| BILL NAME |
SUMMARY OF BILL AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU |
U.S. CHAMBER'S POSITION |
STATUS |
| Employee Pay Discrimination H.R. 2831 Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 |
This bill aims to overturn the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which held that compensation discrimination claims must be filed in a timely manner. This sweeping bill would effectively do away with statutes of limitations in many cases and would expand the class of individuals that could bring cases. |
The Chamber opposes this legislation because it would result in more frivolous claims against employers and would force employers to defend allegations about decades-old conduct where evidence might have been destroyed and witnesses are no longer available. |
LAST ACTION Failed a procedural vote in the Senate April 23, 2008. |
| Genetic Nondiscrimination H.R. 493 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 |
This bill bars insurers and employers from discriminating based on a person’s genetic makeup. But the bill’s medical privacy provisions will radically alter employer use and processing of health care information, and its anti-discrimination provisions will invite frivolous litigation and abuse. |
The Chamber opposed this legislation because it will result in more paperwork burdens, more expense, and more litigation. |
LAST ACTION President Bush signed the legislation into law May 21, 2008. |
| Small Business Regulations S. 2902 Independent Office of Advocacy and Small Business Regulatory Reform Act of 2008 |
This bill would provide the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy with budgetary independence by creating a separate line item in the budget for funding transparency. The bill would also help enhance the role of small businesses in the federal rulemaking process by clearly defining the required lines of communication and responsibility between the Office of Advocacy and other federal agencies during the rulemaking process. |
The Chamber supports this bill because it would improve the regulatory environment for small businesses. |
LAST ACTION Referred to committee April 29, 2008. NEXT STEP Committee Vote |
| Tax Relief H.R. 6049 Energy and Tax Extenders Act Of 2008 |
This bill would extend through 2008 certain expired tax provisions, including the R&D tax credit and the deduction for state and local general sales tax. It also would extend through 2009 some provisions slated to expire at the end of 2008, such as the active financing exception and controlled foreign corporation (CFC) look-through rules. |
The Chamber supports the extension of expired and expiring provisions; however, the Chamber opposes controversial “pay-for” provisions. |
LAST ACTION Passed the House May 21, 2008. NEXT STEP Senate Vote |
| Small Business Health Plans S. 2818 Small Business Health Plans Act Of 2008 |
S. 2818 would enable small businesses to pool together to negotiate and purchase health insurance benefits. |
The Chamber strongly supports the creation of small business health plans because they allow small businesses to leverage the same purchasing power as their larger competitors and to buy coverage that is free from state benefit mandates. |
LAST ACTION Referred to committee April 3, 2008. NEXT STEP Committee Vote |
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