Government Relations

The National Council of Chain Restaurants today issued the following statement from NCCR Executive Director Rob Green on the introduction of the Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act, which seeks to limit the scope and costs of the federal government’s requirements on the use of corn-based ethanol and other biofuels:

The National Retail Federation issued the following statement today from Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold on the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) vote approving a new, long-term master labor contract covering port terminal operations along the East and Gulf Coast ports:

The National Retail Federation today sent a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives to express its support for H.R. 1120, the Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act, which is expected to come to the House floor for a full vote later this week.

With Customs officials saying they hope to minimize the impact of federal spending cuts on cargo processing, import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 2.7 percent in April over the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by NRF and Hackett Associates.

The National Retail Federation released the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay on the U.S. Senate’s passage of the marketplace fairness amendment to the FY14 budget resolution:

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 2.3 percent in March over the same month last year despite federal spending cuts that could slow down cargo processing, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by NRF and Hackett Associates.

NRF welcomed introduction of House and Senate legislation that would repeal the employer mandate provision of the health care reform law scheduled to take effect next year.

The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay on the retirement of David F. Vite as president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association:

A change in federal tax law that decreased the take-home pay of many working Americans is impacting household budgets. According to NRF’s 2013 Tax Returns Survey conducted by BIGinsight, nearly three-quarters (73.3%) of those polled say their spending plans are taking a hit.

The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold on the ratification of a contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63 Office Clerical Unit (OCU) and the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Employers Association (HEA):

The National Retail Federation today welcomed the introduction of the Marketplace Fairness Act, saying that the new bipartisan and bicameral bill demonstrates progress on moving sales tax fairness legislation this session.

The National Retail Federation tonight issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay on President Obama’s State of the Union address:

With a tentative contract deal reached with East Coast and Gulf Coast dockworkers but a key West Coast agreement unsettled, import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 8.5 percent in February over the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by NRF and Hackett Associates.

NRF urged labor and management at the Ports of LA and Long Beach to work through their differences without any disruption after rejection of a tentative contract by union members.

NRF is concerned that President Obama's proposal on deficit reduction could make comprehensive tax reform "very difficult."

The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, today issued a statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay on the tentative contract agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which covers dockworkers along 14 East and Gulf Coast container ports:

NRF sent a letter to President Obama and Congress in response to January’s jobs numbers.

Despite some groups’ claims, NRF says few, if any, merchants are expected to surcharge customers for using a credit card as theoretically allowed under a controversial proposed lawsuit settlement with Visa and MasterCard being debated in the courts.

The National Council of Chain Restaurants today issued the following statement from Executive Director Rob Green on the President’s plan to reform the nation’s immigration laws:

The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay on recent proposals to reform the immigration system: