WASHINGTON – Yesterday the House
of Representatives passed H.R. 2575, the Save American Worker Act, by a vote of
248-179. The bill passed despite a veto
threat from President Obama. Over the
last week our industry sent more 1,500 letters of support for H.R. 2575 to more
than 300 members of Congress. The legislation now moves to the U.S. Senate for
consideration.
The Affordable Care Act, signed
into law by President Obama in 2010, includes an exemption to the requirement
that employers provide qualifying health care coverage to their employees if
they employ less than 50 full time employees. Further, the law establishes 30
hours per week as the threshold for if an employee is full time or not. NACS,
in coordination with other retailers, foodservice companies and hotel and
lodging associations, is pushing for a change in that threshold to 40 hours per
week. This change would put the ACA requirement more in line with what has
traditionally been considered a full-time employee and provide needed
flexibility to many employers, particularly convenience stores.
NACS supports H.R. 2575 because
it amends the health-care law to establish 40 hours per week as the threshold
for determining full time employment. NACS will keep you updated on the
progress of the Save American Workers Act in the Senate.