, American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 ; HR 4691, Temporary Extension Act of 2010 *COBRA assistance, electronic health records - HR 4851, Continuing Extension Act of 2010. * COBRA subsidies for the unemployed - S 2730, COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act of 2009. *COBRA extension - HR 5324, COBRA Health Benefits Extension Act of 2010; S 3393, COBRA Health Benefits Extension Act of 2010. *Transparency in healthcare pricing - HR 4700, Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act of 2010. *Health benefits plan information, transparency in hospital price and quality information - HR 4803, To ensure health care consumer and provider access to certain health benefits plan information and to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide transparency in hospital price and quality information. *Privacy protections for health information technology - HR 4061, To advance cybersecurity research, development, and technical standards, and for other purposes. *Fraud and abuse - S 458, A bill to amend the False Claims Act. *Cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements - S 988, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small businesses to set up simple cafeteria plans to provide nontaxable employee benefits to their employees, to make changes in the requirements for cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts, and benefits provided under such plans or accounts, and for other purposes.

H.R. 25 - Fair Tax Act of 2009 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enact a national retail sales tax. NSBA supported. H.R. 275 - Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2009 A bill to repeal the mandatory three-percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supported. H.R. 933 Family-Friendly Workplace Act of 2009 To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide compensatory time for employees in the private sector. NSBA supported. H.R. 946 - The Plain Language Act of 2009 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 1409 - Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 To amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes. NSBA opposed. H.R. 1470 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2009 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. 2151 Fair Pay Act To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. H.R. 2382 Credit Card Interchange Fees Act Bill would amend the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit unfair practices in electronic payment system networks, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 2460 Healthy Families Act Requires certain employers, who employ 15 or more employees for each working day during 20 or more workweeks a year, to permit each employee to earn at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. NSBA opposed. H.R. 2847 Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act Legislation that includes $17.6 billion in tax cuts aimed at encouraging businesses to hire new workers. NSBA supported. H.R. 2910 S Corporation Modernization Act of 2009 To provide permanent relief, the bill would allow S corporations to liquidate unproductive assets after seven yearsfreeing up capital to be used to grow the business and create jobs. NSBA supported. H.R. 2965 Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009 Bill would amend and reauthorize the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program. NSBA opposed. H.R. 3380 Promoting Lending to Americas Small Business 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, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3457 Small Business Credit Card Act of 2009 Bill would amend the Truth in Lending Act to provide coverage under such Act for credit cards issued to small businesses, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Comprehensive health care reform legislation. NSBA opposed. H.R. 3615 - Home Office Tax Deduction Act of 2009 It amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. NSBA supported. H.R. 3639 - Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009 Bill would amend the Credit CARD Act of 2009 to establish an earlier effective date for various consumer protections, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3905 The Estate Tax Relief Act of 2009 Bill increases the estate tax exemption level to $5 million, and reduces the rate to 35 percent, both phased-in over ten years. NSBA supported. H.R. 3991 Emergency Influenza Containment Act To ensure that American workers are able to follow, without financial harm, the recommendations of their employer and public health authorities to stay home when they have symptoms of a contagious disease that may put co-workers, customers, or the public at risk. NSBA opposed. H.R. 4067 The Business Checking Fairness Act Bill would authorize interest-bearing transaction accounts at depository institutions. NSBA supported. H.R. 4154 The Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers and Small Businesses Bill of 2009 Bill permanently extends the top federal estate tax rate of 45 percent with a $3.5 million exclusion. NSBA supports permanent reform of the estate tax. H.R. 4213 Tax Extenders Act of 2009 The bill would extend the research and development tax credit, the deduction for state sales and real property taxes, an exception for Subpart F active financing income, and the deduction allowed for teachers who purchase their own classroom supplies. NSBA supported. H.R. 4302 The Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act Bill would increase loan limits for small business concerns, to provide for low interest refinancing for small business concerns. NSBA supported. H.R. 4321 Comprehensive Immigration Reform ASAP Act of 2009 A bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform by providing a path the citizenship for non-documented individuals through the establishment of a set of criteria. In addition, the bill addresses border security and employee legality. NSBA has advocated for provisions that would protect small businesses against overly burdensome regulations resulting from mandates on small businesses. NSBA continues to monitor developments and advocate with staff the potential for unintended consequences resulting from immigration legislation to small businesses. H.R.4549 the Small Business Innovation to Job Creation Act of 2010 Bill would authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to make grants to small business concerns to assist the commercialization of research developed with funds received under the second phase of the Small Business Innovation Research Program. NSBA supported. H.R. 4855 - Work-Life Balance Awards Act of 2010 To establish the Work-Life Balance Award for employers that have developed and implemented work-life balance policies. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. H.R. 4872 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 Reconciliation language amending H.R. 3590. NSBA opposed. H.R. 4849 Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act of 2010 The bill includes a 100 percent exclusion of capital gains taxes for small businesses; an extension of Build America Bonds; and a provision allowing the new markets tax credit to be claimed against the alternative minimum tax. NSBA supported. S. 182 Paycheck Fairness Act To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 292 - Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2009 A bill to repeal the mandatory three-percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supported. S. 515 The Patent Reform Act of 2009 Bill would reform U.S. patent system. NSBA opposed. S. 560 Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 To amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes. NSBA opposed. S. 574 - Plain Writing Act of 2009 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 725 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2009 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. S. 904 Fair Pay Act To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 996 S Corporation Modernization Act of 2009 To provide permanent relief, the bill would allow S corporations to liquidate unproductive assets after seven yearsfreeing up capital to be used to grow the business and create jobs. NSBA supported. S. 988 SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009 Bill would update the tax code to allow small business employees to purchase employer-provided health insurance with pre-tax dollars. It also strengthens current law for all cafeteria plans by expanding dependent flexible spending accounts (DCFSA) and including coverage for long-term care benefits. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. S. 1152 Healthy Families Act Requires certain employers, who employ 15 or more employees for each working day during 20 or more workweeks a year, to permit each employee to earn at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. NSBA opposed. S. 1233 SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009 Bill would reauthorize and improve the SBIR and STTR programs. NSBA supported. S. 1615 Next Step for Main Street Credit Availability Act of 2009 Bill would amend the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to stop the small business credit crunch, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 1617 The Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act Bill would require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program for the award of grants to states to establish revolving loan funds for small and medium-sized manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and produce clean energy technology. NSBA supported. S. 1754 - Home Office Deduction Simplification Act of 2009 It amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. NSBA supported. S. 1832 Small Business Access to Capital Act of 2009 Bill would increase loan limits for small business concerns, provide for low interest refinancing for small business concerns, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 2784 Carper-Voinovich Estate Tax Proposal Bill would freeze the estate tax at the 2009 levelsany estate above $7 million per couple or $3.5 million per individual would be taxed at a 45 percent rate. NSBA supports permanent reform of the estate tax. S. 2869 The Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act Bill would increase loan limits for small business concerns, to provide for low interest refinancing for small business concerns. NSBA supported. S. 2919 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. 3018 Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010 A 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 supported. S. 3024 Job Impact Analysis Act of 2010 Bill to ensure that the creation of jobs by small businesses is considered during the Federal legislative and rulemaking process. NSBA supported. S. 3089 Small Business Patent Data Collection Act of 2010 Bill would require a study and report by the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration regarding the effects of proposed changes in patent law. NSBA opposed. S. 4757 Health Insurance Rate Authority Act of 2010 To provide for the establishment of a Health Insurance Rate Authority to establish limits on premium rating, and for other purposes. NSBA is monitoring this legislation. Issue: Comprehensive Immigration Reform A general outline for comprehensive immigration reform was been discussed in the Senate. NSBA has advocated for provisions that would protect small businesses against overly burdensome regulations resulting from mandates on small businesses. NSBA continues to monitor developments and advocate with staff the potential for unintended consequences resulting from immigration legislation to small businesses.

