WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French following the U.S. House’s vote on the “Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces (INFORM) for Consumers Act.” The bipartisan legislation was approved by a House majority vote under suspension of the rules.
“There is no place for crime targeting retailers in American communities. Organized retail crime (ORC) is a multibillion-dollar problem where criminal enterprises plan, organize and execute large-scale thefts from retailers to sell illegally obtained goods for financial gain. These brazen crimes are not only dangerous but also impact retailers with significant financial losses and disruptions to business operations.
“NRF supports today’s action in the House to advance the INFORM Consumers Act. We urge the House and Senate to enact this bipartisan legislation and send it President Biden before the end of the year.”
According to NRF’s 2022 National Retail Security Survey, retailers reported a 26.5% increase in ORC, on average. Even more alarming, the vast majority (81.2%) said the violence and aggression associated with ORC had increased in the past year.
Last month, NRF spearheaded a grassroots campaign called “Fight Retail Crime Day.” One thousand retail advocates contacted members of Congress and urged them to act on legislative measures including the INFORM Act to curb the sale of stolen goods online and the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act to increase federal coordination to fight crime.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com