The Congressional Company Visit Kit:

Transcription

1 The ESOP Association The Congressional Company Visit Kit: Late Summer 2017 Practical Steps For Unparalleled Results Learn Why a Congressional Visit in Your District is Powerful.

2 Table of Contents Foreword The Congressional Company Visit Kit: Practical Steps for Unparalleled Results... 5 Suggested Letter of Invitation for a Company Visit... 7 How to Find Congressional Contacts... 8 Best Time for Visit... 8 The Member of Congress is Here Now What?... 9 Helpful Tips for Company Visit What Are you Selling, and How Do You Make the Sell? Enlist House Members Open, Public, Support of Pro-ESOP Proposals Know ESOP Advocates in the House. Is Your Representative on the List? House Pro-ESOP Proposal: H.R Suggested Statement to a House Member Who was an ESOP Advocate in Prior Congresses Suggested Statement to a House Member Who Is Not Yet an ESOP Advocate House Pro-ESOP Proposal: H.R the Work Act Suggested Statement to House a Member Who Is an ESOP Advocate Suggested Statement to a House Member Who Is Not Yet and ESOP Advocate Enlist Senate Members Open, Public, Support of Pro-ESOP Proposals Know ESOP Advocates in the Senate. Is Your Senator on the List? Senate Pro-ESOP Proposal: S Suggested Statement to a U.S. Senator Who Is an ESOP Advocate Suggested Statement to a U.S. Senator Who Is Not Yet an ESOP Advocate Senate Proposal: S Suggested Statement to a Senate Member to Support S Department of Labor s Harassment of ESOP Sponsors and Service Providers Representatives/Senators who Serve on Committees that Oversees the Department of Labor

3 Suggested Statement to a Senator/Representative who Serves on Committees that Oversees the Department of Labor Other Points You May Wish to Add The Follow-Up Fall Back Super Duper Fall Back Conclusion

4 FOREWORD Please note, if and your co-owners follow the enclosed steps to obtain a visit of a member of Congress, or his or her top staff person, to your company, and you let The ESOP Association know, we will supplement the following document with a short report on the member of Congress who will visit your company. The report we will supply will tell you what prior record, if any, the member of Congress has on ESOP issues. The report will tell you what committees in Congress the member serves on, and what relevancy, if any, those committees have to ESOP laws. The report will tell you what the public record says is that member s prime interests as a legislator, and the major, if any, legislative initiatives the member of Congress is involved with. Finally this report will share any interesting data about the member who will visit your company that is relevant to her or his service in Congress, and/or issues. For example, the report might contain information that the member of Congress was a small business person before going to Congress. This fact would be interesting in that most ESOP companies, and probably yours, are small, privately held businesses. The report might have information that the member recently served in the military. The report might have information that his or her predecessor was a strong supporter of ESOPs. The report might have information that she or he was a lawyer in a law firm that does ESOP legal work. In other words, The ESOP Association stands ready to give you the most up to date information and ideas for a successful visit by a member of Congress to your company, which is our most important, and most powerful lobbying tool. [Note: The reference to member of Congress includes a member of the U.S. Senate, or U.S. House of Representatives.] Remember, that every General Social Survey (GSS) since 2002 is the most prestigious survey of America next to the Census, provides overwhelming evidence that employees of employee-owned companies are less likely to be laid off than employees of conventionally- owned companies, and thus saves Uncle Sam billions of dollars each year. Most dramatic during the Great Recession of , employee stock owned companies laid off employees at a rate 4times less than conventionally owned companies! (Less than 3% compared to more than 12%.) Your company s unique story is the number one advocacy tool you have; but the GSS Surveys provide macro evidence that evidences ESOP companies are good for America! 4

5 THE CONGRESSIONAL-COMPANY VISIT KIT: PRACTICAL STEPS FOR UNPARELLED RESULTS Introduction: This document establishes why having a member of Congress visit an ESOP company, your ESOP company, is the most important government relations activity you can undertake, and sets forth steps for arranging a visit, what might be done during the visit, and what is the follow-up to the visit. As noted, such an effort is more important now than ever. Fact: The ESOP Association s members have advocated for ESOPs with members of Congress since There is one fact that has been consistent the entire time: This fact is that the most effective activity in obtaining the support for ESOPs from a member of Congress is having that member of Congress visit an ESOP company. The company visit is more effective than a visit in the member of Congress s home office and certainly more effective than visiting with a member of Congress in Washington DC. (Note, when using the term member of Congress, included is a Senator.) To make the factual case since 1982, no member who has visited an ESOP company in his or her Congressional District or State has failed to take the pro-esop position. At worse, one member, who visited an ESOP company in 1985, took a neutral ESOP position after having taken a position not in favor of ESOPs in In fact, most members of Congress who have visited ESOP companies have become ESOP Champions, or even ESOP Super Champions. The ESOP position of members of Congress who were exposed to ESOP advocates during DC visits by those advocates does not match the track record of those who have visited with an ESOP company in his or her home district or state. In sum, if you want to have your member of Congress support pro-esop positions, the most effective step you could take would be to arrange a visit by that member of Congress to your company. First Steps The ESOP advocate will first want to contact the person who is the so-called District Administrator if the Congressperson s main district office in your area, or the Office Director if the Congressional office near you is a satellite office of his or her primary district office. Given that Congressional personnel frequently change, it is not fatal to not know name of the person you are contacting. The name is usually on a member of Congress s web site, or call The ESOP Association. Congressional staff change rather often, thus it is not unusual for a website to be out of date. If you know the staff person s name, use it. A Senator has one main state office, and several regional offices as a rule. If her or his main state office is near you, you will ask to speak to the state Administrator, and if a satellite office, the Office Director. In seeking an appointment through the District or State office, the best tactic is to call first to nail down who in that office might handle the member s schedule when s/he is home. Set forth below is a suggested telephone script. 5

