Industry News

Congress Continues to Focus on Immigration

 

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Congress are pushing bills that crack down on illegal immigration. In the House, conservative Democrats are supporting the SAVE (Secure America with Verification and Enforcement) act, which would increase Border Patrol personnel by 8,000, train more state and local police to enforce immigration laws and require that all businesses, within four years, use a government program to verify the legal status of their employees.

Democrats are also looking for a “balanced” measure to deal with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. But, a vote on border security could help some Democrats keep their seats in the House, but an enforcement-only bill also could anger liberal Democrats and Hispanics.

Republican supporters, meanwhile, are considering a procedural maneuver to force the bill to the floor. In the Senate, Republicans have reportedly introduced at least 15 immigration enforcement bills: measures to make English the official language; prevent illegal immigrants from getting driver’s licenses; deport immigrants convicted of drunk driving offenses; and withhold federal money for cities that have so-called “sanctuary” policies that direct police and local officials not to check the immigration status of residents using city services.

GREEN CLEANING LEGISLATIONSPREADS AT STATE LEVEL

 

Green cleaning continues to capture the attention of state governments as both Maryland and Illinois legislatures are entertaining green cleaning legislation that was recently introduced in both states.

Maryland

State Delegate Nic Kipke, Anne Arundel County, introduced legislation that would require Maryland County Boards of Education to procure and use green cleaning products in schools.

As currently drafted, the Maryland legislation (HB 596) defines green cleaning products as “cleaning and sanitizing supplies that perform well and that have positive environmental attributes.” The legislation directs County Boards to draft specifications that would more specifically define green cleaning products for purposes of procurement.

ISSA has urged State Delegate Kipke to revise the legislation to require such specifications to recognize “multiple avenues” in defining green cleaning products, similar to the approach taken by Illinois, which recognizes Green Seal, Environmental Choice and the U.S. EPA Design for the Environment.

Illinois

Following on the coattails of the Illinois Green Cleaning for Schools Act adopted in 2007, Rep. Karen May has introduced HB 4812 that would require every state owned building to establish a green cleaning policy. The bill would require all state buildings to purchase and use “environmentally sensitive” cleaning products consistent with the Guidelines recently issued by the Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council.

HB 4812 was introduced on February 6 and was referred to the Rules Committee.