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Welcome to the CH&LA Government Affairs Main Page
As your professional trade association in Colorado, we are actively involved in regulatory and legislative issues that may impact your business. Your membership dues support our efforts to lobby for the protection of your business interests and a pro-business climate in Colorado. We also partner and support the efforts of the American Hotel & Lodging Association on federal issues.
I encourage you to visit these pages often as we will update information regularly (click on links above in green boxes). During the legislative session, we will provide daily updates on the status of bills , reports from our government affairs committee and the opportunity to weigh in on issues to be sure our position is in line with our membership needs. This portion of our website is a "work in progress" so please send us your feedback at codonnell@chla.com.
News! News! News! News! News!
2010 Colorado Census Information
Census 2010 is coming soon! The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once every 10 years. The census will show state population counts and determine representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Every year, the federal government can allocate more than $400 billion to states and communities based, in part, on census data. In Colorado, it is estimated to be $880 per person, or approximately $4.27 billion per year.
For more information and talking points on the upcoming census, please CLICK HERE!
Terrorist Interest in Public Targets include Hotels
September 22, 2009 - Federal law enforcement officials released Sept. 21 a security bulletin to police urging them to be vigilant about possible terrorist interest in attacking stadiums, entertainment complexes, and hotels. This warning comes from investigations into possible bomb plots in Denver and New York.
While there are no specific targets mentioned, hotel security managers should remain alert and review their security procedures. AH&LA encourages its members to be informed of the appropriate actions that can be taken to safeguard your properties.
What is going on?
The FBI and U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security are investigating two groups in New York and Denver who may have been plotting attacks on mass transit systems and other unspecified targets.
Arrests have been made of some suspects, but law enforcement is unsure of the size of the groups. Law enforcement officials still have a "deep concern" the government may have only partially disrupted a terror plot, according to news reports.
A half-dozen alerts have been issued to police nationwide about these arrests, the possible plots, and warnings to remain vigilant. While law enforcement issues these kinds of alerts monthly, the recent investigations in New York and Denver are uncovering more information every day.
No specific hotel targets have been named. However, in light of past terrorist attacks in this country and overseas, law enforcement has been taking precautions, including increased security patrols on New York City subway systems.
What you can do?
- Take inventory of what you're already doing for your hotel's security:
- Review your current security and crises management programs
- Work with local law enforcement agencies to ensure your programs are in line with the community's plan to address possible terrorist activities
- Incorporate relevant aspects of the community's plans into your own
- Make sure local law enforcement agencies have current blueprints of your property.
AH&LA's Emergency Preparedness online resources, designed to assist in developing prevention and recovery strategies, crisis communication planning, and employee training, can help you develop and update your emergency plans.
Consult the many resources of the Educational Institute, a subsidiary of AH&LA, offering training programs/resources for hoteliers, including the Spotlight on Security video.
Swine Flu Update H1N1- Keeping your Guests and Employees Healthy
News of the H1N1 virus is back and it is unclear from health officials just how severe it could be in 2009 and 2010. It is essential that our industry take the necessary precautions to protect our workforce, their families and our guests. Here are the latest guidelines provided by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
Pandemic flu poses a much greater risk than seasonal flu, which infects hundreds of thousands of Americans each year and is not life-threatening for most healthy people. The disease is not transmitted through the human consumption of pork or pork products, but by person-to-person touching and close coughing. This influenza virus variant is thought to have originated from swine animals such as pigs, and has mutated to infect humans. Pandemic flu occurs when a new strain of the virus emerges that can be transmitted easily for which people have no immunity. New reports indicate that the H1N1 flu is strong enough to overtake most other flu strains.
CH&LA is tracking this issue very closely and providing members with the most current information available. Through the American Hotel & Lodging Association, CH&LA is in close contact with key leaders at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), CDC, and DHS to ensure members have all the tools and information they need to ensure the safety of employees and guests. While it is impossible to completely stop a pandemic or its effects, having a plan in place before a worse-case scenario happens is the best way to minimize disruptions at your property.
2010 Federal Per Diems Announced
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the new Fiscal Year 2010 (FY2010) federal per diem rates, which will take effect on October 1, 2009, and run through September 30, 2010. The nation's economic downturn has affected per diem lodging rates in many localities, but overall the majority of locations did see an increase or no change in per diem lodging rates.
The complete FY2010 rates can be viewed on the Internet at the GSA's per diem Website, www.gsa.gov/perdiem. To view the 2010 Colorado per diem rates, please CLICK HERE. Although federal per diem rates cannot formally be appealed by business representatives, the federal government's General Services Administration (GSA) does have the ability to review and modify the rates.
Employee Free Choice Act- also referred to as Card Check.
Presently, legal recognition of a union is achieved through a private ballot election in which each worker decides whether or not to support a union in the privacy of the voting booth. However, unions frequently lose private ballot elections. So they often bring intense pressure on companies to agree to a "card check" system instead of a secret election. Be part of the Colorado Coalition against EFCA and contact your elected leaders today at www.myprivateballotco.com
New I-9 Form Released
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released the newest edition of the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. The new form is required for all new hires beginning February 2, 2009. No previous editions of the form will be accepted after February 2, 2009. Click here for a pdf of the new form. The USCIS has also announced a new edition of its popular Handbook for Employers. Once issued, the new Handbook for Employers will also be available on the USCIS website. Please note, the new form may only be used beginning February 2. Prior to that date, employers should use the I-9 form with a 06/05/2007 revision date.
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