6 Congressional Office Phone Answering: Hello, [Congress][woman][man][Senator] [name] office. May I help you? ESOP Advocate: Yes, I am [name] and I work for [name of company]. We are an employeeowned, or ESOP company. We are located over on [street address, community, etc.]. (Tip: Make it vivid where you are located in order to create a visual image. Remember, the person you are talking to probably has driven by, or has heard of your company you are speaking to a fellow local citizen.) As an employee-owned company, we are required to comply with several federal laws and thus we are subject to being judged by Congress as to whether we are complying with the intent of those laws. I would like to speak to someone about having [Congress][woman][man]/[Senator] [name] visit our company in the near future and meet our people. Congressional Aide: [Name] handles the [Congress][woman][man]/[Senator s] schedule whiles/he is in the [district] [state]. I will see if s/he is available. Person Handling Schedule: Yes, this is [name]. May I help you? ESOP Advocate: Yes, I am [name] and I work for [name of company]. We are employeeowned, our [number] employee owners are more than aware that our employee ownership, through an ESOP, is subject to federal law, particularly Federal tax and retirement laws. We are located over on [address]. We would like to invite [Congress][woman][man]/Senator [name] to our company to see what we are doing and how the employee ownership program, through our employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP is benefiting our people and company. We would be honored for such a visit, and of course, we would at that time take a brief moment to highlight some of the key issues pending before Congress that might affect our employee owners negatively. Congressional Aide: Well, I do not have the schedule for the [Congress][woman][man]/ Senator s next visit to our area, and I would have to review you invitation with him. It would be helpful if you would make your invitation in writing. ESOP Advocates Response to This Response: Yes we intend to formalize our invitation in writing, and were seeking input on where the letter should go and to whose attention. Congressional Aide s Response to This Response: Okay, please send the letter to [name of Congressperson/Senator, at this office, marked to [my][name of someone else s] attention, setting forth the information you just gave on the phone here. Or, if the schedule is handled out of DC, Well the schedule is handled out of DC, and write the [name of Congressperson/ Senator at his/her DC office, and make it to the attention of his/her scheduler [name]. ESOP Advocate: I appreciate that information, and we will get out that letter today. Your time and attention to this matter is very much appreciated. 6

7 Suggested Letter of Invitation for a Company Visit Name of Member of Congress/Senator Local Address/or DC is so instructed City, State, Zip Dear Representative/Senator [name]: On behalf of the [number] employee owners of [name of company], located in [name of city] I spoke with [name of person you spoke to] about your visiting our company when you are home. We are proud of our employee ownership through an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP and we also know that Federal laws govern the program. We are also aware that the Congress will review ESOP laws and regulations because it is Federal law that governs ESOP creation and operation. The Treasury Department, through the IRS, and the Department of Labor are the overseers of ESOP law. While rare, some so-called experts question the value of employee stock ownership and ESOPs. We know you may have to make decisions on tax reform that may impact ESOPs this year, or next. We believe that the best way to judge the value of employee ownership is to see and meet those who are working in the ESOP in a company, and who are participating in the ESOP at a company. We would be honored to host you at our office as your schedule permits and hope you can make time to meet with us in the near future. As we know demands on your time are high, and you receive many requests for visits and appointments, we hope that you and your staff would not mind our checking on the status of this invitation in the weeks ahead. All of us would be honored to have you come. Your consideration of our request is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Name: Tip: having several signatures on this letter is helpful. cc: [Name of Person Who You Talked To On Telephone] Note: If you have made arrangements to , the message is the same as the above letter. 7

