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2023 News
Register for May 30 ASAE Webinar on State Lobbying
The ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council (GRAPAC) is hosting a May 30 webinar on “How to Contract with and Manage State Lobbyists” from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. ET. Learn from a veteran panel of experts on how to identify, hire and manage the professional lobbying presence that works Read more
White House, GOP Inching Closer to Debt Limit Deal
The White House and Republican congressional leaders are reporting progress in talks to raise the debt ceiling, though there are still gaps to close before the House breaks for the Memorial Day recess. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the U.S. government could default as early as June 1, Read more
Smith Moving to Extend Trump-Era Tax Cuts in June
House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) is working to release tax legislation by mid-June that would extend the business and individual tax provisions in the GOP’s signature 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Tax writers are still working on the package, but the business provisions are likely Read more
Bipartisan Charitable Act Introduced in the House
Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT), Danny Davis (D-IL), Michele Steel (R-CA) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) introduced the Charitable Act in the House last week. The bill would allow all taxpayers, including non-itemizers, to deduct up to one-third of the value of the standard deduction for charitable contributions, which comes to about Read more
Register Today for Upcoming GRAPAC Webinars
The ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council (GRAPAC) has scheduled two upcoming webinars to help association government relations professionals generate revenue and manage state lobbyists. The first webinar, titled “How to Generate Revenue for Advocacy Efforts,” will take place May 17 from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. ET. Speakers include Read more
Biden Ends COVID Vaccine Requirement for International Travelers
The Biden administration has ended COVID-19 vaccine requirements for international travelers, effective today. The change in policy, which was in place for roughly two years, coincides with the administration’s termination of COVID-19 as a public health emergency. The new policy ending vaccine requirements also applies to federal employees and federal Read more
Meetings Yield Little Progress in Debt Limit Talks
The White House and congressional leaders resumed talks this week on raising the debt limit but both sides are negotiating from the same entrenched positions: Republicans want major spending cuts included as part of the deal and President Biden and congressional Democrats want a clean debt ceiling hike. House Republicans Read more
ASAE Testifies on FTC Business Impersonation Rule
ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, gave testimony at a May 4 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hearing on the agency’s proposed rule prohibiting government and business impersonation. The FTC proposed the rule last fall to make government and business impersonation scams a violation of the FTC Act and Read more
ECA’s 2023 Legislative Action Day is June 1
Registration is open for the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) 2023 Legislative Action Day, which will be held in Washington, DC on June 1. ECA’s Legislative Action Day will bring advocates and leaders from across the face-to-face business events industry to Capitol Hill to meet with their members of Congress Read more
U.S. Travel Points to Strains in U.S. Air Travel System
The U.S. Travel Association this week urged Congress to prioritize this year’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill to reduce stress on the U.S. air travel system, which is struggling to keep pace with consumer demand as the summer travel season approaches. U.S. Travel shared new survey results this week Read more
‘Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce’ Act Gains Co-Sponsors
Support continues to build in Congress for legislation that would expand 529 savings plans to cover postsecondary credentials, after ASAE made the bill the centerpiece of its annual legislative fly-in last month. During American Associations Day March 27-28, nearly 100 association advocates from 18 states and the District of Columbia Read more
ASAE to Testify on FTC Business Impersonation Rule
ASAE will be among the interested organizations and individuals giving testimony at a May 4 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hearing on the agency’s proposed rule prohibiting government and business impersonation. The FTC proposed the rule last fall to make government and business impersonation scams a violation of the FTC Act Read more
Power of Associations Awards Deadline is April 30
Just a reminder that applications are ASAE’s 2023 Power of Associations Awards are due by April 30. Associations are encouraged to apply and be recognized for their good works that benefit society. The Power of Associations Awards are offered in five categories: Community Support and Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, Advocacy, Read more
Biden Administration Weighs Rules for AI Tools
The Biden administration is weighing how to regulate the explosion of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT that are transforming how companies and associations operate. Earlier this week, the Commerce Department asked for public comments on how it could create regulations that would ensure AI tools work as advertised. Read more
IRS Outlines Plan to Utilize $80B in Additional Funding