Public Law 111-148, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. Public Law 111-152, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act - preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. S. 988, the SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, to allow small businesses to set up flexible spending accounts for their employees. H.R. 2526, the Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2009 - improve flexible spending accounts by reforming use-or-lose-it structure.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $75,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Public Law 111-148, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. Public Law 111-152, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act - preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. S. 988, the SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, to allow small businesses to set up flexible spending accounts for their employees. H.R. 2526, the Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2009 - improve flexible spending accounts by reforming use-or-lose-it structure.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $75,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 8 H.R. 5970 H.R. 64 S. 420 S. 988

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 109, America's Affordable Health Care Act (Fortenberg) - essential benefits plan, high risk pools; H.R. 544, Flexible Health Savings Act (Royce) - FSA rollovers; H.R. 1086, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare Act (Gingrey) - medical liability reform; (cont.) HCR (Legislative) H.R. 1468, Medical Justice Act (Burgess) medical liability reform; H.R. 1493, Quality Health Care Coalition Act (Paul) antitrust exemption for physicians; H.R. 1658, Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act (Tiahrt) third party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities; H.R. 2221, Data Accountability and Trust Act (Rush) data security; H.R. 2249, Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act (Burgess) price transparency; H.R. 2502, Comparative Effectiveness Research Act (Schrader) comparative effectiveness research; H.R. 2520, Patients Choice Act (Ryan) comprehensive health reform; H.R. 2607: Small Business Health Coverage (Johnson) association health plans; H.R. 2668, Choice in Health Options Insures Care for Everyone Act (Murphy) government run health plan; H.R. 2847, Jobs for Main Street Act (Mollohan) extension of COBRA subsidies for the unemployed; H.R. 3002, PATIENTS Act (Boehner) comparative effectiveness research; H.R. 3200, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act (Dingell) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; H.R. 3400, Empowering Patients First Act (Price) premium subsidies, national marketplace, medical liability reforms, wellness, transparency, quality; H.R. 3468, Prevention and Wellness Programs (Castle) incentives for prevention and wellness; H.R. 3472, Premium Discounts for Healthy Behavior (Dahlkemper) premium discounts for healthy behavior; H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Reid) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; H.R. 3962, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act (Dingell) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; H.R. 4061, Cybersecurity Enhancement Act (Lipinski) privacy protections for health information technology; H.R. 4213, Tax Extenders Act (Rangel) COBRA assistance; H.R. 4691, Temporary Extension Act (Rangel) COBRA assistance; H.R. 4700, Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act (Kagen) transparency in health care pricing; H.R. 4803, Patients' Right to Know Act (Barton) health benefits plan information, transparency in hospital price and quality information; H.R. 4851, Continuing Extension Act (Levin) COBRA assistance, electronic health records; S. 45, Medical Care Access Protection Act (Ensign) medical liability reform; S. 139, Data Breach Notification Act (Feinstein) data security; S. 179, Health Information Technology Act (Stabenow) health information technology; S. 458, False Claims Act Clarification Act (Grassley) fraud and abuse; S. 698, State-Based Health Care Reform Act (Feingold) pilot projects for state-based health reforms; S. 913, Workforce Health Improvement Program Act (Cornyn) wellness incentives; S. 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act (Snowe) cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements; S. 1099, Patients Choice Act (Coburn) comprehensive health reform; S. 1213, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act (Baucus) comparative effectiveness research; S. 1259, PATIENTS Act (Kyl) comparative effectiveness research; S. 1278, Consumers Health Care Act (Rockefeller) government run health plan; S. 1490, Personal Data Privacy and Security Act (Leahy) privacy, identity theft; S. 1679, Affordable Health Choices Act (Harkin) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; S. 1734, Medical Liability Reform (Kyl) medical liability reform; S. 1796, Americas Healthy Future Act (Baucus) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; S. 2730, COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act (Brown) COBRA subsidies for the unemployed; S. 3153, Continuing Extension Act (Grassley) COBRA assistance, electronic health records HCR (Regulatory Issues): HIPAA administrative simplification issues, including standards for privacy, security, and electronic transactions and code sets; HIPAA enforcement; FEHBP enrollment data clearinghouse initiative; issues relating to health insurance plan participation in FEHBP, including contract requirements related to interoperability of health information technology, community rating policies, and similarly sized subscriber group (SSSG) requirement; implementation of the health savings account provisions of the Medicare Act; issues related to Medicare Secondary Payer requirements; issues related to implementation of the National Health Information Infrastructure; issues relating to market consolidation; issues relating to quality improvement; issues related to potential priority research topics for the effective health care program; issues relating to the national health data stewardship; issues relating to hospital outpatient measurement and reporting; issues related to genetics and genetic nondiscrimination; issues relating to mental health parity; issues relating to data breach requirements; issues relating to "meaningful use" requirements for health information technology; and issues relating to Form 5500 reporting requirements.

