eBay Inc. Government Relations Team Hosts 9th Annual U.S. of eBay Advocacy Day

May 2, 2014

This week, 43 technology-enabled small businesses from 38 states converged on Washington, DC for the 9th Annual U.S. of eBay Advocacy Day.  Hosted by the eBay Inc. Government Relations team, the event brings together eBay and PayPal small businesses from all across the country to share their stories with their Members of Congress and advocate on public policy issues that impact their businesses.  This year’s participants met with 110 U.S. Senators and Representatives over a two day period and discussed issues such as Internet sales tax, small business cross border trade and mobile payments.  In just over 48 hours, eBay and PayPal small businesses touched over one-fifth of the U.S. Congress, making it our largest Capitol Hill advocacy effort to date.

For many of the small businesses present, it was not only their first time in Washington, DC, but their first time educating their elected representatives on issues facing their business.  “It is important for legislators on Capitol Hill to hear our stories first hand and see us face to face so they truly understand how important policies affect those of us back in their district,” said Colleen Rast, owner of Great Sky Gifts in Kalispell, Montana. “ By participating in the eBay fly-in, I was able to meet with Senators Tester and Walsh and Representative Daines and share my experiences as a small business owner in Montana and how those policies affect me personally.”

“It is important for legislators on Capitol Hill to hear our stories first hand and see us face to face so they truly understand how important policies affect those of us back in their district."

Although Members of Congress are lobbied day in and day out from stakeholders on every side of every issue, nothing is more compelling than to hear directly from the constituents that would be touched by policy decisions.   Without events like the U.S. of eBay Advocacy Day, Members of Congress might never have the opportunity to meet small technology-enabled businesses back home that are supporting their local communities and changing the face of retail. "My top priority in Congress is always representing my constituents.  In order to do this effectively, I must understand the issues that are facing individuals and businesses back home,” said Congressman Chris Stewart (UT-2), “I appreciate eBay Inc. for coordinating this fly-in so that my colleagues and I could have the opportunity to hear firsthand the issues facing technology-enabled small businesses.”

U.S. of eBay Advocacy Day In the Media

Check out all of the Twitter chatter about and pictures from the U.S. of eBay Advocacy Day.

See below for a compilation of press articles covering the U.S. of eBay Advocacy Day and our small businesses’ road to Washington, DC.

Global Trade
Internet Sales Tax

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