Incentive Legislation Campaign Stays Proactive on Protecting Current Legislation for Safety and Service Incentives

Falls Church, VA - Aug. 4, 2011 – Incentive Legislation Campaign (ILC) representatives held another round of meetings with targeted members of Congress and their advisors during a July visit to Capitol Hill conducted as part of the proactive campaign to educate and inform legislators about the value of incentives in corporate safety programs and service awards.

The group advocates maintaining Section 274(j) of the Internal Revenue Code for service and safety awards, first enacted in 1986. It has been credited as saving as much as $10 for every dollar invested. The 25-year-old provision provides that the cost of a length of service award and a safety achievement award given to an employee is deductible to the employer and tax-free to the employee as long as the award is tangible personal property and does not exceed $400 in any year.

Led by Incentive Federation Executive Director George Delta, four industry representatives met with the staffs of Senate Finance Committee members: Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME). The group also met with the staff of Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), Chair of the House Ways & Means Committee.

“While the last few years have brought a lot of legislative focus on health care and economic stimulus, Congress is now turning its attention to tax reform. This means that tax provisions enacted during the Reagan years are now under scrutiny,” said Delta. “We have a great deal of evidence to show that section 274(j) has a positive effect on worker productivity, employee engagement and workplace safety. It’s our job to show members of Congress that this provision has been beneficial to American business.”

ILC Legislative Committee Chair Michelle M. Smith, CPIM, CRP, vice president of business development at O.C. Tanner, added, “We’re very pleased that the members and their advisors were receptive to the information we provided them about safety and service awards. We believe that sharing the success of these recognition and incentive programs helps them understand how incredibly effective these programs have been in increasing productivity, job growth, and building safer and healthier businesses.”

Delta explained that ILC has been meeting with members of Congress and their advisors over the last 21 months to provide information, case studies and data that will help them better understand the $46 billion incentive industry.

About The Incentive Federation
Founded in 1984, the Incentive Federation is the umbrella legislative organization for the incentive field representing national trade associations, trade publications, and national trade shows. It is the only organization whose membership includes all of the industry’s national trade associations and individual companies. The Incentive Marketing Association, the Promotional Products Association International, Recognition Professionals International, The Incentive Research Foundation, and SITE International Foundation are active members. More information can be found at: http://www.incentivefederation.org/

About The Incentive Federation
Founded in 1984, the Incentive Federation is the umbrella legislative organization for the incentive field representing national trade associations, trade publications, and national trade shows. It is the only organization whose membership includes all of the industry’s national trade associations and individual companies. The Incentive Marketing Association, the Promotional Products Association International, Recognition Professionals International, The Incentive Research Foundation, and SITE International Foundation are active members. More information can be found at: http://www.incentivefederation.org/

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This release was published on openPR.