Weekly Advocacy Recap—December 9, 2019

Welcome to the ISSA Advocacy Weekly Recap! This is ISSA’s regular roundup of the latest public policy-related issues impacting the cleaning industry.

More Than 900 Substances Labeled Toxic Under California’s Prop 65

California’s Prop 65, which requires companies to put warning labels on products containing chemicals identified by the state as being toxic, has been around for more than 30 years. Proponents maintain it has pushed companies to reduce levels of toxic chemicals or eliminate them altogether, others argue it has desensitized consumers “It is a largely useless, ineffective, unimpactful form of warning and disclosure,” said Omri Ben-Shahar, a law professor at the University of Chicago. “It’s just another box of fine print that people are, by now, numb to seeing.”

Chicago and Denver Pass $15 Minimum Wage

More than 20 states and localities have increased their minimum wage laws in 2019 and more increases are slated to go into effect January 1, 2020. In late November, the cities of Chicago and Denver passed additional phased-in increases to their minimum wage laws. Both cities will eventually see their minimum wage laws tied to the Consumer Price Index. ISSA continues to monitor and report these increases so that the industry can plan and budget accordingly for the future.

USMCA Deal Is Very Close According to Key Democrats

President Donald Trump, while at the summit of NATO leaders, urged Congress to take action and pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a proposed trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. According to the Los Angeles Times, “We are on the 2½-yard line,” Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal said about efforts to wrap up negotiations on the replacement for NAFTA and clear the way for approval in Congress. ISSA is a member of a broad coalition urging Congress to pass USMCA. Make your voice heard today!

Other links:

California’s New Gig Economy Worker Law Faces First Lawsuit

Save the Date: 2020 DC Fly-In with ISSA on March 25-26

Trump’s Trade Policies Affecting Half of Small Businesses in New York City, Study Shows

Webinar: 2020 Legislative & Advocacy Briefing

US Gains a Robust 266,000 Jobs in November, Unemployment Falls to 3.5%