[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 24, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H5138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         MARKETPLACE EQUITY ACT

  (Mr. WELCH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, retailing is an important part of the 
American economy. The Main Street retailers--brick-and-mortar 
retailers--play an essential function of providing access to stores in 
communities. They're the engine of downtown revitalization. E-commerce 
retailers are emerging as a very strong retailing force, providing 
convenience and low cost to consumers.
  The challenge we face is having a level playing field between these 
two retailers. The way things stand right now, if a State assesses a 
sales tax, Main Street retailers have to collect it; e-retailers, more 
often than not, don't. That's not a level playing field for them to 
compete on a fair basis.
  There are two bills in the House to resolve this: the Main Street 
Fairness Act and the Marketplace Equity Act. Both I am a cosponsor of, 
with bipartisan support.
  Fair is fair. We're making progress on this. Just recently, the 
Governors from both parties attending the National Governors 
Association spoke in favor of the importance of updating Federal law so 
there will be this level playing field. And just this morning, in 
Chairman Smith's House Judiciary Committee, there was a hearing on the 
Marketplace Equity Act.
  Let's bring this to the floor for a vote. Let's pass it. Let's return 
fairness.

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