NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION for NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION

Health Issues HCR

Employer Reporting Requirements under the Affordable Care Act; Creation of the National Patient Safety Board (NPSB); Pharmacy Benefit Management Reforms; Tax Exclusion for Health Care Benefits

Contacted: Labor, Dept of (DOL); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE

Banking BAN

Update House and Senate on interchange/swipe fee reform issues, including competitive routing and pending surcharge legislation in states; provide retailers perspective of issues in implementing mobile payment systems; privacy, data security and breach notification as it relates to sensitive financial data, including H.R. 1165, the Data Privacy Act; discussed views of retail industry regarding fraud costs, Chip and PIN, tokenization, encryption chargebacks, competition in debit and credit routing and other payment innovation; support for efforts to extend the Covered Business Method (CBM) review program at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) which expired September 15, 2020; oppose H.R. 7531, the Secure Payments Act; support for S. 1838, the Credit Card Competition Act. Oppose efforts by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to bring merchants under agency jurisdiction.

Contacted: Federal Reserve System; Treasury, Dept of; Federal Trade Commission (FTC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Bills named: H.R. 1165 (118th), S. 1838 (118th), H.R. 7531 (118th)

Energy/Nuclear ENG

Urging Department of Energy to work with states to develop and improve wholesale electricity markets to reduce energy costs for consumers.

Contacted: Energy, Dept of

Postal POS

Update House and Senate on the implementation of the Postal Service Reform Act and the importance of preserving the USPS universal service obligation.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

NLRB Joint Employer Regulations; DOL Independent Contractor Regulations; OSHA Walkaround Rule; DOL Overtime Rule; NLRB Election Procedures Rule; H.R. 842 and S. 420, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act; H.R. 3400, the Small Businesses Before Bureaucrats Act; H.J. Res.98 and S.J. Res 49 Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule relating to Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status; S. 4260 and H.R. 8639, the Warehouse Worker Protection Act; H.J.Res.147 Providing for congressional disapproval relating to Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process; Reforms to the Workforce Opportunity and Investment Act

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Bills named: H.R. 8639 (118th), S.J.Res. 49 (118th), H.R. 3400 (118th), S. 420 (118th), H.J.Res. 98 (118th), H.J.Res. 147 (118th), S. 4260 (118th), H.R. 842 (118th)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Oppose corporate tax rate increases; Support the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 (H.R. 7024); Support expensing, reinstating expensing for research expenses, and reinstating a broader definition for income for purposes of the limit on interest deductions in the Senate. Oppose consumption taxes such as a National Retail Sales Tax, a Border Adjustment Tax, or a VAT.

Contacted: Treasury, Dept of; SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Natl Economic Council (NEC)

Bills named: H.R. 7024 (118th)

Transportation TRA

Ocean Shipping Reform Act implementation; H.R. 1836 - Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act of 2023 - support passage; Transportation related issues - freight policy, truck productivity, infrastructure funding; Port related issues - Port congestion, detention/demurrage, rail storage fee issues; Supply chain disruptions - impact of Red Sea disruption - retail impact; H.R. 3408; the DRIVE Safe Integrity Act - seeking support for; East Coast/Gulf Coast port labor negotiations - impact of disruption on retail.

Contacted: SENATE; Federal Maritime Commission; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); President of the U.S.; Natl Economic Council (NEC); Maritime Administration (MARAD); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 1836 (118th), H.R. 3408 (118th)

Trade (domestic/foreign) TRD

Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Implementation - communicate retail views Support efforts to renew and modernize the Generalized System of Preferences; Support efforts to renew the Miscellaneous Trade Bill; Communicate retail views on the importance of international trade and the global value chain; Support elimination of the China 301 tariffs, a renewal of the China 301 tariff exclusion process and reinstatement of expired exclusions; Communicate retail views on the issue of forced labor in the supply chain; S. 1421/H.R. 6299 - COOL Online Act - Oppose S. 125/H.R. 638 China Trade Relations Act of 2023 - oppose Customs reauthorization - communicate retail views on trade facilitation and enforcement Elimination of Chinas Permanent Normal Trade Relations - oppose efforts to revoke PNTR Digital trade - communicate importance of supporting digital trade for retail industry

Contacted: Small Business Administration (SBA); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; State, Dept of (DOS); SENATE; Natl Economic Council (NEC); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Treasury, Dept of; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 6299 (118th), H.R. 638 (118th), S. 125 (118th), S. 1421 (118th)

Consumer Issues/Safety/Products CSP

Data Privacy and Security - communication of retail views regarding data privacy and security issues, including proposed legislation affecting the collection, use, security and disclosure of personal information and self-regulatory privacy programs providing protection for consumers, including the House Energy and Commerce Committee draft of the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA). Discussion draft of the American Privacy Rights Act. S. 1418, the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act. H.R. 7520, Protecting Americans Data from Foreign Adversaries Act. Transatlantic Data Transfers - communication of retail views regarding the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and on-going EU-U.S. relations on these and related data protection regulatory issues. CPSC Oversight issues - communication regarding product safety issues; overall agency reviews on key issues. Discussion Draft of American Privacy Rights Act (APRA), circulated by House Energy & Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce Committee.

Contacted: White House Office; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); SENATE; Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); Federal Trade Commission (FTC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 7520 (118th), S. 1418 (118th)

Education EDU

Career and technical education issues generally.

Contacted: SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Immigration IMM

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Regulations; H-1B visas; H-2B visas; J-1 visas; DHS H-2B Regulations; H.R.6, American Dream and Promise Act of 2021; H.R. 1325 and S. 255, Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023; H.R. 3599, the DIGNITY Act; H.R. 3734 the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act; H.R.4708, H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act; Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (immigration and border security provisions)

Contacted: Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 6 (118th), H.R. 4708 (118th), H.R. 3734 (118th), H.R. 3599 (118th), H.R. 1325 (118th), S. 255 (118th)

Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.) FOO

Discussions with Food & Drug Administration regarding food safety issues, general; Discussions with Centers for Disease Control and Food & Drug Administration regarding norovirus prevention in foodservice settings. Requesting inclusion of language in FY25 Agriculture Appropriations bill to require FDA to work collaboratively with industry to address concerns with FMSA 204 traceability rule, including the addition of pilot programs with industry segments in the food supply chain. Seeking support for H.R. 7563, the Food Traceability Enhancement Act.

Contacted: Food & Drug Administration (FDA); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Bills named: H.R. 7563 (118th)

Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice LAW

S 140/HR 895- Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023- support; S.139- Organized Retail Crime Center Authorization Act of 2023 - support; Appropriations language to support an ORC Coordination Center - support; Retail views on organized retail crime and related issues HR 8834 - Safeguarding our Supply Chains Act, support.

Contacted: Justice, Dept of (DOJ); White House Office; SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: S. 139 (118th), H.R. 8834 (118th), H.R. 895 (118th)

Agriculture AGR

Requesting inclusion of language in FY25 Agriculture Appropriations bill relating to FDA sodium reduction guidance. Seeking removal of language in FY25 Agriculture Appropriations bill relating to pilot programs restricting SNAP participants food choices. Supporting reforms to U.S. sugar program included in Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives "farm bill" draft.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); SENATE