S. 988; H.R.1843 - H-2-B visa program.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system refors, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - HR 3962, To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in healthcare spending, and for other purposes; HR 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Healthcare reform - HR 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. *Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - HR 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act. *Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - S 1679, An original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce; S 1796, An original bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. *Essential benefits plan, high-risk pools - HR 109, To provide for the offering of Health Benefit Plans to individuals, to increase funding for State high risk health insurance pools, and to promote best practice protocols for State high risk pools. *FSA rollovers - HR 544, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow amounts in a health flexible spending arrangement that are unused during a plan year to be carried over to subsequent plan years or deposited into certain health or retirement plans. *Data security - HR 2221, To protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect computerized data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach; S 139, A bill to require Federal agencies, and persons engaged in interstate commerce, in possession of data containing sensitive personally identifiable information, to disclose any breach of such information. *Price transparency - HR 2249, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. *Association health plans - HR 2607, To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees. *Premium subsidies, national marketplace, medical liability reforms, wellness, transparency, quality - HR 3400, To provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage, and for other purposes. *Incentives for prevention and wellness - HR 3468, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Public Health Service Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to promote the use of prevention and wellness programs. *Premium discounts for healthy behavior - HR 3472, To provide for health insurance coverage premium discounts for healthy behavior and improvements toward healthy behavior. *Privacy, identity theft - S 1490, A bill to prevent and mitigate identity theft, to ensure privacy, to provide notice of security breaches, and to enhance criminal penalties, law enforcement assistance, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information. *Medical liability reform - HR 1086, To improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; HR 1468, To provide health care liability reform, and for other purposes; S 45, A bill to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; S 1734, A bill to reduce the cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform. *Antitrust exemption for physicians - HR 1493, To ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers. *Third-party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities - HR 1658, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability. 8Health information technology - S 179, A bill to improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology. *uninsured individuals through State health care coverage pilot projects that expand coverage and access and improve quality and efficiency in the health care system. *Comparative effectiveness research - HR 2502, To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes; HR 3002, To protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response; S 1213, A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes; S 1259, A bill to protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response. *Extension of COBRA subsidies for the unemployed - HR 2847, Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. *COBRA assistance - HR 4213, American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 ; HR 4691, Temporary Extension Act of 2010 *COBRA assistance, electronic health records - HR 4851, Continuing Extension Act of 2010; S 3153, Continuing Extension Act of 2010. *Transparency in healthcare pricing - HR 4700, Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act of 2010. *Health benefits plan information, transparency in hospital price and quality information - HR 4803, To ensure health care consumer and provider access to certain health benefits plan information and to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide transparency in hospital price and quality information. *Privacy protections for health information technology - HR 4061, To advance cybersecurity research, development, and technical standards, and for other purposes. *Government-run health plan - HR 2668, To provide for the offering of an American Trust Health Plan to provide choice in health insurance options so as to ensure quality, affordable health coverage for all Americans; S 1278, A bill to establish the Consumers Choice Health Plan, a public health insurance plan that provides an affordable and accountable health insurance option for consumers. *Fraud and abuse - S 458, A bill to amend the False Claims Act. 8Wellness incentives - S 913, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand workplace health incentives by equalizing the tax consequences of employee athletic facility use. *Cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements - S 988, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small businesses to set up simple cafeteria plans to provide nontaxable employee benefits to their employees, to make changes in the requirements for cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts, and benefits provided under such plans or accounts, and for other purposes. *Comprehensive health reform - S 1099, A bill to provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States, and for other purposes; HR 2520, To provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States, and for other purposes.

