March 2009 

Letter From Sandy

Letter from Sandy Sandy Kennedy, President, RILA As the first quarter of 2009 passes into history, it does so identified as one of the most difficult economic periods in generations. Americans are looking ahead guardedly for the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. More >>

Asset Protection

Organized Retail Crime Bills Introduced in House and Senate; RILA Organizes Lobby Days on Organized Retail Crime John Emling, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, RILA On February 25, three separate organized retail crime bills (ORC) were introduced. More >>

Finance

President Delivers Budget: Focus on Universal Health Care Paid for by Tax Increases John Emling, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, RILA On February 26, President Obama released his first budget that seeks to cut the federal deficit in half over the next four years. More >>

Human Resources

Economic Impact Study Released on Employee Free Choice Act Sarah Arbes, Vice President, Government Affairs, RILA Last week, Dr. Anne Layne-Farrar of LECG Consulting released a ground-breaking study on the economic impacts of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). More >>

Supply Chain

CPSC Phthalates Hearing; Federal BPA Bills Introduced Stephanie Lester, Vice President, International Trade, RILA On Thursday, March 12, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) held a public hearing to discuss phthalates. More >>

Logistics Conference a Success Autumn Lotze, Retail Operations Coordinator, RILA Thanks to the engagement of executives on our Logistics Conference Steering Committee, RILA's Logistics 2009 conference once again set new standards of excellence in educational content and networking opportunities for supply chain professionals. More >>

New Transportation Legislation Would Substantially Increase Harbor Maintenance Tax; National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission Releases Final Report Casey Chroust, Senior Vice President, Retail Operations, RILA RILA has learned that Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA) intends to reintroduce legislation in the 111th Congress that makes substantial changes to a container tax proposal she introduced last year (H.R. 7002). More >>

Panel Addresses Transportation Infrastructure Funding, Transportation Commission Releases Financing Report Casey Chroust, Senior Vice President, Retail Operations, RILA A panel representing the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission, the American Trucking Association, the Association of American Railroads and the Natural Resource Defense Council was convened by Roll Call. More >>

Product Safety Update Jim Neill, Vice President, Product Safety, RILA Implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), already viewed as chaotic and cumbersome, was further thrown into turmoil on February 5, 2009. More >>

Sustainability

An Innovative Conference for the Forward-Thinking Executive Sarah Walczewski, Retail Operations Coordinator, RILA RILA will be hosting the second annual comprehensive retail conference devoted to issues of environmental sustainability and compliance. More >>

RILA Sustainability Initiative (RSI) Update Sarah Walczewski, Retail Operations Coordinator, RILA Last month, members of the RILA Sustainability Initiative (RSI) met at RILA Headquarters for the Winter 2009 meeting. More >>