FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol Eberly
202-349-5882
carol.eberly@iwf.org

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Independent Women's Forum, National Black Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the HR Policy Association launched a new web site today, www.EFCA-Info.org, developed to provide facts and information and to educate small business owners, employees and the middle class about the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) under consideration by the U.S. Congress. As part of the work in building the site, the Independent Women's Forum commissioned a poll of small business owners for their opinions regarding EFCA. The poll, conducted by Lombardo Consulting Group (LCG) found that small business owners believe that EFCA will not only hurt their business in general, but will also hurt their relationship with employees and their ability to provide jobs in their community.

The EFCA-Info web site is accessible to the general public, and the information is aimed at educating those most affected by the legislation - - small business owners, employees, the middle class, and arbitrators. The site is focused on both the merits and specifics of the legislation and is sponsored transparently by these associations who represent a variety of American businesses, including minority-owned and women-owned small businesses.

Michelle D. Bernard, President and CEO of the Independent Women's Forum (IWF) said, "Women entrepreneurs are among the fastest growing group of business owners. According to our recent survey, small business owners lack information about EFCA, but what they do understand they do not like. We are pleased to provide our members with this important information."

EFCA-info.org contains IWF's small business survey and other new research on how EFCA would affect the middle class and the economy, policy papers and reports on the provisions of the legislation, and fact sheets that explain how EFCA would change current workplace law. The web site also contains simplified explanations of the provisions in the legislation, definitions of the terms used in it, and rebuttals to common misperceptions about EFCA.

"We believe that enacting EFCA and other pro-union legislation will have a very negative impact on the African-American business community, on African-American employment, and as a result, on our economy as a whole. At a time when we should be focused on greater opportunities and more jobs, voting for EFCA is the wrong choice for the African-American community," said National Black Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Harry C. Alford. "EFCA-info.org provides credible research and useful information about the impact of the Employee Free Choice Act on small and minority business owners."

In addition to providing facts and information, EFCA-info.org will also offer a way for visitors to voice their opinions about the legislation to their elected representatives through the "Make Your Voice Heard" section. And, by selecting "Get Updates" on the web site, visitors will be notified when new information such as changes in the legislation, press releases and other EFCA-related advisories are posted to the site.

"If we as a nation are interested in economic recovery, job creation, and developing the new technologies and industries of the future - the Employee Free Choice Act is a bad starting point," said USHCC President & CEO Augustine Martinez. "In the long run, both business owners and employees would suffer. If made law, this bill would boost costs, restrain productivity and make businesses less competitive. Small businesses create nearly 80 percent of all new jobs, much like we produce the vast majority of patents and this legislation would hinder productivity as the small business community becomes a target of labor organizers, strikes and labor agreements," he added.

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The Independent Women's Forum

Founded in 1992, IWF focuses on issues of concern to women, men, and families. Our mission is to rebuild civil society by advancing economic liberty, personal responsibility, and political freedom. IWF builds support for a greater respect for limited government, equality under the law, property rights, free markets, strong families, and a powerful and effective national defense and foreign policy. IWF is home to some of the nation's most influential scholars-women who are committed to promoting and defending economic opportunity and political freedom.  www.iwf.org

National Black Chamber of Commerce
The NBCC reaches 100,000 Black owned businesses. There are 1 million Black owned businesses in the United States. Black businesses account for over $100 billion in annual sales. African Americans have over $800 billion in expendable income each year according to the US Bureau of Census. The National Black Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African American communities through entrepreneurship and capitalistic activity within the United States and via interaction with the Black Diaspora.  www.nationalbcc.org

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of almost 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States that generate nearly $400 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia and Uruguay.  www.ushcc.com

The H.R. Policy Association
HR Policy Association brings together the chief human resource officers of more than 260 of the largest corporations in the United States who are concerned about the direction of HR public policy and practices in the United States and globally. Representing nearly every major industry sector, HR Policy members have a combined market capitalization of more than $7.5 trillion and employ more than 18 million employees worldwide.  www.hrpolicy.org