Previous News:
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
May 2016
April 2016
December 2015
March 2015
January 2015
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
January 2013
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011

JA Brings Jewelers to Capitol Hill

JA Brings Jewelers to Capitol Hill For the ninth consecutive year, JA members met with key lawmakers to discuss trade and tax concerns during its annual advocacy visit to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 19. As in past years, the delegation was led by the Jewelers of America Political Action Committee (JAPAC) . The delegation met with a number of key lawmakers and congressional staff – including Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK), who met with the group for dinner.

“Jewelers of America has made a great deal of progress advocating for issues that affect independent jewelers, like sales tax fairness, but there is still work to be done and JA is focused on keeping the industry’s needs front and center on Capitol Hill,” says JA President & CEO David J. Bonaparte.

This year’s fly-in was the first to take place since a major turning point for sales tax fairness, which Jewelers of America has fought for decades to pass and level the playing field between brick-and-mortar and online jewelers. Last June’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Quill decision of 1992 was a first, significant step toward achieving this goal. However, the Court’s decision – allowing states to collect sales tax from out-of-state/online sellers -- addresses the issue only on the state level, where rules for collection vary. JA shared the message with lawmakers that there may still be a need for a federal framework for online sales tax collection in the future.

This year’s attendees also discussed up-to-the-moment issues of concern, like the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has listed $300 billion in Chinese products that could be subject to tariffs of up to 25 percent when imported into the U.S. These products include stones and jewelry such as natural and cultured pearls, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and other stones, gold and silver jewelry parts, gold necklaces and synthetic gemstones. Jewelers of America members explained to legislators that the tariffs would have a negative impact on jewelers, especially those that import jewelry products and materials from China.

In addition to Senator Cotton, the group connected with prominent members of Congress including:
· Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel (R-KY)
· Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
· Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
· Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
· Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
· Rep. Tom Rice (SC-07)
· Rep. Steve Stivers (OH-15)
· Rep. Elise Sefanik (NY-21)
· Rep. Mike Doyle (PA-18)

Jewelers of America Members represented a variety of jewelry firms from across the country, including:
· Brian Alter, Alter’s Gem Jewelry; Beaumont, TX
· Jon Bridge and Bobbe Bridge, Ben Bridge Jeweler; Seattle, WA
· Jenny Caro, Jewelry by Designs; Woodbridge, VA
· Jeff and Kathy Corey, Day's Jewelers; Waterville, ME
· Ronda Daily, Bremer's Jewelry; Peoria, IL
· Pete Engel, Fred Meyer Jewelers; Portland, OR
· Bill Farmer Jr., Farmer’s Jewelers; Lexington, KY
· John Henne, Henne Jewelers; Pittsburgh, PA
· Brian Mann, David Mann Jewelers; Pentagon, VA
· Joseph and David Molfese, Bella Cosa Jewelers; Willowbrook, IL

The delegation was led by Jewelers of America President & CEO David J. Bonaparte and Director of Public Affairs & Education Susan Thea Posnock, along with Tim Haake, Managing Director of Haake & Associates, JA’s long-term government affairs firm.

To learn more about Jewelers of America legislative advocacy and JAPAC, the only PAC that supports the fine jewelry industry in Washington, D.C., visit www.jewelers.org/ja/advocacy.


About Jewelers of America
Jewelers of America (JA) is the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry marketplace. Jewelers of America's primary purpose is to improve consumer confidence in the jewelry industry through its leadership in public, government and industry affairs; by advocating professionalism, including high ethical, social and environmental standards; and by facilitating members' access to education. For more information, please visit www.jewelers.org.

AT: 07/01/2019 08:30:38 AM   LINK TO THIS NEWSLETTER
0 Comments:

Post a Comment
 
Comments are closed.
Copyright © 2024

Sitemap | Privacy Policy