Maintaining the Franchise Voice: New leadership in Washington, D.C., doesn't change goals

By: Matt Haller | 1,762 Reads | 3 Shares

Featured in: Franchise Update Magazine: Issue 1, 2025

%3Cp%3EThe+turning+of+the+calendar+ushered+in+not+only+a+new+presidential+administration+and+Congress%2C+but+also+fresh+opportunities+for+the+franchise+sector+to+grow%2C+thrive%2C+and+create+opportunity+for+all.+IFA+has+been+laser+focused+on+our+forward-leaning+plans+to+go+on+offense+to+advance+policies+that+will+supercharge+America%27s+830%2C000+local+franchises+and+the+more+than+9+million+workers+they+support.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EEven+casual+observers+of+last+year%27s+presidential+contest+no+doubt+remember+the+starring+role+franchising+played+on+the+trail%2C+especially+Vice+President+Harris%27+proud+history+of+working+in+a+franchise+and+President+Trump%27s+turn+behind+the+fryer+in+Pennsylvania.+Now%2C+it%27s+time+to+funnel+that+campaign+energy+into+enacting+commonsense+policies%2C+advocating+for+long-term+certainty+for+small+businesses+while+keeping+a+watchful+eye+on+the+potential+of+destructive+policies%2C+especially+at+the+state+and+local+levels.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EFrom+making+the+2020+joint-employer+standard+law+to+extending+the+2017+Tax+Cuts+and+Jobs+Act+to+righting+the+ship+with+new+leadership+at+the+Federal+Trade+Commission+%28FTC%29%2C+IFA+has+put+forward+a+road+map+of+concrete+policy+priorities+to+protect%2C+enhance%2C+and+promote+the+model.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EAs+part+of+IFA%27s+efforts+to+ensure+franchising+is+part+of+the+conversation+in+Washington%2C+D.C.%2C+in+the+lead-up+to+the+presidential+inauguration%2C+IFA+hosted+a+D.C.+media+event+with+Semafor%2C+bringing+together+top+lawmakers%2C+journalists%2C+and+policy+influencers+for+a+conversation+on+our+policy+road+map+as+well+as+the+pressing+issues+of+the+day+and+the+important+role+that+franchising+plays.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EOur+team+has+been+working+with+the+new+administration+and+Congress+on+the+appointment+and+confirmation+process+of+nominees+who+are+important+to+franchising.+In+January%2C+IFA+members+and+the+senior+leadership+team+met+with+former+Rep.+Lori+Chavez-DeRemer%2C+R-Ore.%2C+in+Washington%2C+D.C.%2C+ahead+of+her+confirmation+hearing+to+be+the+next+U.S.+Secretary+of+Labor.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EFollowing+a+wide-ranging+discussion+about+the+priorities+and+goals+of+franchisors+and+franchisees+in+the+year+ahead%2C+especially+certainty+surrounding+the+joint-employer+standard%2C+IFA+publicly+supported+Chavez-DeRemer%27s+nomination.+We+were+one+of+the+first+major+business+organizations+to+do+so.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EWe%27ve+also+been+engaged+in+debates+over+agency+heads+at+the+FTC%2C+Department+of+Veterans+Affairs%2C+and+the+Small+Business+Administration%2C+to+name+a+few.+They+are+key+allies+in+helping+us+achieve+the+policy+goals+for+our+members.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EWe+urge+you+to+get+involved+with+the+process%3A+Invite+your+representatives+to+your+business%2C+set+up+a+meeting+in+Washington%2C+attend+IFA+events%2C+including+the+IFA+Legal+Symposium+in+May+or+the+Advocacy+Summit+in+the+fall%2C+or+participate+in+an+Open+for+Opportunity+Roadshow+stop.+There+is+no+shortage+of+ways+to+ensure+that+your+priorities+and+concerns+are+front+and+center+for+those+responsible+for+passing+laws.+Your+voice+and+your+story%2C+and+the+stories+of+those+you+serve%2C+are+the+most+impactful+ways+to+communicate+with+those+who+pass+laws+that+affect+your+day-to-day+business.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EWe+look+forward+to+working+alongside+you+toward+the+advancement+of+a+legislative+agenda+that+lifts+people+up+and+provides+economic+opportunity--bipartisan+principles+everyone+can+get+behind.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3E%3Cstrong%3EMatt+Haller%3C%2Fstrong%3E+is+president+and+CEO+of+the+International+Franchise+Association.%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E

Published: May 7th, 2025