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) last week unveiled a long-awaited plan for spending $80 billion in additional funding authorized in the Inflation Reduction Act last year. The plan provides new details on how the agency will use the money over the next decade, including plans to hire thousands of new Read more
House GOP Assembling Debt Limit Package
House Republican leaders are reportedly putting together a debt-limit package they intend to share with their caucus when Congress returns from Easter recess next week. According to Punchbowl News, the legislation would lift the debt limit until May 2024 and may include either a cap on non-defense discretionary spending or Read more
KY Lawmakers Exempt Business Events from Sales Tax
The Kentucky General Assembly and Gov. Andy Beshear have exempted business event organizers from charging sales tax to their exhibitors, a move applauded by the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) and hospitality leaders in the state. As of Jan. 1, a wide range of services in Kentucky had been subject Read more
McCarthy Wants to Restart Talks on Debt Limit
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on Tuesday called on President Biden to return to the negotiating table on a budget and the debt ceiling. Not much has changed since McCarthy and Biden discussed the debt limit at the White House in early February. Republicans still want major spending cuts included Read more
ASAE Participates in GAO Panel to Examine Pandemic Risk
On March 6, ASAE public policy staff joined the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and other stakeholders to examine current, past and prospective options for pandemic related insurance coverage. ASAE joined as a representative of the Business Continuity Coalition (BCC). The CARES Act, passed in March 2020 to inject financial relief Read more
ASAE Hosts American Associations Day 2023
ASAE hosted 97 association leaders during American Associations Day, ASAE’s annual legislative fly-in event, on March 27-28 to advocate for bipartisan workforce development policy. Advocates from 18 states and the District of Columbia visited with 50 Congressional offices to build support for the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act Read more
Power of Associations Awards Deadline is April 30
Just a reminder that applications are ASAE’s 2023 Power of Associations Awards are due by April 30. Associations are encouraged to apply and be recognized for their good works that benefit society. The Power of Associations Awards are offered in five categories: Community Support and Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, Advocacy, Read more
Taxpayer Advocate Urges Congress to Reconsider IRS Funding Boost
The Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent arm of the IRS, said this week that the agency’s $80 billion funding boost authorized by Congress last year is too skewed toward enforcement and doesn’t address the needs of U.S. taxpayers. Of the $80 billion in additional IRS funding, enacted as part of Read more
Global Meetings Industry Day is March 30
ASAE will join the annual worldwide recognition of Global Meetings Industry Day on March 30 to champion the benefits of professional meetings and events. GMID is powered by the U.S. Travel Association’s Meetings Mean Business coalition and spotlights the proven value that business meetings, conferences, conventions, trade shows and exhibitions Read more
‘529’ Expansion Bill Reintroduced in Senate, House
Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Braun (R-IN) and Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) this week reintroduced the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation to allow Americans to use ‘529’ education savings accounts for skills training, credentialing and certification programs. Current law only permits Read more
Manchin Calls for Bipartisan Deal on Debt Limit
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) today called for a bipartisan deal to raise the debt limit this spring to avoid a looming financial crisis. Congressional Republicans have been at loggerheads with Democrats and President Biden over raising the debt limit, with Republicans wanting major spending cuts included as part of any Read more
Senate Finance Likely to Support Werfel as IRS Commissioner
The Senate Finance Committee is meeting today and is likely to support Daniel Werfel, President Biden’s pick to serve as IRS Commissioner, setting up a confirmation vote by the full Senate. During a confirmation hearing last month, Werfel defended the agency’s additional $80 billion in funding authorized in the Inflation Read more
Lankford, Coons Introduce Bill to Expand Charitable Deduction
Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced bipartisan legislation this week to expand and extend the expired non-itemized deduction for charitable giving. The bill, called The Charitable Act, would allow all taxpayers who do not itemize to claim a deduction of up to one-third of the value of Read more
Ways and Means Approves Oversight Plan for 118th Congress
The House Ways and Means Committee this week passed an oversight plan for the 118th Congress on a party-line vote that includes aggressive scrutiny of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Biden administration’s tax agenda and the tax laws, regulations and filing requirements that affect tax-exempt organizations. Ways and Means Read more
Apply Now for 2023 Power of Associations Awards
Applications are now being accepted for ASAE’s 2023 Power of Associations Awards, and associations are encouraged to apply and be recognized for their good works that benefit society. The Power of Associations Awards are offered in five categories: Community Support and Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, Advocacy, Industry/Professional Advancement and Global Read more
Senate Finance Grills Werfel on IRS Spending Plans
