ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Grocers Association, the trade organization representing the independent supermarket industry, has reaffirmed its members’ priorities in a letter to congressional leaders as legislators continue to negotiate a pandemic relief package before year’s end.
The letter, addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, was signed by NGA President and CEO Greg Ferrara and the leaders of almost 700 NGA member companies.
NGA wants Congress to include the following policies in an end-of-year spending package or COVID-19 relief legislation: tax relief to reward essential frontline grocery workers; limited liability exposure for essential businesses; and strengthened federal nutrition programs to feed hungry Americans, including access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program online purchasing.
While most grocers have increased pay and provided bonuses to their employees, the federal government should also recognize these individuals’ sacrifices by including legislation in the end-of-year spending package or COVID-19 relief legislation that rewards frontline grocery workers for serving the public, the NGA said in a news release.
NGA supports the bipartisan AG CHAIN Act, which excludes essential food and agriculture workers from gross income taxes and provides them with temporary payroll tax relief.
Additionally, NGA is asking Congress to protect essential infrastructure businesses from unnecessary liability exposure, provided those businesses have taken reasonable steps to comply with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other health authorities, according to the news release. The SAFE TO WORK Act would help ensure grocers are protected if they made their best efforts to comply with federal, state and local guidance.
Finally, NGA requests that Congress expand access to SNAP online purchasing for independent grocers.