The policies that shape your business — labor classifications, product regulations, chemical standards — don't get made in a vacuum. They get made in Washington and in state capitals, and whether the cleaning industry has a seat at that table depends entirely on whether anyone shows up.
ISSA just released its 2025–2026 Advocacy Fund Impact Report, documenting what more than $335,000 raised since 2021 — contributed by cleaning businesses and suppliers — actually produced.
What the 2025–2026 Cycle Accomplished
- A first-ever apprenticeship pathway. ISSA secured U.S. Department of Labor approval for the cleaning industry's first registered apprenticeship program for cleaning technicians. For an industry that has never had a formal federal training credential, this is a structural change — one that can create a scalable hiring pipeline for businesses struggling to attract and retain qualified staff. CBT covered the program in detail when it launched earlier this year.
- The WIPPES Act advanced in the Senate. The legislation would require "Do Not Flush" labeling on nonflushable wipes — a product category that causes costly damage to wastewater infrastructure. For commercial cleaning operators and their facility management clients, this is a practical win: clearer labeling means fewer plumbing emergencies and cleaner facilities.
- EPA Safer Choice legislation introduced. ISSA helped drive the introduction of federal legislation to authorize the EPA's Safer Choice Program, the science-based certification that many cleaning companies already use when selecting and marketing products. Codifying the program in law protects a credential with real commercial value.
- A state-level product ban was stopped. Working with industry partners, ISSA helped defeat New Hampshire's HB 1544 — a proposal to ban scented cleaning products from public buildings. If it had passed, it would have set a template other states could follow, limiting product choices and raising compliance costs, particularly for companies operating across multiple markets.
Beyond legislation, more than 140 industry leaders met directly with over 150 congressional offices at this year's Clean Advocacy Summit, and 2,700 advocates are active across 33 states.
📺 Watch: How ISSA Advocacy Advances the Cleaning Industry
A short overview of how the Advocates for Clean network works and what participating looks like for cleaning business owners.
Why Defensive Wins Matter
Most of what industry advocacy accomplishes is invisible when it works. The New Hampshire bill — and the many similar proposals that never made it to a vote — were managed before they became law. That outcome doesn't generate headlines. The regulations that do pass and create real cost and compliance burdens tend to be the ones where no industry voice showed up early enough to shape them.
If you're not already connected to ISSA's network, the Advocates for Clean Action Center is the entry point — a quick signup that delivers legislative and compliance updates specific to the cleaning industry, and lets you engage on active bills when the issues are relevant to your business.
FAQs
A: ISSA's 2025–2026 Advocacy Fund Impact Report highlights several key wins: U.S. Department of Labor approval of the first registered apprenticeship program for cleaning technicians, U.S. Senate passage of the WIPPES Act requiring "Do Not Flush" labeling on nonflushable wipes, introduction of federal legislation to authorize the EPA's Safer Choice Program, and the defeat of a New Hampshire bill that would have banned scented cleaning products from public buildings.
A: The WIPPES Act is federal legislation that would require "Do Not Flush" labeling on nonflushable wipes — products that frequently cause expensive damage to wastewater infrastructure when flushed. The U.S. Senate advanced the bill during the 2025–2026 advocacy cycle. For commercial cleaning companies and their facility management clients, clearer labeling on these products means fewer plumbing incidents and reduced maintenance costs.
A: ISSA's registered apprenticeship program for cleaning technicians is the cleaning industry's first federally approved apprenticeship credential, authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor. It creates a structured, scalable pathway for recruiting and training cleaning staff, giving businesses a formal framework for workforce development that didn't previously exist at the federal level.
A: The ISSA Advocacy Fund (IAF) is an industry-funded resource that finances ISSA's government affairs work — including lobbying, grassroots advocacy, coalition building, legal activity, and public education — at both the federal and state levels. Contributions have totaled more than $335,000 since 2021. The fund's work directly benefits cleaning businesses by shaping labor, product, and environmental policies that affect daily operations.
A: The easiest entry point is ISSA's Advocates for Clean Action Center, where you can sign up to receive legislative and regulatory updates and take action on active bills. ISSA also hosts an annual Clean Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., where industry professionals meet directly with congressional offices. Membership in ISSA Residential provides additional access to advocacy tools, education, and representation.
