[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 12016-12017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      THE MARKETPLACE FAIRNESS ACT

  (Mr. WELCH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELCH. Madam Speaker, as we debate the bipartisan H.R. 3086, the 
Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, I would like to draw your attention 
to another important bipartisan effort, the Marketplace Fairness Act.
  Over a year ago, the Senate passed that act with strong bipartisan 
support from 69 Senators. As you know, essentially what it says is that 
we will treat retailers the same, whether they are brick-and-mortar 
retailers in our downtown or Internet retailers, and if the State has 
passed a sales tax, then it would apply to all transactions.
  This is important. When I talk to Vermont's small business owners, 
they tell me stories about the incredible unlevel playing field that 
they face. Folks come in, browse, shop, and then go online to buy. The 
difference is the sales tax avoidance.
  These brick-and-mortar businesses are absolutely essential to the 
vitality

[[Page 12017]]

of so many communities in Vermont and in so many communities in your 
State. This is hurting our small businesses, which make up about 60 
percent of our State's private sector workforce.
  Madam Speaker, I urge us to act on the Marketplace Fairness Act.

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