"Both job creators and employees will benefit from a more balanced approach."
WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today urged the Senate to confirm Alexander Acosta to head the federal Department of Labor, saying he could help end “ideological whims” that guided labor policy over the past eight years.
“Mr. Acosta’s diverse experiences in both public service and the private sector position him well to be an effective and pragmatic leader at the Department of Labor,” NRF Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French said. “NRF looks forward to working with Mr. Acosta, once confirmed, on a pro-growth agenda that supports innovation, investments in the workforce, and American competitiveness.”
French’s comments came in a letter to members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is scheduled to consider Acosta’s nomination at a hearing on Wednesday.
French said retailers and other employers “faced a crushing regulatory burden driven by ideological whims rather than economic realities” during the Obama administration but are hoping for more business-friendly labor policy under President Trump.
“The previous Department of Labor’s sweeping actions on federal overtime rules, joint employer relationships and many other issues have created immense uncertainty for employers and stifled economic growth,” French said. “Both job creators and employees will benefit from a more balanced approach to workforce policies and a secretary of labor who puts the needs of American businesses and workers before partisan politics.”
About NRF
NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF.com