HR 460/S 210, The Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2009, support helping working families afford quality child care; HR 2298/S 3067, Improving Dependent Care Tax Assistance Act, S 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, and S 997, Family Tax Relief Act of 2009, support an increase to the cap on Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA).

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE

HR 460/S 210, The Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2009, support helping working families afford quality child care; HR 2298, Improving Dependent Care Tax Assistance Act, S 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, and S997, Family Tax Relief Act of 2009, support an increase to the cap on Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA); Promoting and publicizing the 2010 Best of Congress Awards.

Client expense: $18,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforsm, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - HR 3200, To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes; proposed legislation re these issue. Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - HR 3962, To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - S 1679, An original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce; S 1796, An original bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. Single-payer health reform - HR 15, To provide a program of national health insurance, and for other purposes; HR 676, To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for other purposes; HR 1200, To provide for health care for every American and to control the cost and enhance the quality of the health care system; S 703, A bill to provide for health care for every American and to control the cost and enhance the quality of the health care system. Essential benefits plan, high-risk pools - HR 109, To provide for the offering of Health Benefit Plans to individuals, to increase funding for State high risk health insurance pools, and to promote best practice protocols for State high risk pools. New government health program - HR 193, To amend the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for an AmeriCare that assures the provision of health insurance coverage to all residents, and for other purposes. FSA rollovers - HR 544, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow amounts in a health flexible spending arrangement that are unused during a plan year to be carried over to subsequent plan years or deposited into certain health or retirement plans. Data security - HR 2221, To protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect computerized data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach; S 139, A bill to require Federal agencies, and persons engaged in interstate commerce, in possession of data containing sensitive personally identifiable information, to disclose any breach of such information. Price transparency - HR 2249, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. Association health plans - HR 2607, To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees. High risk pool funding, comparative effectiveness research, HHS programs - HR 3292, To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for a 6-month period for Federal judges to opt into the Judicial Survivors' Annuities System and begin contributing toward an annuity for their spouse and dependent children upon their death, and for other purposes; HR 3288, Making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. Premium subsidies, national marketplace, medical liability reforms, wellness, transparency, quality - HR 3400, To provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage, and for other purposes. Incentives for prevention and wellness - HR 3468, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Public Health Service Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to promote the use of prevention and wellness programs. Premium discounts for healthy behavior - HR 3472, To provide for health insurance coverage premium discounts for healthy behavior and improvements toward healthy behavior. Privacy, identity theft - S 1490, A bill to prevent and mitigate identity theft, to ensure privacy, to provide notice of security breaches, and to enhance criminal penalties, law enforcement assistance, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information. Medical liability reform - HR 1086, To improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; HR 1468, To provide health care liability reform, and for other purposes; S 45, A bill to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; S 1734, A bill to reduce the cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform. Antitrust exemption for physicians - HR 1493, To ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers. Third-party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities - HR 1658, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability. Health information technology - S 179, A bill to improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology. Pilot projects for State-based health reforms - S 698, A bill to ensure the provision of high-quality health care coverage for uninsured individuals through State health care coverage pilot projects that expand coverage and access and improve quality and efficiency in the health care system. Comparative effectiveness research - HR 2502, To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes; HR 3002, To protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response; S 1213, A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes; S 1259, A bill to protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response. Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - HR 3590, An act entitled The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Extension of COBRA subsidies for the unemployed - HR 2847, Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes; HR 3326, Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. Privacy protections for health information technology - HR 4061, To advance cybersecurity research, development, and technical standards, and for other purposes. Government-run health plan - HR 2668, To provide for the offering of an American Trust Health Plan to provide choice in health insurance options so as to ensure quality, affordable health coverage for all Americans; S 1278, A bill to establish the Consumers Choice Health Plan, a public health insurance plan that provides an affordable and accountable health insurance option for consumers. Fraud and abuse - S 458, A bill to amend the False Claims Act. Wellness incentives - S 913, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand workplace health incentives by equalizing the tax consequences of employee athletic facility use. Cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements - S 988, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small businesses to set up simple cafeteria plans to provide nontaxable employee benefits to their employees, to make changes in the requirements for cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts, and benefits provided under such plans or accounts, and for other purposes. Comprehensive health reform - S 1099, A bill to provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States, and for other purposes; HR 2520, To provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States, and for other purposes.

