Press Release

October 4, 2022
 

 
 
Dear Chairman Reed, Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Inhofe and Ranking Member Rogers:

The undersigned organizations publicly support the Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers Act (INFORM Consumers Act). It is imperative the legislation is included in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. The INFORM Consumers Act will modernize consumer protection laws to better safeguard American families, communities, employees, and consumers from the sale of counterfeit and stolen products.
 
This common-sense legislation is critical in helping law enforcement, manufacturers, retailers, and online marketplaces of all sizes work together to protect consumers from bad actors peddling counterfeit and stolen goods. The INFORM Consumers Act will combat these criminal actors by increasing transparency and accountability by requiring sensible verification and disclosure requirements designed to disrupt their ability to sell illicit goods. These criminal transactions compete directly with legitimate businesses, retailers, and emerging entrepreneurs. The sales lost due to these illicit activities mean fewer jobs and wages in states, cities, and towns across the country.

The INFORM Consumers Act will help keep Americans safe by mandating verification of a seller’s identity as a deterrent to the sale of stolen and fake goods by criminal networks misusing online marketplaces while also protecting the privacy of the smallest sellers. Additionally, enacting this legislation will also provide law enforcement with additional tools to stop and prosecute these criminal rings from selling illicit goods and who are putting retail workers and customers in harm’s way.

While our respective organizations represent a diverse group of industries and interests, we are singularly united in putting the safety and well-being of our members, customers, and employees first. We urge you to include the INFORM Consumers Act (Cassidy/Durbin Amendment 5511) in the final version of the NDAA.
 
Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to working with you on this important matter.

Sincerely,

1^st Dibbs
3M
Amazon
Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Alliance for Automotive Innovation
American Apparel & Footwear Association
Best Buy Co., Inc.
Birkenstock
Business Roundtable
Buy Safe America Coalition
Chamber of Progress
Communications Cable and Connectivity Association
Consumer Healthcare Products Association
Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail
Consumer Reports
CVS Health
Dick’s Sporting Goods
DSM
eBay
Etsy
Fashion Accessories Shippers Association
The Fashion Jewelry & Accessories Trade Association
Floor & Décor
Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America
Gap Inc.
Gemini Shippers Group
GSK
HP
Halloween & Costume Association
The Home Depot
Information Technology Industry Council
ICSC
International Housewares Association
JCPenney
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
Kroger Co.
Levi Strauss & Co.
Lutron
Lowe’s
Mercari
Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association
Misses Kisses
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
National Consumers League
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
National Retail Federation
Neiman Marcus Group
Nordstrom
OfferUp
OpSec
Personal Care Products Council
Philips
Pinterest
Plumbing Manufacturers International
Poshmark
Power Tools Institute
Premier Inc.
Redbubble
Retail Industry Leaders Association
Rite Aid
Safe Kids Worldwide
Specialty Equipment Market Association
Stockd
Target
TechNet
TIC Council
The Toy Association
Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade
Ulta Beauty
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Vizient
Walgreens
Walmart