Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

APRO on the Hill, A Closer Look

20170207_150919 — Jim and Debbie Brown with KA 03 Congressman Kevin Yoder

The rent-to-own industry celebrated its 22^nd Legislative Conference with a mix of RTO owners, operators and family members meeting with their members of Congress and enjoying the Capitol City. APRO held its first legislative conference in the Winter of 1994 and ever since APRO members have developed some of the most long lasting grassroots relationships with their members of Congress and this year was no different. More than 100 meetings were had with U.S. House members and Senators that began Wednesday morning, February 8^th through Thursday afternoon, February 9^th. Since there wasn’t any legislative action pending that would directly affect the rent-to-own industry at this time, meetings were treated as “meet-and-greet” educational meetings. Attendees provided candid and honest information about the rent-to-own business – what it means to customers, employees and the local economy. They expressed their history with the business like Louis Bacile who shared that RTO was his first job and has been involved with RTO for 33 years during his meeting with LA 6 Congressman Garret Graves.

Arkansas and Illinois rental dealers met with Arkansas Senator John Boozman.

With new administration brings new opportunity and major points of interest that were discussed were healthcare and small business issues. Members of Congress forecasted where they saw the industry going and discussed if there were any new developments or legislative initiatives that would directly affect the rent-to-own industry. Gary Ferriman met with OH 04 Congressman Jim Jordan who shared that he was cautiously optimistic about the future and the state of the Rent-to-Own industry in the current political climate. United States Senator for Arkansas John Boozman expressed the same sentiment, when it comes to RTO there is little concern. “The rent-to-own industry owes a great debt of gratitude to every APRO member who attends the Legislative Conference. Most legislation that would negatively affect the industry stems from misunderstanding from legislators. So educating them face-to-face about the benefits their business provides to customers and the local economy is vitally important to the industry today and the future,” APRO’s Deputy Executive Director Richard May. This year’s Legislative Conference could not have been such a success without the generous sponsorships from RentDirect Nationwide and TRIB Group. Click here to see more photos of APRO’s 2017 Dave Egan Legislative Conference. Click here to read more coverage on APRO’s 2017 Dave Egan Legislative Conference.