H.R. 8 H.R. 5970 H.R. 64 S. 420 S. 988

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009 - preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. S. 1796, America's Healthy Future Act of 2009 - preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009 - preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. S. 988, the SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, to allow small businesses to set up flexible spending accounts for their employees. H.R. 2526, the Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2009 - improve flexible spending accounts by reforming use-or-lose-it structure.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $75,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009 - preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. S. 1796, America's Healthy Future Act of 2009 - preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009 - preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. S. 988, the SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, to allow small businesses to set up flexible spending accounts for their employees. H.R. 2526, the Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2009 - improve flexible spending accounts by reforming use-or-lose-it structure.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $75,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 15, National Health Insurance Act (Dingell) single-payer health reform; H.R. 109, America's Affordable Health Care Act (Fortenberg) essential benefits plan, high risk pools; H.R. 193, AmeriCare Health Care Act (Stark) new government health program; H.R. 544, Flexible Health Savings Act (Royce) FSA rollovers; H.R. 676, United States National Health Care Act (Conyers) single payer health reform; H.R. 1086, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare Act (Gingrey) medical liability reform; H.R. 1200, American Health Security Act (McDermott) single-payer health reform; H.R. 1468, Medical Justice Act (Burgess) medical liability reform; H.R. 1493, Quality Health Care Coalition Act (Paul) antitrust exemption for physicians; H.R. 1658, Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act (Tiahrt) third party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities; H.R. 2221, Data Accountability and Trust Act (Rush) data security; H.R. 2249, Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act (Burgess) price transparency; H.R. 2502, Comparative Effectiveness Research Act (Schrader) comparative effectiveness research; H.R. 2520, Patients Choice Act (Ryan) comprehensive health reform; H.R. 2607: Small Business Health Coverage (Johnson) association health plans; H.R. 2668, Choice in Health Options Insures Care for Everyone Act (Murphy) government run health plan; H.R. 2847, Jobs for Main Street Act (Mollohan) extension of COBRA subsidies for the unemployed; H.R. 3002, PATIENTS Act (Boehner) comparative effectiveness research; H.R. 3200, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act (Dingell) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; H.R. 3288, Consolidated Appropriations Act (Olver) high risk pool funding, comparative effectiveness research, HHS programs; H.R. 3293, Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Act (Obey/Harkin) high risk pool funding, comparative effectiveness research, HHS programs; H.R. 3326, Defense Appropriations Act (Murtha) extension of COBRA subsidies for the unemployed; H.R. 3400, Empowering Patients First Act (Price) premium subsidies, national marketplace, medical liability reforms, wellness, transparency, quality; H.R. 3468, Prevention and Wellness Programs (Castle) incentives for prevention and wellness; H.R. 3472, Premium Discounts for Healthy Behavior (Dahlkemper) premium discounts for healthy behavior; H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Reid) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; H.R. 3962, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act (Dingell) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; H.R. 4061, Cybersecurity Enhancement Act (Lipinski) privacy protections for health information technology; S. 45, Medical Care Access Protection Act (Ensign) medical liability reform; S. 139, Data Breach Notification Act (Feinstein) data security; S. 179, Health Information Technology Act (Stabenow) health information technology; S. 458, False Claims Act Clarification Act (Grassley) fraud and abuse; S. 698, State-Based Health Care Reform Act (Feingold) pilot projects for state-based health reforms; S. 703, American Health Security Act (Sanders) single-payer health reform; S. 913, Workforce Health Improvement Program Act (Cornyn) wellness incentives; S. 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act (Snowe) cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements; S. 1099, Patients Choice Act (Coburn) comprehensive health reform; S. 1213, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act (Baucus) comparative effectiveness research; S. 1259, PATIENTS Act (Kyl) comparative effectiveness research; S. 1278, Consumers Health Care Act (Rockefeller) government run health plan; S. 1490, Personal Data Privacy and Security Act (Leahy) privacy, identity theft; S. 1679, Affordable Health Choices Act (Harkin) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; S. 1734, Medical Liability Reform (Kyl) medical liability reform; S. 1796, Americas Healthy Future Act (Baucus) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; S. 2730, COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act (Brown) COBRA subsidies for the unemployed HCR (Regulatory Issues): HIPAA administrative simplification issues, including standards for privacy, security, and electronic transactions and code sets; HIPAA enforcement; FEHBP enrollment data clearinghouse initiative; issues relating to health insurance plan participation in FEHBP, including contract requirements related to interoperability of health information technology, community rating policies, and similarly sized subscriber group (SSSG) requirement; implementation of the health savings account provisions of the Medicare Act; issues related to Medicare Secondary Payer requirements; issues related to implementation of the National Health Information Infrastructure; issues relating to market consolidation; issues relating to quality improvement; issues related to potential priority research topics for the effective health care program; issues relating to the national health data stewardship; issues relating to hospital outpatient measurement and reporting; issues related to genetics and genetic nondiscrimination; issues relating to mental health parity; issues relating to data breach requirements; issues relating to "meaningful use" requirements for health information technology; and issues relating to Form 5500 reporting requirements.