8 How to Find Congressional Contacts 1. You can call The ESOP Association, and the information will be provided; or 2. Go on The ESOP Association s website, and click on Advocate, then click on Government Affairs. Once on Government Affairs, click on Capitol Links. Once there, you can click onto the website of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. You can get the list of members, once you have yours, click to her or his website for addresses, telephone numbers, or often staff names. (Note, these Congressional member sites will have software for direct contact, or letter writing to these offices.) Best Time for Visit While it might be a truism to say, anytime, or better late than never, the fact is that having a member of Congress visit your company is best when there is NO ESOP government relations crisis. Waiting to interact with a member of Congress when there is a crisis means that the ESOP issue will be one of many issues that might be before the member for decision. And of these non-esop issues she or he may be more familiar with and has probably already taken a position on these issues. Such a situation means the ESOP issue might go way down the list of importance to that member of Congress. So the best time to arrange a visit with a member of Congress is when there are no crisis ESOP issues to be decided by Congress, or in other words, ASAP. Specific Time: WITH REGARD TO BELOW: What is below for most years is true. But in 2017, Congress leaders have promised to pass a complete re-write of the Federal tax laws. These laws include laws that benefit your ESOP. So now is the best time to try to have a member of Congress visit your ESOP company. The best time for a Congressional visit would be during Employee Ownership Month at one of the company s EOM events, during October. In odd numbered years, October, during the week, is not compatible for most Congressional company visits since Congress tends to be meeting the entire working week that month, except for the long weekend of Columbus Day, or, sometimes during a Jewish Holiday, which of course varies year to year. In even numbered years, which are election years, October is a good month to try to get a Congressional visit, since Congress more often than not, recesses for the entire month of October before the early November general elections. But the fact is that many companies do not have special events during EOM, and often, if the events are scheduled, they would not match the member of Congress s schedule. In the first and second quarters there are days when most Congresspeople are home and thus available for company visits. 8

9 February through June: President s Day week; weeks before and after Easter (April 16); Memorial Day week, before and after. Special Events: Many companies have employee owner events that are not EOM related. For example, many companies have an all employee meeting when the new valuation is available, when statements are passed out, or an anniversary of the founding of the company, and similar events. Be flexible in suggesting a day and time for the visit. For example, We would be able to welcome [Member of Congress] on either [day] at [time] or [time and date mention two options]; or we can host [Congress [man] [woman] on [give some other dates.] Be prepared for changes. Schedules of elected officials can be notoriously unpredictable due to changes in the congressional schedule. The Member of Congress Is Here Now What? The member of Congress more often than not arrives late, in a car driven by one of his or her district office aides. Please remember to take note of the aide and have someone in the company engage that person in conversation during the member of Congress s visit. District staff often feels like the odd person out, but in many ways a District staff person is more influential with a member of Congress than anyone on the member of Congress s Washington staff. Make sure that people in your reception area know the member of Congress is coming. Have the welcoming delegation ready to come out quickly once notified by front desk personnel. It is always positive to have on the bulletin board, or stand, a message of welcome for the member of Congress. Now we come to the meat of the visit. On the one hand it is dumb to just let the member wander around, or to sit in the conference room and have a disjointed conversation. On the other hand, it is dumb to act like you are afraid of the member of Congress engaging in conversations with employees. And it is a waste of time to permit the member Congress to give a speech, as that speech is more than likely going to take up the entire visit time. (Politicians like to give speeches, as one, they are usually good at it, and two, they do not have to make commitments if there is not time for the constituent to ask a question, or to make a request.) A good way to think about your time with the member of Congress is that you have a plan of organized spontaneity, or spontaneous organization. There is no question that each company should tailor the visit that best suits its culture and style. 9

10 Following is a typical approach: A delegation of four or five persons greet the member of Congress in the reception area. The group might include the employee owner chair of the ESOP/employee communications group goes by various names in different companies as well as the CEO and two or three other senior executives. After the greeting, the delegation might escort the member into a conference room for a brief power point, or video about the company, and perhaps some information on its ESOP. The conference room group should include more than the three or four greeters, perhaps 10 or more persons, including, if there is one, the entire ESOP/employee committee group. After that presentation of the company and ESOP history, a walk around to see the company, stopping by different stations on the floor, or in the offices if not a manufacturing business, for an exchange of greetings is positive. Having one to three employee owners primed to comment on the ESOP at the company is powerful. After the walk around, the core delegation, the first four or five for example, or the CEO, and/or chair of the ESOP/employee committee, should take time, perhaps back in the conference room to make the sale, or in other words, to ask for the member of Congress to do something for ESOPs. Now, this outline of a visit is an example, and again each company needs to implement the visit in accord with its own style and culture. For example, many ESOP companies over the years have had positive results with all the corporate headquarters employees in a room and having just a power point, or video presentation about the company. Others just turn the member of the Congress loose on the company floor, and have him or her meet up with executives later. Others have the member join the early morning team session, where the day s work load and assignments are discussed and divvied out. Others have the member join the annual meeting where the financials are discussed and statements of ESOP accounts handed out. Others have the member join the annual picnic, and its games. Other have the member come to the special event, such as an anniversary celebration and so on. So flexibility is possible depending on the company, but again, do not leave the encounter to chance. 10

11 Helpful Tips for a Company Visit The visit is about the people and culture of your company. What makes your company unique? What does your company do/make? o Prepare a one page handout on company and ESOP for Member of Congress and staff. Get employee owners involved and most importantly, make sure they know when and why the member of Congress is visiting. o Provide some background on the member of Congress to the employee owners. You can find this information on his/her website. o Announce the visit by , information in community rooms and on bulletin boards. Have a few employee owners ready to share their story about why the ESOP is important. Have a few employee owners ready to ask questions as well. o Prepare questions in advance to keep conversation flowing, such as: [If Congressperson is a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means or Senate Committee on Finance: Do you think that your committee will take up a big tax bill this year? Do you think your committee will make any changes in ESOP tax law this year? Or, a question about a hot topic local issue that has relevance to Congress such as: Do you think that there will be money soon to widen interstate X?] [If Congressperson is NOT a member of either Congressional tax committee: Will Congress take up a big tax bill this year? Do you ever hear any talk about employee stock ownership? The local hot issue.] Take pictures! Send out a press release announcing the visit. Most important Remember to close the sale! 11

