Press Releases

Today the House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) released a series of principles that outline his priorities for legislation to close an Internet tax loophole and allow local Main Street retailers to compete on a level playing field with online-only retailers.  Congresswoman Suzan DelBene issued the following statement regarding Chairman Goodlatte’s principles:

“I appreciate that Chairman Goodlatte has finally committed to having the Judiciary Committee take up this important economic issue. After a strong bipartisan vote in the Senate to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act in May, this bill deserves consideration by the House.  A hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on this issue is long overdue, and I hope the release of these principles represents the beginning of a serious effort in the House to level the playing field for our Main Street businesses.

“For too long, local brick and mortar businesses throughout Washington state have been at an unfair competitive disadvantage to online-only retailers. Technology and the Internet have changed the way commerce is conducted, and our policy needs to keep up.

“As an original cosponsor of the House companion bill that passed in the Senate, I am eager to get to work in the Committee. Our local Main Street businesses are counting on us.”