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing this week, Daniel Werfel, President Biden’s nominee to serve as the next IRS commissioner, defended the agency’s additional $80 billion in funding authorized in the Inflation Reduction Act last year. Werfel faced numerous questions from Senate Republicans about how the additional funding would be Read more
Deadline to Join ASAE’s Power of Associations Letter is March 10
The deadline to join ASAE’s Power of Associations community sign-on letter is March 10. The letter will be shared with members of Congress and state legislators to foster a better understanding of how associations benefit society and inform policymaking. Add your organization to the letter. Please refer to the current Read more
DOJ Announcement on Information Sharing Creates Ambiguity
A recent Department of Justice (DOJ) announcement creates ambiguity for association information-sharing programs. The DOJ recently withdrew three antitrust policy statements that provided guidance for information sharing by competitors that it had issued jointly with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) starting 30 years ago. DOJ said that the guidance in Read more
Apply Now for 2023 Power of Associations Awards
Applications are now being accepted for ASAE’s 2023 Power of Associations Awards, and associations are encouraged to apply and be recognized for their good works that benefit society. The Power of Associations Awards are offered in five categories: Community Support and Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, Advocacy, Industry/Professional Advancement and Global Read more
White House to Release FY24 Budget Plan March 9
White House officials said President Biden will release his budget proposal for next fiscal year on March 9, in part to pressure House Republicans to detail their own spending plans. The White House on Tuesday circulated a memo from National Economic Council Director Brian Deese and Office of Management and Read more
Biden, McCarthy Meet to Discuss Debt Ceiling
President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) met yesterday at the White House to discuss a possible path forward to raise the debt ceiling, though expectations remain tempered that a deal can be cut quickly. The Treasury Department has already initiated a series of technical moves known as “extraordinary Read more
Call for Stories: Visa Wait Time Impact on Association Meetings
ASAE needs your help to bring attention to the problem of excessive wait times to receive a visitor visa to enter the United States and the impact on association meetings. ASAE has joined the U.S. Travel Association’s “They Wait, We Lose” campaign to bring attention to the millions of travelers Read more
Registration Open for American Associations Day 2023
Registration is now open for American Associations Day, ASAE’s annual legislative fly-in, on March 27-28 in Washington, DC. Registration (worth 5 CAE credit hours) includes two days of policy education, advocacy and networking. American Associations Day is also a terrific opportunity to network with peers from around the country. During Read more
IRS Moving Forward with Hiring Amid GOP Scrutiny
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is moving ahead with hiring and other operational plans to utilize the $80 billion in additional funding authorized in the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law last year. In a report this week from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), which provides oversight Read more
Treasury Buying Time for Debt Ceiling Deal
The Treasury Department announced today it has initiated a series of technical moves known as “extraordinary measures” to avoid a potentially disastrous default on the nation’s debt. These moves are expected to hold the government over at least early June. Treasury’s announcement puts pressure on Congress to come to agreement Read more
FTC Proposes New Rule Banning Non-Compete Agreements
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently proposed a new rule that would ban employers from imposing non-compete agreements on their workers. Approximately one in five American workers – roughly 30 million people – are bound by a non-compete clause that prevents the employee from working for a competing employer or Read more
Webinar Focused on Building Relationships in the 118th Congress
A new Congress doesn’t just mean a reset of legislative proposals not passed in the prior session, but also the need to forge relationships with new lawmakers and leadership as a result of an election’s outcomes. Savvy advocates seek to develop rapport with these incoming lawmakers (and their returning colleagues) Read more
DOL Targeting May for Updated Overtime Rule
After the timeline slipped from last fall, the Department of Labor (DOL) is now anticipating issuing a new rule on overtime pay exemptions in May 2023 that is likely to expand the pool of American workers eligible for overtime pay. The overtime rule sets a salary threshold used to determine Read more
Travel Industry Celebrates Omnibus Win
Travel and tourism leaders secured a long-coveted win in the $1.7 trillion omnibus package signed into law just before the holidays last month. The year-long government spending package includes the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act, establishing a new Assistant Secretary of Travel and Tourism at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Read more
KY Taxing Business Events as of Jan. 1
As of Jan. 1, a wide range of services in Kentucky are now subject to a 6% sales and use tax, including several impacting in-person meetings and events in the state. The Kentucky legislature passed comprehensive tax reform legislation last spring that seeks to reduce the state’s reliance on income Read more