12 What Are You Selling, and How Do You Make the Sell? It does not serve the ESOP cause well if the goal is to convert a member of Congress to the ESOP advocate status to let him or her come to your company, and do no more than pat employee owners on their backs. It is true that it is sometimes unrealistic to expect a member of Congress to buy into the ESOP agenda based on his or her first experience. (If your member of Congress is already on the list of ESOP advocates, meaning he or she have publicly done something that is evidence of a pro- ESOP position that is part of the public record, then having the visit is super important to reinforce that member s view that being for ESOPs is a good political posture to have.) Please note the update or current Congressional work to enact a new Federal income tax code. But, as always, the most powerful story is your company s story; tell it; make it front and center; you and your fellow employee owners make the difference. Ignore the Media s Advice to Ignore Tax Reform Developments Do not be lulled into thinking there is no need to persuade members of Congress not to degrade, or eliminate ESOP tax benefits because the media says that Congress may not pass a tax reform bill in 2017 or The media may be right! But so what? Since 1921, when the Congress enacted the first Internal Revenue Code, every 30 to 40 years or so, the Congress sends to the President a new tax code. And this massive re-write of the tax code is not really done in one year, but takes shape over 2, 3, or even 4 years. So in the next two to four years a new tax code will probably become law, whether 2018, 2019, or The new law, again proven by history, will seek to lower tax rates while not increasing the Federal deficit by offsetting lower tax revenue from lower tax rates by eliminating or reducing special tax laws that benefit certain tax payers. (The laws are called tax loopholes, tax preferences, tax benefits, depending on a person s viewpoint.) ESOPs have special tax benefits that encourage the creation and operation of ESOPs. The ESOP tax benefits will be considered for elimination or reduction when Congress re-writes the tax laws to lower tax rates. (Just as the Republicans on Ways and Means did in 2014 and decided not to alter special tax laws for ESOPs in a proposal released by then Chair Dave Camp.) Key to having ESOPs protected in the tax reform processes is to build open public support of ESOPs among as many members of Congress as possible. The Tactic: Have members of Congress show their support by sponsoring pro-esop bills. 12

13 Enlist House/Senate Members to Support ESOPs Openly ESOP Companies and their employees can ask a member of Congress visiting their company for a Promise, or better phrase, a commitment to be openly pro-esop. Here is a suggested dialogue: (Of course the precise words are your words, not what is suggested.). Representative xxxxx (or Senator yyyyy) since 1990 ESOP supporters in Congress have introduced pro-esop proposals to expand ownership of our capitalistic economy. Last Congress, over 130 members of Congress, including a majority of members of the Senate Finance Committee, and a near majority of the House Ways and Means Committee, co-sponsored pro-esop legislation. On April 12, 2017, a pro-esop bill was introduced by 8 members of the House Ways and Means Committee 4 Republicans and 4 Democrats. Last Congress nearly 100 members of the House cosponsored the bill, which was H.R Prime sponsors of that bill this Congress, H.R. 2092, are Representatives Reichert (R-WA) and Kind (D-WS). On July 19, 2017, Senators Roberts (R-KS) and Cardin (D-MD) introduced S. 1589, the Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of Senators have already sponsored this pro- ESOP bill. This modest legislation would continue Congressional policies to encourage employee ownership through an employee stock ownership plan or ESOP, model, especially by S corporations. Thus, we ask if you would mind our communicating with you and your staff about your joining the bipartisan effort to expand employee ownership in our nation? Thank you; we appreciate your coming by, and look forward to keeping in touch about matters before Congress that may impact ESOPs positive, and hopefully not negative. 13

14 Enlist House Members Support for Pro-ESOP Legislation As stated before the Association s agenda is to persuade as many members of the House as possible, to sponsor pro-esop legislation similar to last Congresses H.R. 2092, the Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2017, and/or H.R. 2387, the Work Act. For background, see List of Current Members of House Who Are ESOP Advocates. Bullet points explaining ESOP Tax Proposal in House, H.R provision; and Suggested letter, or to members of House of Representatives, or staff, asking members of the House to sponsor H.R Bullet points explaining H.R the Work Act. Suggested letter, or to members of the House of Representatives. Additional points you may include in letter/ or conversation in person or via telephone with a House member or her/his staff. 14

