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NRF Urges House Committee to Approve Transportation Bill

Dépèche transmise le 2 février 2012 par Business Wire

NRF Urges House Committee to Approve Transportation Bill

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Retail Federation urged the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to approve a major surface transportation reauthorization bill set for a vote today, saying the measure would help ease bottlenecks that are slowing down retail supply chains.

“These and other provisions are critical to improving overall supply chain efficiency and productivity”

“Our neglected transportation system has created bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the supply chain that stifle U.S. companies’ ability to grow and create jobs that are so badly needed in today’s economy,” NRF Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French said. “We urge Congress to act quickly to pass this important legislation before the current short-term extension ends in March.”

“Retailers are among the nation’s largest shippers, moving hundreds of billions of dollars worth of merchandise through the nation’s ports, railroads and highways each year,” French said. “The condition of the transportation system and its ability to handle cargo quickly and efficiently are vital to retailers’ businesses.”

French said the legislation is “a long-term bill that provides the stability our federal surface transportation programs require for cost-effective planning and management.”

French’s comments came in a letter sent to members of the committee, which is scheduled to vote today on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. Introduced on Tuesday by Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., the measure would provide $260 billion for transportation projects over the next five years.

French praised key reforms included in the bill, including provisions to streamline the project approval process, allowing accelerated project delivery; to increase the role of the private sector in national infrastructure investment and planning, and to provide states flexibility to use their funds on infrastructure priorities. NRF especially supports provisions calling for development of a national freight policy as well as state freight policies and to allow for improved trucking productivity.

“These and other provisions are critical to improving overall supply chain efficiency and productivity,” he said.

As the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF represents retailers of all types and sizes, including chain restaurants and industry partners, from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad. Retailers operate more than 3.6 million U.S. establishments that support one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s Retail Means Jobs campaign emphasizes the economic importance of retail and encourages policymakers to support a Jobs, Innovation and Consumer Value Agenda aimed at boosting economic growth and job creation. www.nrf.com

Read letter