Making An Impact newsletter
January 2021 Policy Update
Real Progress vs. Big Problems
ASBC was very encouraged to see many of the policies and decisions we’ve been fighting for become executive orders and initial agency actions announced by the Biden-Harris White House on Inauguration Day, January 20, and in the days immediately following.
December Policy Update
Hope for Workers, Wins for Transparency
As the incoming Biden-Harris administration conducts reviews of the various departments it will oversee as of January 20, 2021, ASBC has been actively involved with several of the agency review teams, providing recommendations in vital areas of interest to our stakeholders.
November Policy Update
Mixed Bag of Wins, ASBC/SVC Conference
Responsible U.S. business celebrated the historical turnouts in November’s presidential election following record-breaking participation from voters in both parties. Wall Street was among the first to herald the anticipated results, but ASBC will continue to insist that Main Street’s long-neglected needs are high the new administration’s agenda.
October Policy Update
Last-Chance Voting, Covid Relief Status and Game-Changer Accounting
We’re down to the wire on what is one of a very few literally world-changing elections in our nation’s history. Topping the list of what’s at stake: Our country’s real economy, democracy, human health and a livable planet. Whatever else you do between now and the evening of Nov.
September Policy Update
New ASBC/SVC Alliance,
Election Outreach and Childhood Cancer
The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) has been making the business case for a clean, fair economy for over a decade. Now, we’re leveraging our strengths in a new strategic alliance with Social Venture Circle (SVC), the prominent social-impact networking organization. Read the full press release.
August Policy Update
Senate Abandons Pandemic Relief in August
Failing to come to agreement on most elements of an urgently-needed second relief package, Congress has adjourned and deferred this issue until after September 8. The end of March’s CARES Act has left tens of millions of Americans without the emergency $600/week employment income replacement from the Federal government and only scant unemployment payments from many states.
July Policy Update
SBC Applauds Biden Climate & Infrastructure Plan,
Urges Trump to Match It
ASBC has applauded Vice President Joe Biden’s newly released Climate & Infrastructure Plan which allocates $2T to fuel green growth for America’s businesses, rebuild the nation’s deteriorated infrastructure and create 10 million new, union-level wage jobs.
June Policy Update
ASBC Draws More Than 700 Registrants for Two Online Meetings to Energize Business Action to Confront Racism
ASBC has long advocated for policies that move us toward a more just, inclusive, equitable and sustainable economy and society, but the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police has sparked new outrage, leading to renewed energy toward those goals.
May Policy Update
Paycheck Protection Likely to Be Tweaked As Congress
Considers New Responses To Coronavirus Stimulus
After several rounds of swift, bipartisan action, there appears to be agreement on fixing the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), with both chambers and the administration talking about extending the eight-week covered period. However, beyond that, the chambers may be reaching a fork in the road.
April Policy Update
With small businesses and their employees facing an existential crisis, the SBA’s Paycheck Program (PPP) opened in early April, but was plagued by administrative issues, questions about who was getting funding and then ran out of funds within two weeks. An additional $310 billion was added to the initial round of $300 billion in the fourth Congressional response, but many of the administrative issues were left unaddressed.
March Policy Update
COVID-19 Economic Rescue Package Has Help for Business
Moving with unusual speed, in just the last week of March, Congress passed with bipartisan support and the President signed into law an unprecedented $2.3 trillion Coronavirus economic response package. Although not perfect, it offers hope to the many business leaders struggling to take care of employees and keep their businesses from closing permanently.
February Policy Update
ASBC Members Promote Employee Ownership on the Hill
Employee Ownership was a key topic for ASBC on Capitol Hill in February. The House Small Business Committee held a public hearing Feb. 12 on the issue that included among its witnesses John Abrams, founder of ASBC-member South Mountain Company, which is an integrated architecture, engineering, building and solar company and a worker cooperative for 33 years.
January 2020 Policy Update
ASBC Member Testifies for Paid Leave at House Ways and Means Hearing
Rebecca Hamilton, co-CEO of Gilsum, N.H.-based W.S. Badger Company, a member of the American Sustainable Business Council, testified January 28 in support of the FAMILY Act (H.R. 1185) before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.
Family owned and run, W.S. Badger was founded in 1995 in rural southwestern New Hampshire and employs 100 people in the manufacture and sale of organic balms and personal care products.
December 2019 Policy Update
ASBC Summit Pushes for Real Systemic Change
“Making Capitalism Work for All,” ASBC’s annual Summit, was an inspiring, energizing success for the more than 150 attendees who arrived in the nation’s capital for the two-day event on Dec 10 and 11.
November 2019 Policy Update
Summit Workshops: Key Challenges & Vital Skills
Workshops at this year’s ASBC Summit offer a mix of challenging topics plus detailed strategies and skills to handle challenges better.
Can Capitalism Save Our Planet? offers a choice of three workshops exploring broad, high-impact initiatives.
October 2019 Policy Update
Summit Main Sessions Unveil
How to Make Capitalism Work for All
What will it take to reverse America’s falling standard of living? Curtail climate change? Update our decrepit infrastructure? Culling the best ideas from a wide range of thought leaders, Summit plenary sessions offer focused, rich discussions on crucial issues.
September 2019 Policy Update
Business Leaders and Policy Experts Explore
How to Save Capitalism on Dec. 10-11
ASBC’S Sustainable Business & Advocacy Summit in D.C. this December, “Making Capitalism Work for All,” will convene a thought-provoking range of speakers from the left, right and center perspectives.
August 2019 Policy Update
Registration Is Open for the ASBC Summit,
“Making Capitalism Work for All”
ASBC members and other values-based business leaders from around the country will convene in Washington, D.C. this December 10-11 for our 2019 Summit. The event offers a day of idea-sparking sessions with thought leaders across the political spectrum, followed by a day of meetings with members of Congress.
July 2019 Policy Update
Plastic Pollution Law Progresses in CA
ASBC is closely following a pair of circular economy bills – SB 54 and AB 1080 — the California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act. ASBC voiced our support at hearings on July 3 and 8. Both bills have passed in their original houses. ASBC sees organizing California business support as a good start for our federal circular economy campaign.