The International Franchise Association has named Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and Todd Young (R-IN) as its 2014 Legislator of the Year award recipients during IFA’s 15th Annual Public Affairs Conference. The Legislator of the Year Award is given to lawmakers that support a pro-franchising, pro-business agenda.

“We applaud the work of Reps. Young and Lipinski for their efforts in the House of Representatives, particularly through their sponsorship of bills that restore the Affordable Care Act’s 30-hour definition of a full-time employee to the more traditional 40-hour work week,” said IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira, CFE. “Their efforts on ACA reform highlight a commitment to providing workers more hours and employers more growth opportunities.”

Illinois congressman Dan Lipinski has dedicated his career to promoting innovative job growth, developing strategic American manufacturing and streamlining transportation infrastructure in Chicago.  Known as a champion for the middle class, Lipinski is an integral member of the push to facilitate economic growth, foster community enrichment and further meaningful job creation.  Rep. Lipinski has been a strong advocate for repealing the Affordable Care Act’s 30-hour definition of a full-time employee, by sponsoring bills such as H.R. 2988/S. 1188, the Forty Hours is Full Time Act.  Redefining a full-time employee as one who works 30 hours per week could ultimately hurt employees by forcing employers to limit their workers’ hours to avoid penalties or significant cost increases. 

In March of this year, Rep. Young, a Marine Corps veteran, introduced H.R. 2575, the Save American Workers Act.  H.R. 2575 aims to redefine the Affordable Care Act's 30-hour definition of full-time employee, particularly in relation to the Act’s provision of health care requirement.  The provision will require small businesses to offer health care benefits to 30-hour, full-time employees or they will incur significant fines.  This will harm small businesses’ growth opportunities, by reducing their ability to hire new employees and ultimately their financial capital.

“We commend both Rep. Young and Rep. Lipinski’s for their efforts to protect small business owners by making the employer mandate in the ACA easier to implement,” said Calderia.