BIFMA

Urged release of the Section 13 Inter-agency Product Standards and Ecolabels Sub-Working Group report containing a set of recommended guidelines for government agencies. Supported H.R. 3634, the "Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2011" and similar legislation being drafted in the U.S. Senate.

Client expense: $10,000 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: H.R. 3634

BIFMA signed a Feb. 28, 2012 group letter from the Coalition for Interstate Tax Fairness & Job Growth to Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi in support of the Business Activity Tax Simplification Act (H.R. 1439). The coalition is working for enactment of the "BATSA bill" to assure fair state and local corporate income taxation of today's mobile workforce.

Client expense: $20,000 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: H.R. 1439

Participated in February 16, 2012 session with Rep. Bill Huizenga to discuss his bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3634, the "Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2011". H.R. 3634, was introduced in December and is currently pending before the House Judiciary Committee. BIFMA supports this common sense reform proposal. Met with Greg Van Woerkom, District Director, and John Kran, Legislative Assistant for Rep. Bill Huizenga at BIFMA's office in Grand Rapids, MI on Feb. 20, 2012 to discuss H.R. 3634, the "Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2011", and other issues of interest to BIFMA including government recognition of ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard, the industry's tool for assessment of green products, facilities, and corporate policies. Visited GSA's Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center (IWACenter) on March 21, 2012 to discuss BIFMA recommendations for changes to the General Specification for Furniture Systems FCNE 87-441E of December 11, 2008. Attended March 21, 2012 GSA/IWACenter Quality Partnership Council meeting to hear industry issues and a panel on sustainability. Spoke with Brennan Conaway of GSA about the timeframe for publishing the Section 13 Inter-agency Product Standards and Eco-labels Sub-Working Group report and proposed criteria. The target date was April 2012 but he said it will probably be extended to May 2012.

Client expense: $20,000 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: H.R. 3634

As a member of the Government Withholding Relief Coalition, BIFMA strongly urged Congress to vote for bipartisan legislation to fully repeal the burdensome 3% Withholding Tax mandate enacted in Section 511 of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-222). BIFMA has also supported H.R. 1864, "The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2011" by signing on to letters as part of the Council On State Taxation (COST). The bill would protect the thousands of American workers that travel outside their home states each day for business purposes from complex and unfair tax burdens.

Client expense: $10,000 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: H.R. 1864

Worked with the office of U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, who, along with Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Barney Frank, and Jim Sensenbrenner, introduced legislation (H.R. 3634) to allow manufacturers to compete with Federal Prison Industries (Unicor) on equal footing for contracts with the federal government.

Client expense: $10,000 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: H.R. 3634

Supported S. 1660 and H.R.4805, legislation to make California's formaldehyde rule (the "CARB Rule") for composite wood products nationwide. Passed both the Senate and House. Encouraged common sense implementation of USDA Biomass Program which threatens the US wood fiber supply for makers of composite panels and other products. Supported exemption for existing industries.

Client expense: $11,784 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: H.R.4805

Supported S. 1660 and H.R.4805, legislation to make California's formaldehyde rule (the "CARB Rule") for composite wood products nationwide. Passed both the Senate and House. Encouraged common sense implementation of USDA Biomass Program which threatens the US wood fiber supply for makers of composite panels and other products. Supported exemption for existing industries.

Client expense: $11,784 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: S. 1660

Supported S. 1660, legislation to make California's formaldehyde rule (the "CARB Rule") for composite wood products nationwide. Opposed implementation of USDA Biomass Program which threatens the US wood fiber supply for makers of composite panels and other products until existing industries are exempt. Briefed US Army Installation Management Command and 30 agencies in an OFEE SAMM meeting on BIFMA's Furniture Sustainability Standard.

Client expense: $16,126 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: S. 1660

Briefed EPA and the Office of Federal Environmental Executive on status the level Certification Program for sustainable furniture. Met with staff of Rep. Doris Matsui and spoke with Rep. Fred Upton about legislation to make California's formaldehyde rule (the "CARB Rule") for composite wood products nationwide. A bill to do that was introduced in the US Senate later that month (S. 1660) and BIFMA signed a letter of support to US Senators.

Client expense: $15,779 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: S. 1660

Cosigned a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law on July urging support for Nonresident Withholding (H.R. 3359) legislation.

Client expense: $11,776 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: H.R. 3359

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - Amendments of 2008 (S. 3406) supported by signing on to a letter from the National Association of Manufacturers to U.S. Senators in August.

Client expense: $11,776 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: S. 3406

Sent a letter of support for H.R. 5267, the Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of 2008 (BATSA), to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law urging that it be reported to the full House. Joined the Government Withholding Relief Coalition and sent a letter to the IRS urging repeal of Section 511 of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act set to take effect on all government contracts dated after December 21, 2010.

Client expense: $13,591 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: H.R. 5267

Signed on to a letter supporting the enactment of H.R. 3359, The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2007, introduced by Congressman Hank Johnson and Congressman Chris Cannon involving nonresident withholding.

Client expense: $20,000 · Firm income: —

Matched citations: H.R. 3359