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Government Affairs Update & 2014 Preview

Government Affairs Update & 2014 Preview. Recent 2013 Successes. Immigration Reform (incl. JOLT Senate Act ) Per Diem Rate Increase / GTAC Sequester & Government Shutdown Grassroots Engagement. Key Areas of Focus: 2014. Workforce Issues Labor/Living Wage ACA Implementation

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Government Affairs Update & 2014 Preview

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  1. Government Affairs Update & 2014 Preview

  2. Recent 2013 Successes • Immigration Reform (incl. JOLT Senate Act) • Per Diem Rate Increase / GTAC • Sequester & Government Shutdown • Grassroots Engagement

  3. Key Areas of Focus: 2014 • Workforce Issues • Labor/Living Wage • ACA Implementation • Immigration Reform • OTCs and Online Environment • Government Travel & Tourism • Increased Member Involvement in Grassroots and HotelPAC

  4. 2014: Workforce – Labor/Living Wage Goals: • Prevent “back door” regulations/rules • Redefine living wage discussion • Upcoming Supreme Court decision in Canning case; impact recent NLRB decisions • Organized labor working regulatory channels for new rules; continue to monitor and respond as needed • Living wage fight heating up in states; potential wage vote in Congress; we will be ready

  5. 2014: Workforce - ACA Implementation Goals: • Change full-time employee definition • Find workable definition of seasonal employee • Repeal auto-enroll mandate • Unclear long-term guidance on seasonal, part-time, temp employees • Current rollout difficulties may give leverage for future changes • Push Administration to act; develop tools and materials to assist members in compliance

  6. 2014: Workforce - Immigration Reform Goals: • Continued access to seasonal workforce • Creation of new lesser-skilled work category (“W” visa) • Reliable worker authorization system • Attention is in the House; Senate did its job • MOCs need to hear from constituents on its importance • Time is now through spring 2014 for action

  7. 2014: OTCs / Online Environment Goals: • Ensure level playing field between industry and OTCs on tax issue • Better position industry in online environment • OTCs quiet at federal level for now; focus on outreach and education efforts in Congress • State action in legislatures and courts continues; identify states to make proactive legislative play • Work with Innovation Council on larger online issues

  8. 2014: Government Travel & Tourism Goals: • Redefine government travel debate • Improve access to U.S. for international travelers; ensure better travel experience • Per diem rates resolved for now; continue work with GTAC on other government travel issues • Bills introduced in Congress to limit government travel; proactively defend and educate • JOLT passage; part of Senate-passed immigration bill, standalone version in House • Establishing lodging-focused travel coalition

  9. 2014: Other Priority Areas • Patent Reform: Ensure end-user protections • Facilities Issues/ADA Compliance: Limiting impact of harmful regulations • January – February Fiscal Cliff: Find long-term solution before the 11thhour • Terrorism Risk Insurance: Reauthorize program; current expiration date – Dec. 2014 • Tax Reform: Enact pro-growth policies

  10. Grassroots in 2014 Engagement is essential to future advocacy efforts Focus on increasing AH&LA member involvement • “Back of the House” tours • Issue toolkits • Capitol Hill updates • Member blasts • Town Hall outreach • MOCs MUST UNDERSTAND THE BREADTH, DEPTH, AND IMPORTANCE OF OUR INDUSTRY

  11. HotelPAC in 2014 Focus on increasing participation and dollars raised Establish criteria for candidate support • Industry champions • Member of Congressional leadership • Committee assignments • Key Congressional races • Voting record – development of scorecard • AH&LA member input GOAL FOR 2014 CYCLE: $440K (currently at $189K)

  12. Vanessa Sinders Senior Vice President and Department Head AH&LA Governmental Affairs vsinders@ahla.com (202) 289-3121

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