15 House Advocates *Co-Sponsors of Last Congress s Pro ESOP Bill, H.R This Congress s Bill Numbers is H.R Co-Sponsors of H.R. 2092: Two ** by Name Alabama Congressman Robert B. Aderholt (R-4)* Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-1)* Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-3) Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D-9)* Arkansas Congressman Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (R-1) Congressman Steve Womack (R-3) California Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-26)* Congressman Ken Calvert (R-42)* Congressman Sam Farr (D-20) Congresswoman Janice Hahn (D-44) Congressman Michael Honda (D-17) Congressman Stephen Knight (R-25)* Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-13) Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod (D- 35) Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-48) Congressman Edward Royce (R-39)* Congresswoman Linda T. Sanchez (D-38)* Congressman Adam Schiff (D-28)* Congressman Brad Sherman (D-30) Congressman Mike Thompson (D-5)** Congressman Juan Vargas (D-51) Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman (R-6)* Congressman Jared Polis (D-2)** Connecticut Congressman Joe Courtney (D-2) Congressman John Larson (D-1) Florida Congressman Bill Posey (R-8) Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-16) Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-27) Georgia Congressman John Lewis (D-5) Congressman Austin Scott (R-8) Congressman David Scott (D-13)* Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D) Idaho Congressman Michael Simpson (R-2)* Illinois Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-7)* Congressman Rodney Davis (R-13)* Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-4)* Congressman Randy Hultgren (R-14)* Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-2)* Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-16)** Congressman Mike Quigley (D-5) Congressman Peter Roskam (R-6)* Congresswoman Janice Schakowsky (D-9)** Indiana Congressman Larry Bucshon (R-8) Congressman Luke Messer (R-6)* Congressman Todd Rokita (R-4)* Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-2)** Iowa Congressman Rod Blum (R-1)* Congressman Andre Carson (D-7) Congressman Steve King (R-4)** Congressman David Loebsack (D-2)** Congressman David Young (R-3)** 15

16 Kansas Congresswomen Lynn Jenkins (R-2)** Congressman Roger W. Marshall (R-1)** Congressman Kevin Yoder (R-3)** Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr (R-6) Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-2) Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham (R-5)* Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-1)** Maryland Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-2) Massachusetts Congressman James McGovern (D-2) Congressman Richard Neal (D-1)** Michigan Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-13)* Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-2)* Congressman Sander Levin (D-9) Congressman Tim Walberg (R-7) Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison (D-5)* Congressman Tom Emmer, (R-6)* Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-4) Congressman Richard M. Nolan (D-8)* Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-3)** Congressman Collin Peterson (D-7)* Congressman Timothy Walz (D-1)* Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-5) Congressman Sam Graves (R-6)* Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-4)* Congressman Billy Long (R-7) Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-3) Congressman Jason T. Smith (R-8)* Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-2)* Nebraska Congressman Brad Ashford (D-2)* Congressman Adrian Smith (R-3) Nevada Congressman Mark E. Amodei (R-2)* New Hampshire Congresswoman Ann M. Kuster (D-2)* New Jersey Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (R-11) Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-6) Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-9)** New York Congressman Richard L. Hanna (R-22) Congessman Brian iggins (D-26)** Congressman John Katko (R-24)* Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-12)* Congressman Tom Reed (R-23)* Congressman Jose Serrano (D-15) Congresswoman Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D-25)* North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones, Jr. (R-3) Congressman Robert Pittenger (R-9)* North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer (R-At Large)** Ohio Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-3)* Congressman Steve Chabot (R-1)* Congressman David P. Joyce (R-14)* Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-9) Congressman Robert E. Latta (R-5) Congressman James B. Renacci (R-16)* Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH)* Congressman Patrick Tiberi (R-12)** Congressman Michael Turner (R-10) Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas (R-3) 16

17 Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-3)** Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-1)** Congressman Greg Walden (R-2) Pennsylvania Congressman Lou Barletta (R-11)** Congressman Robert A. Brady (D-1)* Congressman Ryan A. Costello (R-6)* Congressman Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-8)** Congressman Mike Kelly (R-3)* Congressman Tom Marino (R-10)** Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-7)* Congressman Tim Murphy (R-18) Congressman Joseph Pitts (R-16) Congressman Glenn Thompson (R-5)** South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn (D-SC) South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R-At Large)** Tennessee Congresswoman Diane Black (R-6)* Congressman John Duncan, Jr. (R-2) Vermont Congressman Peter Welch (D-At Large)** Virginia Congressman Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA) Congressman Randy Forbes (R-4) Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-6)** Washington Congessman Derek Kilmer (D-6)** Congressman Rick Larsen (D-2)* Congressman David Reichert (R-8)** Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-5)* West Virginia Congressman David McKinley (R-1) Wisconsin Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-6)* Congressman Ron Kind (D-3)** Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-4)** Congressman Mark Pocan (D-2)* Congressman Reid Ribble (R-WI) Congressman Paul Ryan (R-1) Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-5) Texas Congressman Kevin Brady (R-8) Congressman Michael K. Conaway (R-11)* Congressman John Culberson (R-7) Congressman Blake Farenthold (R-27)* Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-12)* Congressman Gene Green (D-29) Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-30) Congressman Sam Johnson (R-3) Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-15) Congressman Kenny Marchant (R-24)* Congressman Pete Olson (R-22) Congressman Ted Poe (R-2) Congressman Pete Sessions (R-32)* Congressman Lamar Smith (R-21)* Congressman William Thornberry (R-13) Congressman Roger Williams (R-25)* Utah Congressman Rob Bishop (R-1)* 17

