Retail Works for All of Us

Leading retailers outline 2021 public policy priorities

By [ Austen Jensen , Michael Hanson ]
Washington, DC
01/25/2021

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) today delivered its 2021 Retail Public Policy Agenda to lawmakers outlining the retail industry’s priorities for the year. As the voice for leading retailers in Washington, RILA’s focus will be on ensuring policy makers understand the impact proposals will have on retailers and how those policies reach millions of jobs, families, and communities.

“Retail is more than a store; we are at the heart of every American community. The retail industry supports over 52 million hard working Americans, and our 2021 Retail Public Policy Agenda offers ideas and policy recommendations to defeat COVID-19, jumpstart economic growth, support our workforce, and protect the customers and communities we serve,” said RILA Senior Executive Vice President, Public Affairs, Michael Hanson. “As the Biden Administration and new Congress gets to work tackling the tremendous challenges ahead, RILA will advocate for policy outcomes that empower retailers to continue to lead in their communities.”

Our public policy agenda is reflected in 5 pillars:

“Retailers support building a 21^st century workforce that embraces flexibility and diversity, trade policies that allow for efficient and reliable supply chains, criminal justice reforms that erase bias and builds trust, creating a competitive market, building a modern infrastructure, ensuring consumer data is secure, and protecting consumers from counterfeit and stolen goods increasingly found on third party marketplaces,” said RILA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Austen Jensen. “There are tremendous opportunities ahead where federal public policy achievements can make enormous impacts on all Americans. Leading retailers are eager to play a pivotal role in these policy debates.”

The full 2021 Retail Public Policy Agenda can be accessed here.

The agenda was developed with input from top retail government affairs executives, as well as RILA’s board of directors.

###

RILA is the US trade association for leading retailers. We convene decision-makers, advocate for the industry, and promote operational excellence and innovation. Our aim is to elevate a dynamic industry by transforming the environment in which retailers operate.

RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs, and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers domestically and abroad.