S. 988; H.R.1843 - H-2-B visa program.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

HR 460/S 210, The Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2009, support helping working families afford quality child care; HR 2298, Improving Dependent Care Tax Assistance Act, S 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, and S 997, Family Tax Relief Act of 2009, support an increase to the cap on Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA).

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE

Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforsm, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - HR 3200, To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes; proposed legislation re these issue. Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - HR 3962, To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - S 1679, An original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce; S 1796, An original bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. Single-payer health reform - HR 15, To provide a program of national health insurance, and for other purposes; HR 676, To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for other purposes; HR 1200, To provide for health care for every American and to control the cost and enhance the quality of the health care system; S 703, A bill to provide for health care for every American and to control the cost and enhance the quality of the health care system. Essential benefits plan, high-risk pools - HR 109, To provide for the offering of Health Benefit Plans to individuals, to increase funding for State high risk health insurance pools, and to promote best practice protocols for State high risk pools. New government health program - HR 193, To amend the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for an AmeriCare that assures the provision of health insurance coverage to all residents, and for other purposes. FSA rollovers - HR 544, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow amounts in a health flexible spending arrangement that are unused during a plan year to be carried over to subsequent plan years or deposited into certain health or retirement plans. Data security - HR 2221, To protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect computerized data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach; S 139, A bill to require Federal agencies, and persons engaged in interstate commerce, in possession of data containing sensitive personally identifiable information, to disclose any breach of such information. Price transparency - HR 2249, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. Association health plans - HR 2607, To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees. High risk pool funding, comparative effectiveness research, HHS programs - HR 3292, To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for a 6-month period for Federal judges to opt into the Judicial Survivors' Annuities System and begin contributing toward an annuity for their spouse and dependent children upon their death, and for other purposes; HR 3288, Making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. Premium subsidies, national marketplace, medical liability reforms, wellness, transparency, quality - HR 3400, To provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage, and for other purposes. Incentives for prevention and wellness - HR 3468, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Public Health Service Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to promote the use of prevention and wellness programs. Premium discounts for healthy behavior - HR 3472, To provide for health insurance coverage premium discounts for healthy behavior and improvements toward healthy behavior. Privacy, identity theft - S 1490, A bill to prevent and mitigate identity theft, to ensure privacy, to provide notice of security breaches, and to enhance criminal penalties, law enforcement assistance, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information. Medical liability reform - HR 1086, To improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; HR 1468, To provide health care liability reform, and for other purposes; S 45, A bill to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; S 1734, A bill to reduce the cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform. Antitrust exemption for physicians - HR 1493, To ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers. Third-party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities - HR 1658, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability. Health information technology - S 179, A bill to improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology. Pilot projects for State-based health reforms - S 698, A bill to ensure the provision of high-quality health care coverage for uninsured individuals through State health care coverage pilot projects that expand coverage and access and improve quality and efficiency in the health care system. Comparative effectiveness research - HR 2502, To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes; HR 3002, To protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response; S 1213, A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes; S 1259, A bill to protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response. Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, cost containment, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - HR 3590, An act entitled The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Extension of COBRA subsidies for the unemployed - HR 2847, Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes; HR 3326, Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. Privacy protections for health information technology - HR 4061, To advance cybersecurity research, development, and technical standards, and for other purposes. Government-run health plan - HR 2668, To provide for the offering of an American Trust Health Plan to provide choice in health insurance options so as to ensure quality, affordable health coverage for all Americans; S 1278, A bill to establish the Consumers Choice Health Plan, a public health insurance plan that provides an affordable and accountable health insurance option for consumers. Fraud and abuse - S 458, A bill to amend the False Claims Act. Wellness incentives - S 913, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand workplace health incentives by equalizing the tax consequences of employee athletic facility use. Cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements - S 988, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small businesses to set up simple cafeteria plans to provide nontaxable employee benefits to their employees, to make changes in the requirements for cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts, and benefits provided under such plans or accounts, and for other purposes. Comprehensive health reform - S 1099, A bill to provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States, and for other purposes; HR 2520, To provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States, and for other purposes.

HR 460/S 210, The Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2009, support helping working families afford quality child care; HR 2298, Improving Dependent Care Tax Assistance Act, S 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, and S997, Family Tax Relief Act of 2009, support an increase to the cap on Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA); Promoting and publicizing the 2010 Best of Congress Awards.