18 ESOP Proposal in House H.R Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2017 H.R will have: Permit owners of S stock to sell the stock to an ESOP and defer the capital gains tax on his/her gain if the proceeds are reinvested in the equities of U.S. operating corporations as owners of C corporations stock have done under IRC 1042 since 1984; Permit lenders to S corporations with 50% or more ownership through an ESOP to exclude 50% of the interest from the loan, if used to acquire stock for the ESOP; Establish an office in the Department of Treasury to provide technical assistance to S corporations with ESOPs; Provide that a small business, S or C, eligible for one of the many programs provided by the Small Business Administration to remain eligible for SBA programs if the company became owned 50% or more by and ESOP, and the workforce remains the same or nearly the same as before the establishment of the 50% ownership by employees through the ESOP. 18

19 Suggested Statement to House Members Who Sponsored Pro-ESOP Proposal In 2015/2016 [I][We] appreciate you sponsoring H.R in the last Congress that would have encouraged the creation and operation of ESOPs. [I][We] take special note that your endorsement of broad-based ownership in our capitalistic economy was evidenced by you in the prior Congress. This Congress the same proposal is H.R It was introduced April 25, by 8 members of the Ways and Means Committees Representatives Reichert, Kind, Paulsen, Neal, Tiberi, Pascrell, Jenkins, and Blumenauer. With the impressive bi-partisan support in the last Congress of H.R. 2096, [I][We] respectfully ask that you consider co-sponsoring H.R Here is a one-page summary of the impressive macro-data evidencing ESOPs in the vast majority of instances are more productive, providing sustainable jobs while building impressive account balances for employees. Again, we thank you for supporting a pro-esop agenda last Congress: H.R and for considering H.R Handout: Summary of Data from Research of ESOP Companies Performance Suggested Statement to House Members Who Are ESOP Advocates, But Did Not Sponsor H.R [I][We] appreciate you having taken public position supporting employee ownership through the ESOP model in prior Congresses. H.R is pro-esop bill, was introduced on April 25, by 8 members of the Ways and Means Committee: Reichert, Kind, Paulsen, Neal, Tiberi, Pascrell, Jenkins, and Blumenauer. We respectfully request you consider sponsoring pro-esop legislation when introduced. Here is a one-page summary of the impressive macro-data evidencing ESOPs in the vast majority of instances are more productive providing sustainable jobs while building impressive account balances for employees, and data evidencing employee stock owned companies represent retention of American jobs better than conventionally-owned companies. In sum, ESOPs are good for America, our communities, and all employees. Again, we thank you for supporting a pro-esop agenda. Handout: Summary of Data from Research of ESOP Companies Performance 19

20 Suggested Statement to House Members Who Are Not On ESOP Advocates List On April 15, 2017, a bi-partisan group of Ways and Means members introduced H.R. 2092, the Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of This modest legislation would have continued Congressional policies to encourage employee ownership through an employee stock ownership plan or ESOP, model, especially by S corporations. [I][We] respectfully request you consider sponsoring H.R Here is a one-page summary of the impressive macro-data evidencing ESOPs in the vast majority of instances are more productive providing sustainable jobs while building impressive account balances for employees, and data evidencing employee stock owned companies are less likely 4 to 8 time to lay off employees than conventionally-owned companies. In sum, ESOPs are good for America, our communities, and all employees. Please contact [Name] [anyone at Name of Company] for any questions. Or, if you wish, you or your staff may ask the representative of The ESOP Association to visit your office for a full dialogue of questions you may have. Handout: Summary of Data from Research of ESOP Companies Performance 20

21 Multiple Copies of Handouts Making the Point ESOPs Are Good Policy 21

22 Employee Owner Impact Corporate Performance Positively Overwhelming Evidence ESOP Companies More Productive, More Profitable, and More Sustainable, Providing Locally Controlled Jobs During the Great Recession, employee stock owned companies laid off employees at a rate of less than 3%, whereas conventionally owned companies laid off at a rate greater than 12%. (All General Social Surveys since 2002 evidence the same no matter what the state of economy is: employee stock owned companies lay off employees at a much lesser rate than conventionally owned companies. (Recent book: How Did Employee Ownership Firms Weather the Last Two Recessions?, Kurtulus and Kruse, Upjohn Institute provides and explains the data.). Refer to chart. Because employees of ESOP companies were four times more likely to retain jobs during the Great Recession, Federal government recognized savings of over $14 billion in 2010 compared to tax payments foregone by laid off employees of conventionally owned companies; in other words for every $1 in tax expenditures to promote employee stock ownership, the Federal government collected $13 in taxes. (Data Source: 2010 General Social Survey analyzed by National Center for Employee Ownership.) According to 2014 General Social Survey, 13% of employees of employee stock-owned companies were thinking of seeking employment elsewhere, whereas 24% of the employees of conventionallyowned companies were considering leaving their current job. More than half of the ESOP companies have two retirement savings plan (primarily a 401(k)), whereas more than half of all companies have no retirement income savings plan. (Analysis of forms 5500, and Bureau of Labor Statistics by the National Center for Employee Ownership, funded by the Employee Ownership Foundation.) The average ESOP company (less than 200 employees) has sales $9 million more per year than its non-employee owned comparable competition. (June 2008 Dissertation, Dr. Brent Kramer, CUNY.) A study of 1100 ESOP companies over eleven years compared to 1100 comparable conventional owned companies evidenced the 1100 ESOP companies had better sales, more employment, and were more likely over the period to remain independent businesses by 16%. (Most detailed study of ESOP companies by Dr. Joseph Blasi, and Dr. Douglas Kruse, tenured professors, Rutgers University School of Labor and Management, 1999.) 22

