MARIA MATTHEWS

Copyright - Met with members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of America/Alliance of Visual Artists and state our position on any Orphan Works legislation that might be introduced this session. No active legislation was discussed. Submitted comments to the U.S. Copyright Office in response to the Octobert 22, 2012 Federal Register Notice of Inquiry regarding the office's information collection on Orphan Works in the context of mass digitization.

Sumbitted response to U.S. Copyright Office notice in August 23, 2012 Federal Register (Docket ID 201110) regarding additional input on Copyright Small Claims Court. Supplied comments on structure and administration of small claims body as a means of expanding upon foundation laid in January 17, 2012 submission provided in response to October 27, 2011 notice (Docket ID 2011-10) on same topic.

Submitted joint response via Small Business Coaltion for Affordable Health Care to Federal Register Notice (Docket ID CMS-2012-0142) to address proposed rulemakeing concerning CMS-9980-P, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This notice centered on standards related to Essential Health Benefits, Actuarial Value, and Accreditation as they relate to the small employer community.

Copyright - Met with members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of America/Alliance of Visual Artists and state our position on any Orphan Works legislation that might be introduced this session. Submitted comments to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator in response to the June 26, 2012 Federal Register Notice of Inquiry regarding the office's Joint Strategic Plan.

Met with Special Park Uses Program Manager to discuss impact of Director's Order #53 Section 11.2, which relates to special use permits for still and motion photography on National Park Lands. Addresssed effect on our member's businesses and sought information on how our organization might proactively explain the rule to our constitunency.

Copyright - Met with members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of America/Alliance of Visual Artists and state our position on any Orphan Works legislation that might be introduced this session.

Copyright - Met with members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of America/Alliance of Visual Artists and state our position on any Orphan Works legislation that might be introduced this session.

Discussed the application of S.132 - Criminal Justice and Forensic Science Act, to professional evidence photographers with Senate Judicary Committee Staff. Sections of legislation that are of primary interest to our organization is Title III which addresses the certificaiton of forensic science personnel and Title VI which addresses the additional responsibilities of the Office of Forensic Science and the Forensic Science Board as it pertains to certifying personnel.

Participated in joint response to proposed rule CMS-9989-P on the Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans as published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2011. Encouraged HHS to consider the importance of flexibility and simplicity in the creation of SHOP Exchanges to ensure ease of access and compliance for small business owners and their employees.

Copyright - Met with members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of America/Alliance of Visual Artists and stated our position on any Orphan Works legislation that might be introduced in upcoming session.

Copyright - Met with members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of America/Alliance of Visual Artists and state our position on any Orphan Works legislation that might be introduced. During meetings with members of the Senate, we indicated our support for S. 978, a bill to amend the ciriminal penalty provision for criminal infringement of a copyright, and S.968, the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011.

Copyright - Met with members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of America/Alliance of Visual Artists and state our position on any Orphan Works legislation that might be introduced. During meetings with members of the Senate, we indicated our support for S. 978, a bill to amend the ciriminal penalty provision for criminal infringement of a copyright, and S.968, the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011.

Signatory to comments submitted by the Small Business Coalition for Affordable Healthcare in response to the December 12, 2010 Internal Revenue Service Notice 2011-1 as published in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2011-2 IRB 259. Our comments addressed the burdensome nature of the possible penalties faced by small busnesses due to the implementation of Highly Compensated Indvidual requirements established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) and offered possible remedies to same.

H.R. 4 - Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011 - Advocated in favor of Section 2 a repeal of Section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) by sending letters to members of the House and Senate.

Participated as a signator on Small Business Coalition for Affordable Health Comments issued in response to Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight request for comment (Code #OCIIO-9989-NC) reagrding the Planning and Establishment of Exchange-Related Provisions in Title 1 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Participated as signator to comments sumbitted by the Small Business Coalition for Affordable Health Care to Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversign in response to #OCIIO9991IFC2 regarding the Department of Health & Human Services Interim Final Rule for grandfathering health plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

H.R. 5297 - Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 - Issued letters of support to Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Commitee encouraging the inclusion of Section 2042 a provision to allow self-employed buisness owners to deduct health care expenses pre-tax for one year. OCIIO-991-IFC- Department of Health & Human Services Notice of Inquiry - Participate in Small Business Coalition for Affordable Health Care comments in response to the June 17, 2010 Department of Health & Human Services request for comments regarding the Interim Final Rules proposed for grandfathered health plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the Federal Register. The Coaltion put forth the opinion that the Interim Final Rules were neither favorable to small business owners nor did they follow the guidelines set for in the legislation.

