Celebrating Progress on the Public Policies Supporting Mobility

We have made progress on Worldwide ERC^®’s public policy priorities in the past few months.

Despite a divided federal government, I am pleased to report that we have made progress on Worldwide ERC^®’s public policy priorities in the past few months.

Protecting Transferees’ Data

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act (S. 758), a bill that would protect the sensitive personal data of transferees and military personnel shipping their household goods to the United States. Actively engaged on the issue, Worldwide ERC sent letters supporting the bill to senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Roger Marshall (R-KS). We have also worked with the American Trucking Associations, the International Association of Movers, the National Association of REALTORS®, and the Senior Executives Association, among others, to support this reform. Our focus now turns to advancing legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Congressmen Mike Waltz (R-FL) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) have introduced an identical bill (H.R. 1568).

Promoting the Use of e-Notarizations 

The House also recently passed the SECURE Notarization Act (H.R. 1059), legislation that would establish a minimum set of standards for the use of electronic and remote notarization and require their recognition across state lines. Worldwide ERC has long advocated for this public policy—both on its own and as a member of the SECURE Act Coalition—which has become even more important as e-notarizations have markedly increased since the onset of the pandemic, especially in real estate transactions. The legislation now faces an uphill climb in the Senate, where we will look for opportunities to move the bill.

Defending Against Increased Immigration Fees

We recently submitted a comment letter to U.S. Customs and Immigration Services on its proposed rule to increase filing fees for naturalization and immigration services. Our letter outlined our concerns about the large fee increases and made several alternative recommendations.

Raising the Voice of Our Members

I am grateful to all our members who have been working with Texas-based stakeholders and constituents on Texas SB 147, which would prohibit certain foreign nationals from making certain property transactions in the state. Their efforts underscore the critical role our members have in local engagement. Similarly, we continue to work with the Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC) on insulating RMCs and transferees from the two-year moratorium Canada has enacted on home purchases by foreign buyers.

I encourage you to join one of our Public Policy Forums and get involved. Please contact Worldwide ERC Government Affairs Advisor Tristan North (TNorth@worldwideerc.org) for more information.