23 Employee Stock Ownership a Proven Best Policy to Preserve American Jobs Job Security and Firm Survival. The GSS results show that both actual layoffs (Figure 1.2) and the perceived likelihood of layoffs (Figure 1.3) are lower for employee-owners than for nonowners. As we can see in Figure 1.2, in each year, workers who participated in employee ownership programs indicated a lower incidence of losing their jobs than workers who were not employee owners. For example, in 2002, 3.0 percent of employee owners reported being laid off from their jobs in the past year compared to 9.2 percent of non employee owners. Figure 1.2 Layoffs and Employee Ownership 14 Employee Owner Not Employee Owner Percentage Laid Off In Previous Year NOTE: Layoff information based on the GSS variable laidoff, which indicates whether the employee was laid off from his or her main job at any time in the past year. Figure illustrates mean response by employee ownership. SOURCE: Data are from the GSS on employees at private firms. The above is from How Did Employee Ownership Firms Weather the Last Two Recessions? Employee Ownership, Employment Stability, and Firm Survival: , page 12. Kurtulas, Associate Professors of Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; and Kruse, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Rutgers University. Published by Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, Kalamazoo, Michigan. 23

24 Employee Owner Impact Corporate Performance Positively Overwhelming Evidence ESOP Companies More Productive, More Profitable, and More Sustainable, Providing Locally Controlled Jobs During the Great Recession, employee stock owned companies laid off employees at a rate of less than 3%, whereas conventionally owned companies laid off at a rate greater than 12%. (All General Social Surveys since 2002 evidence the same no matter what the state of economy is: employee stock owned companies lay off employees at a much lesser rate than conventionally owned companies. (Recent book: How Did Employee Ownership Firms Weather the Last Two Recessions?, Kurtulus and Kruse, Upjohn Institute provides and explains the data.). Refer to chart. Because employees of ESOP companies were four times more likely to retain jobs during the Great Recession, Federal government recognized savings of over $14 billion in 2010 compared to tax payments foregone by laid off employees of conventionally owned companies; in other words for every $1 in tax expenditures to promote employee stock ownership, the Federal government collected $13 in taxes. (Data Source: 2010 General Social Survey analyzed by National Center for Employee Ownership.) According to 2014 General Social Survey, 13% of employees of employee stock-owned companies were thinking of seeking employment elsewhere, whereas 24% of the employees of conventionallyowned companies were considering leaving their current job. More than half of the ESOP companies have two retirement savings plan (primarily a 401(k)), whereas more than half of all companies have no retirement income savings plan. (Analysis of forms 5500, and Bureau of Labor Statistics by the National Center for Employee Ownership, funded by the Employee Ownership Foundation.) The average ESOP company (less than 200 employees) has sales $9 million more per year than its non-employee owned comparable competition. (June 2008 Dissertation, Dr. Brent Kramer, CUNY.) A study of 1100 ESOP companies over eleven years compared to 1100 comparable conventional owned companies evidenced the 1100 ESOP companies had better sales, more employment, and were more likely over the period to remain independent businesses by 16%. (Most detailed study of ESOP companies by Dr. Joseph Blasi, and Dr. Douglas Kruse, tenured professors, Rutgers University School of Labor and Management, 1999.) 24

25 Employee Stock Ownership a Proven Best Policy to Preserve American Jobs Job Security and Firm Survival. The GSS results show that both actual layoffs (Figure 1.2) and the perceived likelihood of layoffs (Figure 1.3) are lower for employee-owners than for nonowners. As we can see in Figure 1.2, in each year, workers who participated in employee ownership programs indicated a lower incidence of losing their jobs than workers who were not employee owners. For example, in 2002, 3.0 percent of employee owners reported being laid off from their jobs in the past year compared to 9.2 percent of non employee owners. Figure 1.2 Layoffs and Employee Ownership 14 Employee Owner Not Employee Owner Percentage Laid Off In Previous Year NOTE: Layoff information based on the GSS variable laidoff, which indicates whether the employee was laid off from his or her main job at any time in the past year. Figure illustrates mean response by employee ownership. SOURCE: Data are from the GSS on employees at private firms. The above is from How Did Employee Ownership Firms Weather the Last Two Recessions? Employee Ownership, Employment Stability, and Firm Survival: , page 12. Kurtulas, Associate Professors of Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; and Kruse, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Rutgers University. Published by Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, Kalamazoo, Michigan. 25

