WASHINGTON, July 19, 2017 – The National Retail Federation today named Representative Mike Kelly, R-Pa., Legislator of the Year as retailers from across the country gathered for NRF’s annual Retail Advocates Summit congressional fly-in.
“Mike Kelly is a true advocate for the retail industry and we want to thank him for his ongoing support,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “We need the backing of lawmakers like him to help retailers across the country grow their businesses and create jobs in their communities.”
"Retail means jobs, retail means growth, retail means opportunity."
“I am incredibly grateful to receive this tremendous honor and want to express my gratitude to everyone at today’s breakfast,” Kelly said. “Retailers are the backbone of our nation’s economy. They impact every single American’s daily life, from the food we enjoy to the clothes we wear to the cars we drive, and everything in between.”
“As a lifelong automobile dealer, I know firsthand just how important retailers are to not only consumers but to our associates, their families, and the communities they call home,” Kelly said. “Retail means jobs, retail means growth, retail means opportunity. I consider it a personal duty to help keep these things true by bringing my own private sector experience to the table each and every day on behalf of all those who ‘walk the walk’ and know how our economy truly works.”
Kelly is a member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, where he serves on the tax, trade and Social Security subcommittees. He was chosen for the Legislator of the Year award by the NRF Policy Council because of his support of pro-growth tax reform and his opposition to a controversial border adjustment tax proposal that would drive up prices for consumers and potentially force some retailers out of business.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation is the world’s largest retail trade association. Based in Washington, D.C., NRF represents 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.com