Client expense: $25,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE

H.R. 8 H.R. 5970 H.R. 64 S. 420 S. 988

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 3200, the Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. Senate Finance Committee Chairman's Mark, preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. S. 988, the SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, to allow small businesses to set up flexible spending accounts for their employees. H.R. 2526, the Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2009 - improve flexible spending accounts by reforming use-or-lose-it structure.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $75,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 3200, the Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. Senate Finance Committee Chairman's mark, preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. S. 988, the SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, to allow small businesses to set up flexible spending accounts for their employees. H.R. 2526, the Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2009 - improve flexible spending accounts by reforming use-or-lose-it structure.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $75,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

S. 988; H.R.1843 - H-2-B visa program.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $50,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Senate Finance Committee Americas Healthy Future Act HR 859 To encourage the development of small business cooperatives for healthcare options to improve coverage for employees (CHOICE) including through a small business CHOICE tax credit HR 956 To expand the number of individuals and families with health insurance coverage, and for other purposes HR 1558 To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit preexisting condition exclusions in group health plans and health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets H.R. 1897 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to employers for the costs of implementing wellness programs, and for other purposes H.R. 2520 to provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States, and for other purposes HR 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 S 179 To improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology S 623 To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, title XXVII of the Public Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit preexisting condition exclusions in group health plans and in health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets S 803 A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to employers for the costs of implementing wellness programs, and for other purposes. S. Amdt 98 In the nature of a substitute S. 988 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small businesses to set up simple cafeteria plans to provide nontaxable employee benefits to their employees, to make changes in the requirements for cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts, and benefits provided under such plans or accounts, and for other purposes S. 979 to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make health coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible S. 1099 to provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States, and for other purposes S. 1149 to eliminate annual and lifetime aggregate limits imposed by health plans S. 1152 to allow Americans to earn paid sick time so that they can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families S. Res. 156 expressing the sense of the Senate that reform of our nation's health care system should include the establishment of a federally-backed insurance pool S. 1488 to extend temporarily the 18-month period of continuation coverage under group health plans required under COBRA continuation coverage provisions so as to provide for a total period of continuation coverage of up to 24 months S. 1679 the Affordable Health Choices Act -- An original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce.

All aspects of healthcare reform - HR 3200, To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes; proposed legislation re these issues. Committee investigations into health insurance practices - Congressional inquiry. Single-payer health reform - HR 15, To provide a program of national health insurance, and for other purposes; HR 676, To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for other purposes; HR 1200, To provide for health care for every American and to control the cost and enhance the quality of the health care system; S 703, A bill to provide for health care for every American and to control the cost and enhance the quality of the health care system. Essential benefits plan, high-risk pools - HR 109, To provide for the offering of Health Benefit Plans to individuals, to increase funding for State high risk health insurance pools, and to promote best practice protocols for State high risk pools. New government health program - HR 193, To amend the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for an AmeriCare that assures the provision of health insurance coverage to all residents, and for other purposes. FSA rollovers - HR 544, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow amounts in a health flexible spending arrangement that are unused during a plan year to be carried over to subsequent plan years or deposited into certain health or retirement plans. Data security - HR 2221, To protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect computerized data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach. Price transparency - HR 2249, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. Association health plans - HR 2607, To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees. High risk pool funding, comparative effectiveness research, HHS programs - HR 3292, To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for a 6-month period for Federal judges to opt into the Judicial Survivors' Annuities System and begin contributing toward an annuity for their spouse and dependent children upon their death, and for other purposes. Premium subsidies, national marketplace, medical liability reforms, wellness, transparency, quality - HR 3400, To provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage, and for other purposes. Incentives for prevention and wellness - HR 3468, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Public Health Service Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to promote the use of prevention and wellness programs. Premium discounts for healthy behavior - HR 3472, To provide for health insurance coverage premium discounts for healthy behavior and improvements toward healthy behavior. Privacy, identity theft - S 1490, A bill to prevent and mitigate identity theft, to ensure privacy, to provide notice of security breaches, and to enhance criminal penalties, law enforcement assistance, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information. Coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery systems refors, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, admin. simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse - S 1679, An original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce. Medical liability reform - HR 1086, To improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; HR 1468, To provide health care liability reform, and for other purposes; S 45, A bill to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; S 1734, A bill to reduce the cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform. Antitrust exemption for physicians - HR 1493, To ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers. Third-party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities - HR 1658, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability. Health information technology - S 179, A bill to improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology. Pilot projects for State-based health reforms - S 698, A bill to ensure the provision of high-quality health care coverage for uninsured individuals through State health care coverage pilot projects that expand coverage and access and improve quality and efficiency in the health care system. Comparative effectiveness research - HR 2502, To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes; HR 3002, To protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response; S 1213, A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes; S 1259, A bill to protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response. Government-run health plan - HR 2668, To provide for the offering of an American Trust Health Plan to provide choice in health insurance options so as to ensure quality, affordable health coverage for all Americans; S 1278, A bill to establish the Consumers Choice Health Plan, a public health insurance plan that provides an affordable and accountable health insurance option for consumers. Fraud and abuse - S 458, A bill to amend the False Claims Act. Wellness incentives - S 913, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand workplace health incentives by equalizing the tax consequences of employee athletic facility use. Cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements - S 988, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small businesses to set up simple cafeteria plans to provide nontaxable employee benefits to their employees, to make changes in the requirements for cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts, and benefits provided under such plans or accounts, and for other purposes. Comprehensive health reform - S 1099, A bill to provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States, and for other purposes; HR 2520, To provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States, and for other purposes.