26 Employee Owner Impact Corporate Performance Positively Overwhelming Evidence ESOP Companies More Productive, More Profitable, and More Sustainable, Providing Locally Controlled Jobs During the Great Recession, employee stock owned companies laid off employees at a rate of less than 3%, whereas conventionally owned companies laid off at a rate greater than 12%. (All General Social Surveys since 2002 evidence the same no matter what the state of economy is: employee stock owned companies lay off employees at a much lesser rate than conventionally owned companies. (Recent book: How Did Employee Ownership Firms Weather the Last Two Recessions?, Kurtulus and Kruse, Upjohn Institute provides and explains the data.). Refer to chart. Because employees of ESOP companies were four times more likely to retain jobs during the Great Recession, Federal government recognized savings of over $14 billion in 2010 compared to tax payments foregone by laid off employees of conventionally owned companies; in other words for every $1 in tax expenditures to promote employee stock ownership, the Federal government collected $13 in taxes. (Data Source: 2010 General Social Survey analyzed by National Center for Employee Ownership.) According to 2014 General Social Survey, 13% of employees of employee stock-owned companies were thinking of seeking employment elsewhere, whereas 24% of the employees of conventionallyowned companies were considering leaving their current job. More than half of the ESOP companies have two retirement savings plan (primarily a 401(k)), whereas more than half of all companies have no retirement income savings plan. (Analysis of forms 5500, and Bureau of Labor Statistics by the National Center for Employee Ownership, funded by the Employee Ownership Foundation.) The average ESOP company (less than 200 employees) has sales $9 million more per year than its non-employee owned comparable competition. (June 2008 Dissertation, Dr. Brent Kramer, CUNY.) A study of 1100 ESOP companies over eleven years compared to 1100 comparable conventional owned companies evidenced the 1100 ESOP companies had better sales, more employment, and were more likely over the period to remain independent businesses by 16%. (Most detailed study of ESOP companies by Dr. Joseph Blasi, and Dr. Douglas Kruse, tenured professors, Rutgers University School of Labor and Management, 1999.) 26

27 Employee Stock Ownership a Proven Best Policy to Preserve American Jobs Job Security and Firm Survival. The GSS results show that both actual layoffs (Figure 1.2) and the perceived likelihood of layoffs (Figure 1.3) are lower for employee-owners than for nonowners. As we can see in Figure 1.2, in each year, workers who participated in employee ownership programs indicated a lower incidence of losing their jobs than workers who were not employee owners. For example, in 2002, 3.0 percent of employee owners reported being laid off from their jobs in the past year compared to 9.2 percent of non employee owners. Figure 1.2 Layoffs and Employee Ownership 14 Employee Owner Not Employee Owner Percentage Laid Off In Previous Year NOTE: Layoff information based on the GSS variable laidoff, which indicates whether the employee was laid off from his or her main job at any time in the past year. Figure illustrates mean response by employee ownership. SOURCE: Data are from the GSS on employees at private firms. The above is from How Did Employee Ownership Firms Weather the Last Two Recessions? Employee Ownership, Employment Stability, and Firm Survival: , page 12. Kurtulas, Associate Professors of Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; and Kruse, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Rutgers University. Published by Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, Kalamazoo, Michigan. 27

28 Employee Owner Impact Corporate Performance Positively Overwhelming Evidence ESOP Companies More Productive, More Profitable, and More Sustainable, Providing Locally Controlled Jobs During the Great Recession, employee stock owned companies laid off employees at a rate of less than 3%, whereas conventionally owned companies laid off at a rate greater than 12%. (All General Social Surveys since 2002 evidence the same no matter what the state of economy is: employee stock owned companies lay off employees at a much lesser rate than conventionally owned companies. (Recent book: How Did Employee Ownership Firms Weather the Last Two Recessions?, Kurtulus and Kruse, Upjohn Institute provides and explains the data.). Refer to chart. Because employees of ESOP companies were four times more likely to retain jobs during the Great Recession, Federal government recognized savings of over $14 billion in 2010 compared to tax payments foregone by laid off employees of conventionally owned companies; in other words for every $1 in tax expenditures to promote employee stock ownership, the Federal government collected $13 in taxes. (Data Source: 2010 General Social Survey analyzed by National Center for Employee Ownership.) According to 2014 General Social Survey, 13% of employees of employee stock-owned companies were thinking of seeking employment elsewhere, whereas 24% of the employees of conventionallyowned companies were considering leaving their current job. More than half of the ESOP companies have two retirement savings plan (primarily a 401(k)), whereas more than half of all companies have no retirement income savings plan. (Analysis of forms 5500, and Bureau of Labor Statistics by the National Center for Employee Ownership, funded by the Employee Ownership Foundation.) The average ESOP company (less than 200 employees) has sales $9 million more per year than its non-employee owned comparable competition. (June 2008 Dissertation, Dr. Brent Kramer, CUNY.) A study of 1100 ESOP companies over eleven years compared to 1100 comparable conventional owned companies evidenced the 1100 ESOP companies had better sales, more employment, and were more likely over the period to remain independent businesses by 16%. (Most detailed study of ESOP companies by Dr. Joseph Blasi, and Dr. Douglas Kruse, tenured professors, Rutgers University School of Labor and Management, 1999.) 28