In the past few weeks, WR has taken steps on two critical issues that must be addressed by Congress.
The first issue concerns the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (S. 140/H.R. 895), which addresses rising retail crime and targets organized crime gangs hurting retailers and threatening public safety. These critical bills were introduced in Congress by Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., in the Senate and by Reps. Ken Buck, R-Colo., Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, Susie Lee, D-Nev., and Dina Titus, D-Nev., in the House.
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act is vital in improving coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies by establishing a Center to Combat Organized Retail Crime at Homeland Security Investigations. This legislation creates new tools to aid in investigations and criminal prosecutions, providing retailers with the means to combat these illegal activities effectively. Enhancing collaboration and equipping law enforcement with better resources, this act will serve as a crucial step toward deterring organized retail crime and protecting businesses and their customers.
We encourage our readers to join us in thanking the sponsors of these bills for their leadership in fighting ORC by using this link: https://www.votervoice.net/NRF/Petitions/3719/Respond.
The second issue is stopping the FTC’s attempt to ban noncompete agreements. WR signed a coalition letter in solidarity with several other associations with mutual concerns. If adopted, the rule would ban noncompete agreements for all employees and independent contractors, with the exception of cases between buyers and sellers of a business.
The FTC does not have the statutory authority to propose rules of this type, and attempting to do so is unlawful. This was confirmed two years ago, in AMG v. FTC, when the Supreme Court unanimously rejected the FTC’s self-interpretation of its authority.
WR signed onto a coalition letter sponsored by the U.S. Chamber calling on Congress to oppose the FTC’s proposed rule.
