ARLINGTON, VA – March 20, 2013 – Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Director of Government Affairs Robert Rosado gave the following statement on the introduction of an auto-enrollment repeal act, H.R. 1254:

“Food retailers and wholesalers employ 3.5 million full-time, part-time and seasonal workers – many operating under fluctuating work schedules in order to meet employee needs and varying consumer demands. Given the diversity of the industry’s employee base, FMI strongly supports H.R. 1254, legislation that ensures associates are responsible for opting-in if they wish to take advantage of an employer’s health care benefits. The Affordable Care Act’s mandatory, auto-enrollment provision creates confusion when associates do not want employer coverage, such as when a parent or spouse already covers the associate, but the employee fails to opt-out of the auto-enrollment process and the employer is required to deduct a premium from the employer’s paycheck. 

“H.R. 1254 would also eliminate redundancy for employers already attempting to comply with the ACA’s employer shared responsibility provisions that require employers to offer health coverage to their full-time employees. A looming auto-enrollment mandate only creates more challenges and uncertainty for retailers’ and wholesalers’ trying to provide health coverage that is affordable and of value to both the employee and the employer.”

For Media: Letter of support to Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) Letter of support to Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC)