New York is a particularly important battleground state in the pursuit of balanced federal legislation regulating rent-to-own transactions.

L-R: Mamie Salazar-Harper with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) Saturday in El Paso.

Mamie Salazar-Harper, Legislative Liaison for the Nationwide Rental Coalition (NRC), met with former presidential candidate Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) Saturday at an event in El Paso to seek support for the Senate version of the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act. The Act was introduced by fellow Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) in 2007.

Salazar-Harper also announced the the NRC has secured the co-sponsorship of Representative Sylvestre Reyes (D-TX) for the House version of the Rental-Purchase Act (see story).

The NRC supports legislative efforts on behalf of the rent-to-own industry at all levels of government. The group is part of RentDirect Nationwide, the rent-to-own industry's largest buying group.

During the meeting with Clinton, Salazar-Harper stressed the positive impact on New York consumers should the Rental-Purchase Act become law. "The bill treats rental-purchase as a terminable lease, like New York's Rental Purchase Agreement Act," Salazar-Harper explained. "The federal law will not affect the consumer protections that already exist in New York law. The federal law is only controlling if it provides greater consumer protection than state law. Plus, state Attorneys General are authorized to enforce the law."

"If enacted, this legislation would give New York customers greater consumer protection. For example, New York law gives a customer 30 days to reinstate an agreement that has terminated or 60 days if they have paid 50% or more of the rent payments. The federal law would increase reinstatement rights to 60 days for all customers and 120 days for customers that have paid 50% or more of the rent payments."

Salazar-Harper says New York is a particularly important battleground state in the pursuit of balanced federal legislation regulating rent-to-own transactions. New York Senior Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) has twice introduced S. 4037, The Rent to Own Reform Act, which would override existing law in most states by redefining rental-purchase as a credit sale. Schumer's bill would limit consumer options including the ability to acquire home-goods without taking on debt. The Rent to Own Reform Act has no cosponsors versus the strong bi-partisan support for the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act with 21 Senate and over 100 House cosponsors.

According to independent rankings, Senators Schumer and Clinton are in the top 10 most powerful elected officials in Washington (Schumer 5th, Clinton 9th - Congress.org). Clinton's connections and ability to raise money for other candidates make her an important part of any Senate action.

In a follow-up letter given to Clinton during Saturday's event in El Paso, Salazar-Harper thanked the Senator for serving as a positive role model for women everywhere. "Your co-sponsorship of this legislation will underscore your commitment to all women, single working moms, New Yorkers, and all Americans, to provide equal access to much needed products and services in these challenging economic times." See entire letter below.

The Senate is in recess. The 110th congressional session end-date has not been set but traditionally is in mid-December. Salazar-Harper said the NRC will continue to educate legislators on the positive impacts that RTO transactions offer consumers into the 111th session and beyond. The 2009 NRC Legislative Conference is planned for April, 2009 (see story).

Salazar-Harper also announced the the NRC has secured the co-sponsorship of Representative Sylvestre Reyes (D-TX) for the House version of the Rental-Purchase Act (see story).

Follow-up letter from NRC Legislative Liaison Mamie Salazar-Harper to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton:

Dear Honorable Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton,

I own M Rentals in El Paso, Texas. I am also the national spokeswoman and Legislative Liaison for the National Rental Coalition ("NRC"). Along with members of the New York Rental Dealers' Association, the NRC, and the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations ("APRO"), I support Senator Landrieu's Consumer Rental-Purchase Agreement Act, S 1012.

Senate Bill 1012 has bi-partisan support, with 21 co-sponsors. The House version, HB 1767, introduced by Representative Clay, has 100 co-sponsors. I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor S1012, which represents comprehensive federal regulation of the rental-purchase or rent to own industry.

The bill treats rental-purchase as a terminable lease, like New York's Rental Purchase Agreement Act. The federal law will not affect the consumer protections that already exist in New York law. The federal law is only controlling if it provides greater consumer protection than state law. Plus, state Attorneys General are authorized to enforce the law.

If enacted, this legislation would give New York customers greater consumer protection. For example, New York law gives a customer 30 days to reinstate an agreement that has terminated or 60 days if they have paid 50% or more of the rent payments. The federal law would increase reinstatement rights to 60 days for all customers and 120 days for customers that have paid 50% or more of the rent payments.

This industry operates approximately 8,000 stores nationwide. Many of them are small business enterprises like mine. The law will give us certainty about how the transaction will be treated legally so that we can concentrate on our business and our customers.

Rental-purchase is an important choice for customers to have in these times of economic uncertainty and tighter consumer credit. The transaction gives customers the flexibility to meet their needs without the risk of debt.

Please give this legislation serious consideration. I have spoken to all New York state rental dealers and there is unanimous support for this legislation. Your sponsorship means a great deal to the small business owners and their customers in the great state of New York. Please let me know if you can support this effort.

I am available to travel to Washington, DC to speak to you about this matter at your convenience and I would very much appreciate a few minutes of your time.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and for all you do for the community at large and the hardworking small business owners in your State. You are well respected and appreciated for your diligent efforts to improve the lives of small business owners and constituents, as well as all fellow New Yorkers.

Please know that you serve as a tremendous role model for women everywhere. Your co-sponsorship of this legislation will underscore your commitment to all women, single working moms, New Yorkers, and all Americans, to provide equal access to much needed products and services in these challenging economic times.


Kindest Regards,


Mamie Salazar-Harper
President/ Owner M Rental &
NRC Legislative Liaison