Retailers Applaud Legislation to Foster Sustainable Development in Haiti
Arlington, VA - The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) applauded the introduction of the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin (D-MI), Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI), and Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), and in the Senate by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA). Stephanie Lester, Vice President for International Trade, issued the following statement.
“Haiti's apparel sector is critical to that country's employment and economic recovery. Given the significant challenges in Haiti, the HELP Act will provide much needed incentives to spur private sector investment, economic growth and job creation. America’s retailers are committed to assisting Haiti to recover from January's devastating earthquake.
RILA hopes this legislation will create thousands of new jobs in Haiti, and will help to lift those Haitian workers and their families out of poverty. RILA applauds the bipartisan, bicameral effort that resulted in the introduction of the HELP Act, and we urge Congress to enact the legislation without delay.
The HELP Act expands duty-free access to the U.S. market for Haitian textile and apparel exports and extends existing trade preference programs for Haiti through 2020.
RILA is the trade association of the world’s largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.
“Haiti's apparel sector is critical to that country's employment and economic recovery. Given the significant challenges in Haiti, the HELP Act will provide much needed incentives to spur private sector investment, economic growth and job creation. America’s retailers are committed to assisting Haiti to recover from January's devastating earthquake.
RILA hopes this legislation will create thousands of new jobs in Haiti, and will help to lift those Haitian workers and their families out of poverty. RILA applauds the bipartisan, bicameral effort that resulted in the introduction of the HELP Act, and we urge Congress to enact the legislation without delay.
The HELP Act expands duty-free access to the U.S. market for Haitian textile and apparel exports and extends existing trade preference programs for Haiti through 2020.
RILA is the trade association of the world’s largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.