Americas Healthy Future Act (Baucus) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse (cont.) HCR (cont.) H.R. 15, National Health Insurance Act (Dingell) single-payer health reform; H.R. 109, America's Affordable Health Care Act (Fortenberg) essential benefits plan, high risk pools; H.R. 193, AmeriCare Health Care Act (Stark) new government health program; H.R. 544, Flexible Health Savings Act (Royce) FSA rollovers; H.R. 676, United States National Health Care Act (Conyers) single payer health reform; H.R. 1086, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare Act (Gingrey) medical liability reform; H.R. 1200, American Health Security Act (McDermott) single-payer health reform; H.R. 1468, Medical Justice Act (Burgess) medical liability reform; H.R. 1493, Quality Health Care Coalition Act (Paul) antitrust exemption for physicians; H.R. 1658, Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act (Tiahrt) third party billing by VA for service-connected disabilities; H.R. 2221, Data Accountability and Trust Act (Rush) data security; H.R. 2249, Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act (Burgess) price transparency; H.R. 2502, Comparative Effectiveness Research Act (Schrader) comparative effectiveness research; H.R. 2520, Patients Choice Act (Ryan) comprehensive health reform; H.R. 2607: Small Business Health Coverage (Johnson) association health plans; H.R. 2668, Choice in Health Options Insures Care for Everyone Act (Murphy) government run health plan; H.R. 3002, PATIENTS Act (Boehner) comparative effectiveness research; H.R. 3200, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act (Dingell) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; H.R. 3293, Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Act (Obey/Harkin) high risk pool funding, comparative effectiveness research, HHS programs; H.R. 3400, Empowering Patients First Act (Price) premium subsidies, national marketplace, medical liability reforms, wellness, transparency, quality; H.R. 3468, Prevention and Wellness Programs (Castle) incentives for prevention and wellness; H.R. 3472, Premium Discounts for Healthy Behavior (Dahlkemper) premium discounts for healthy behavior; S. 45, Medical Care Access Protection Act (Ensign) medical liability reform; S. 179, Health Information Technology Act (Stabenow) health information technology;S. 458, False Claims Act Clarification Act (Grassley) fraud and abuse; S. 698, State-Based Health Care Reform Act (Feingold) pilot projects for state-based health reforms; S. 703, American Health Security Act (Sanders) single-payer health reform; S. 913, Workforce Health Improvement Program Act (Cornyn) wellness incentives; S. 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act (Snowe) cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements; S. 1099, Patients Choice Act (Coburn) comprehensive health reform; S. 1213, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act (Baucus) comparative effectiveness research; S. 1259, PATIENTS Act (Kyl) comparative effectiveness research; S. 1278, Consumers Health Care Act (Rockefeller) government run health plan; S. 1490, Personal Data Privacy and Security Act (Leahy) privacy, identity theft; S. 1679, Affordable Health Choices Act (Harkin) coverage expansions, quality improvements, delivery system reforms, health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, administrative simplification, health disparities, prevention and wellness, public health and workforce issues, fraud and abuse; S. 1734, Medical Liability Reform (Kyl) medical liability reform HCR (Regulatory Issues): HIPAA administrative simplification issues, including standards for privacy, security, and electronic transactions and code sets; FEHBP enrollment data clearinghouse initiative; issues relating to health insurance plan participation in FEHBP, including contract requirements related to interoperability of health information technology, community rating policies, and similarly sized subscriber group (SSSG) requirement; implementation of the health savings account provisions of the Medicare Act; issues related to Medicare Secondary Payer requirements; issues related to implementation of the National Health Information Infrastructure; issues relating to market consolidation; issues relating to quality improvement; issues related to potential priority research topics for the effective health care program; issues relating to the national health data stewardship; issues relating to hospital outpatient measurement and reporting; issues related to genetics and genetic nondiscrimination; issues relating to mental health parity; issues relating to data breach requirements; issues relating to "meaningful use" requirements for health information technology; and issues relating to Form 5500 reporting requirements.

HR 460/S 210, The Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2009, support helping working families afford quality child care; HR 2298, Improving Dependent Care Tax Assistance Act, S 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, and S 997, Family Tax Relief Act of 2009, support an increase to the cap on Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA).

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

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE

HR 460/S 210, The Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2009, support helping working families afford quality child care; HR 2298, Improving Dependent Care Tax Assistance Act, S 988, SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, and S 997, Family Tax Relief Act of 2009, support an increase to the cap on Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA).

Client expense: $15,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE

H.R. 8 H.R. 5970 H.R. 64 S. 420 S. 988

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 8 H.R. 5970 H.R. 64 S. 420 S. 988

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 8 H.R. 5970 H.R. 64 S. 420 S. 988

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 3200 and S. ----, the Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, preserve and improve tax treatment for flexible spending accounts in the context of congressional health care reform legislation. S. 988, the SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009, to allow small businesses to set up flexible spending accounts for their employees. H.R. 2526, the Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2009 - improve flexible spending accounts by reforming use-or-lose-it structure.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $28,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE