WACO, Texas (Sept. 28, 2007) – A group of Rainbow International Restoration & Cleaning franchisees and executives lobbied federal legislators on issues impacting small business and franchise owners such as comprehensive immigration reform, employees’ rights to private ballot elections, health care reform, and the Healthy Families Act. They were in Washington D.C. as part of the International Franchise Association’s 8th Annual Franchise Appreciation Day in on Sept. 10-11.

“This was a great way to bring small business concerns directly to lawmakers,” David Bethea, president of Rainbow International, said. “When franchisors talk about these issues it’s one thing; when individual franchisees deliver the message, it speaks powerfully on issues that concern small business owners.”

According to the IFA, one in seven jobs in the U.S. is created by franchising. Altogether, 575 business owners from more than sixty franchising organizations met face-to-face with their congressmen.

Brian Eckelkamp, owner of the Rainbow International of East Central Missouri franchise and recipient of Rainbow International’s 2006 Franchisee of the Year award, was recognized along with his wife Barb at an awards banquet during the event.

Franchisees also had an opportunity to hear from guest speakers Al Hubbard, director of the National Economic Council and assistant to the president for Economic Policy; Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ); Sen. Michael B. Enzi (R-WY); and George Will, columnist for The Washington Post and a regular guest on ABC’s This Week.