Public Policy News

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.

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:

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.

For Immediate Release Stephen E. Schatz (202) 626-8119 SchatzS@NRF.com NRF Issues Statement on the March Jobs Numbers WASHINGTON, April 5, 2013 – The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay on the March labor figures: “Today’s economic numbers on jobs and unemployment are disappointing, at best. Even the lower percentage of unemployment points to a discouraged job seeker who has given-up and left the workforce. “A disturbing barometer of our nation’s fiscal health can be found in the jobs lost in the retail trade sector, the only sector that has pretty consistently provided a lift for our overall economy through this slow recovery period. “This is far from a wake-up call. It is an urgent plea for help by Americans and the businesses that employ them for policy makers to stop pointing fingers and to start implementing policies that encourage job growth and capital investment. “We need a bold, forward thinking and sensible fiscal plan that provides certainty and confidence for a stronger economic future in this country, as opposed to rhetoric and gestures that only serve as a convenient sound bite for the next newscast.” As the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF represents retailers of all types and sizes, including chain restaurants and industry partners, from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad. Retailers operate more than 3.6 million U.S. establishments that support one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s Retail Means Jobs campaign emphasizes the economic importance of retail and encourages policymakers to support a Jobs, Innovation and Consumer Value Agenda aimed at boosting economic growth and job creation. www.nrf.com ###

The National Retail Federation today released the following statement from NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay in support of the Jobs Originated Through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act:

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 statements from Chairman of the Board Stephen I. Sadove and President and CEO Matthew Shay on the retirement of David F. Vite as president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association:

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:

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:

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:

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.

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