WASHINGTON, 2016-May-26 — /EPR Retail News/ — The National Retail Federation announced today that Representative Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C., have been named NRF’s Legislators of the Year. The awards were presented this week during the Retail Advocates Summit, NRF’s annual congressional fly-in.
“I would like to thank Senator Scott and Representative Welch for their ongoing support of the nation’s largest private-sector employer and for being true advocates for the retail industry,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “We need the support of lawmakers like these to help retailers large and small grow their businesses and create jobs in their communities.”
“Retailers throughout South Carolina and across America are a vital part of our economy,” Scott said. “I am committed to finding policy solutions that cut through bureaucratic red tape and allow our small businesses and job creators to do what they do best – innovate and grow. I am pleased to receive the National Retail Federation’s Legislator of the Year award today because I believe that together, we can support pro-growth policies that allow our economy to recover and thrive.”
“As a former small business owner, Senator Scott knows firsthand the damage that government overreach can inflict on American business owners,” Shay said. “Senator Scott has been a champion for education and investing in our workforce through initiatives like his Opportunity Agenda. His legislation to hit the pause button on the Department of Labor’s damaging overtime rules is consistent with his goals to promote job growth and career advancement for workers across the country.”
“From major international retailers to Vermont country stores, the retail industry plays a crucial role in job creation and economic development in Vermont and around the country,” Welch said. “It has been a pleasure to work with the National Retail Federation on solutions that are good for the retail industry and consumers including cutting credit card swipe fees and making sure Main Street small businesses can compete on a level playing field with online retailers.”
“Congressman Welch is a leader on swipe fee reform and has been a longtime advocate for other top-priority policy issues for retailers,” Shay said. “He championed legislation calling for the Federal Reserve to prevent debit card providers from charging out-of-control fees to small businesses, and helped bring transparency to debit interchange costs for merchants.”
Welch was recognized during an awards dinner Tuesday night and Scott was honored at a breakfast this morning.
The NRF Policy Council, which addresses federal legislative and regulatory issues, selected Scott and Welch for the awards.
NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. nrf.com
Treacy Reynolds
press@nrf.com
(855) NRF-Press