Incentive Legislation Campaign (ILC) representatives held another round of meetings with targeted members of Congress and their advisors during a recent visit to Capitol Hill conducted as part of the ongoing campaign to promote wellness incentives that would encourage a healthier American work force and reduce health care costs.

The group advocates adding a new section 274 (p) to the Internal Revenue Code that would extend employer deductions and employee tax exemptions for wellness incentives in much the same way that the current section 274(j) does for service and safety awards that have saved as much as $10 for every dollar invested.

Led by Incentive Federation Executive Director George Delta, 10 industry representatives met with the staffs of Senate Finance Committee members: Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), John Thune (R-SD), Ronald Wyden (D-OR) and Benjamin Cardin (D-MD). The group also met with Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-OH), who sits on the House Ways & Means Committee.

“We’re very pleased that the members and their advisors view our wellness proposal as an opportunity to lower costs in conjunction with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) at the same time it encourages businesses to act responsibly toward their employees,“ said Delta.

ILC Legislative Committee Chair Greg Canose, president of Award Marketing Services, LLC, added, “We look forward to arranging future meetings with additional lawmakers who may be unfamiliar with the impact of the incentive industry and the capability of wellness incentives as a solution for promoting health and saving costs.”

Joining Delta and Canose for the Capitol Hill visit were ILC members: Rick Blabolil, president of Marketing Innovators; Heidi Chatfield, VP of marketing and operations at All Star Incentive Marketing; Kevin Cronin, executive vice president of Client Strategy, Solutions and Implementations at Rideau Recognition Solutions; Peter Hart, president and CEO of Rideau Recognition Solutions; Karen Renk, executive director of the Incentive Marketing Association; Beth Rusert, vice president of Communications and Public Affairs at Maritz; Steve Slagle, president and CEO of Promotional Products Association International; Michelle M. Smith, vice president of Business Development at O.C. Tanner and Jessica Tadlock of Darden Consulting.

Delta explained that ILC has been meeting with members of Congress and their advisors over the last 15 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: www.incentivefederation.org.