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