Copyright - Met with members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of America/Alliance of Visual Artists and state our position on any Orphan Works legislation that might be introduced.

Copyright - Met with members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of America/Alliance of Visual Artists and state our position on any Orphan Works legislation that might be introduced.

H.R. 5141 - Small Business Paperwork Mandadate Elimiation Act. Participated in written correspondence addressed to the bill sponsor through a tax coalition of which we are a member, supporting the bill's repeal of Section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590 as passed by the House and Senate).

H.R. 3950 -The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act - Met with members of Congress to discuss the impact of legislation on small business photographers and the importance of ensuring small business owners can gain access to quality and affordable health care. Participated in written orrespondence addressed to the leadership in both chambers on same topic through a health care coalition of which we are a member.

Copyright - Met with U.S. Copyright Office Counsel to discuss registration and deposit rules changes and their impact on professional photographers. Copyright - Met with members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of America/Alliance of Visual Artists and state our position on any Orphan Works legislation that might be introduced. Copyright- Responded to request for written comments by the Office of Management and Budget outlinedon February 18, 2010 in FR. Doc. 2010-3539. Comments were submitted on March 23, 2010 concerning the impact of copyright infringment on the photographic industry and the costs it may pose on the overall U.S. economy; offered opinions on the Joint Strategic Plan to be undertaken by the Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator; and outlined our organizational efforts to educate the photographic industry and consumers with regard to copyright law.

General copyright law - Orphan Works more specifically; Small Business legislation - specifically health care .

General copyright law - Orphan Works more specifically; Small Business legislation - specifically health care .

General copyright law - Orphan Works more specifically; Small Business legislation - specifically health care .

H.R. 3950 -The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act - Addressed chamber via a coalition letter desgined to raise concern with provisions in the bill that would impact health care access and affordability for small business owners.

Copyright - Met with members of Congress to discuss the importance of copyright laws to the photographic industry. Participated in in a letter sent to Chair and Ranking Member of House and Senate Judiciary Committees concerning the integration of the work done by the U.S. Trade Representative's Office in negotiating the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and intellectual property legislation considered by Congress.

Copyright - Submitted a response to the Federal Register Notice of proposed rulemaking on 37 CFR 202 [Docket No. RM 2009-3] concerinng Mandatory Deposit of Published Electornic Works Available Only Online.

S. 979, Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2009 - Met with key staff to introduce Professional Photographers of American / Alliance of Visual Artists and discuss health care navigator component as defined in Section 3103. H.R. 1470, Equity for our Nation's Self-Employed Act of 2009 - Met with key staff to discuss how additional Professional Photographers of America / Alliance of Visual Artist might provide additional support for bill. Engaged with staff members of Senators on Senate Finance and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committees. The purposes of introducing Professional Photographers of America / Alliance of Visual Artists and to discuss how draft legislation under each committee's jurisdiction would increase or impact small business owner's access to quality and affordable health care.

Copyright - Met with freshmen members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of American and state our position on any Orphan Works legislation that might be introduced.

Copyright - Met with freshman members of Congress to introduce Professional Photographers of America and state our position any Orphan Works legislation introduced. PPA also participated in a Congressional Briefing on Copyright.

H.R. 1509, Home Office Deduction Simplification Act of 2009, all provisions as they relates to rewriting the tax code regarding the application of the home office tax deduction. H.R. 1470, The Equity for Our Nation's Self-Employed Act, all provisions as they relate to allowing self-employed business owners to pay health care related expenses using pre-tax dollars.

General copyright law - Orphan Works more specifically; Small Business legislation - specifically health care

General copyright law - Orphan Works more specifically; Small Business legislation - specifically health care

General copyright law - Orphan Works more specifically; Small Business legislation - specifically health care