The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) told the House Ways and Means Committee at a hearing on tax reform that it supports pro-growth tax reform.
“Retailers have a significant impact on the daily lives of all Americans – from their customers to their employees to the communities and families they serve every day,” Jennifer Safavian, RILA executive vice president for government affairs, said. “While retailers are responsible for more American jobs than any other industry, we also pay among the highest effective tax rates of all U.S. businesses.”
RILA said more than 42 million jobs in the United States are either a retail job or a job that relies on retail. Jobs in the retail industry span from designers and IT professionals to transportation and logistics service providers to customer service representatives. The association also said millions of jobs in manufacturing, finance, insurance, real estate, transportation, warehousing, and services industries are supported by retailers. Millions of high-tech and high-paying jobs are created by retailers as consumer demand and industry innovation continually advance and change.
“Pro-growth tax reform that simplifies and lowers rates, eliminates special preferences and restores America’s global competitiveness is the top priority for retailers—provided it does not saddle American families with a higher tax bill,” Safavian said.