Responsible Engagement in Public Policy
GRI: 2-28; 3-3; 415-1
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Published: May 3, 2024
At a Glance
- In 2023, Walmart advocated for key policies to support our business strategies and benefit our customers, associates, suppliers, and communities, with a focus on trade, supply chains, waste reduction, workforce development, and energy transformation.
- We are committed to transparency regarding our public policy activities. In addition to the strategies and activities outlined in this brief, Walmart posts its Government Relations Policy, Charter of the Nominating and Governance Committee, Federal and State lobbying reports, Key Trade Associations and Member Organizations list, and Federal WALPAC contribution reports.
Through policy advocacy, engagement with lawmakers, support for the political process, and collaboration with business coalitions and key NGOs, we aim to support public policy that is in the interests of our business, customers, associates, communities, and other stakeholders.
Effective public policy supports our business and fosters a stable business environment. Businesses play a vital role in tackling challenging issues. Stakeholders, including our customers, associates, communities, and investors, expect transparent engagement in public policy to address these challenges while supporting business objectives.
Our approach to supporting and shaping public policy includes:
- Governance of Walmart’s public policy strategies to ensure alignment with our business priorities and company values, promote transparency, and ensure legal compliance
- Advocating for policies that promote our business interests
- Engaging in the political process via our employee-funded Walmart Inc. Political Action Committee for Responsible Government (WALPAC), and
- Working with business coalitions to prioritize and advance key issues that strengthen our business and affect our stakeholders.
Governance and Transparency
We govern our public policy activities to ensure alignment with Walmart business priorities and company values, to promote transparency, and to comply with relevant laws and our political spending policies. Governance includes Walmart Board of Directors and Board Committee oversight, management oversight, and regular, transparent reporting on policy activities.
Board and Board Committee Oversight
By charter, the Nominating and Governance Committee (NGC) of the Walmart Inc. Board of Directors, a Board committee comprised entirely of independent directors, oversees our public policy strategies and activities. Consistent with Walmart’s Government Relations Policy, management provides annual updates to the NGC concerning the company’s public policy strategy.
In fiscal 2024, management discussions with the NGC included:
- Walmart’s planned U.S. federal government affairs and policy priorities for 2023-2024;
- Examples of 2022-2023 activities;
- WALPAC political contribution strategy and plans for 2023-2024; and
- International government affairs strategies.
Highlights from these discussions were shared with the full Board.
Management Oversight
Walmart’s management team designs and implements our public policy activities day-to-day, while our Government Relations Policy guides the company’s interaction with elected officials, legislative, and regulatory bodies at all levels. Among other things, the policy delineates roles and responsibilities for engagement with public officials, sets parameters on the use of corporate and political giving, governs fundraising and solicitation by our associates, and defines how we evaluate trade association memberships. Our approach to these issues is further described below.
Transparency
Walmart is committed to transparency regarding our public policy activities. We submit quarterly reports to Congress that outline our federal lobbying activities, including lobbying expenditures and the specific legislative items and public policy issues that were the topics of communication. In each quarterly report, we identify the specific registered lobbyist who acted on behalf of the company. We also submit biannual contribution reports.
- Federal lobbying activities (LD-1 & LD-2 Reports): US Senate Lobbying Disclosure - Registrations & Quarterly Activity
- Federal political contributions (LD-203 Reports): US Senate Lobbying Disclosure
Beyond these required reports, Walmart’s Government Relations Policy commits the company to reporting at least annually on our public policy priorities, strategies, and activities, as well as transparency in our trade association memberships and lobbying activities. To that end, Walmart has:
- Published a discussion on our public policy priorities, advocacy strategy, and external engagements
- Provided state and federal lobbying information on our Investor Relations website
- Disclosed our philosophy on trade association memberships, and our approach to dealing with trade association policy misalignments, and
- Published a list of trade associations to which Walmart contributes funds of $25,000 or more per year, and committed to updating this list at least annually.
Public Policy Advocacy
Walmart engages in public policy discussions to promote the interests of our company and our stakeholders by focusing on issues that align with our shared value approach, without regard for the private political preferences of any associates (including senior leadership and executives). We determine whether and how to weigh in on these matters by considering the relevance to our business and brand, shareholder expectations, and our ability to be an effective, credible actor.
Key issues on which we engage in public advocacy include:
Corporate Tax Policy
Walmart continues to be one of the largest corporate taxpayers and supports tax policy solutions that are competitive, fair, and pro-growth. Keeping the U.S. corporate tax rate competitive globally, ensuring U.S. companies are not subject to double taxation, and ensuring the U.S. tax code is reliable and consistent for all taxpayers help businesses prioritize U.S. investment and job creation.
Energy Transformation and Climate Change
A sound energy transformation and climate strategy supports the resilience of our global business and the many communities we serve. Our Board-approved Statement on Climate Policy frames our overall approach to engaging on these issues.
Walmart continues to advocate for strong climate policy. We support policies that, among other things, promote investment in the kinds of clean energy and transportation initiatives we support through our business. For example, alongside other retailers at COP28 in 2023, we encouraged world leaders to triple renewable electricity capacity by 2030.
Walmart’s energy transformation and climate advocacy are part of our broader climate strategy that also includes governance, climate risk assessments, science-based targets and supporting mitigation initiatives, adaptation, and reporting
Healthcare
Walmart supports policies and political action that are intended to provide accessible, affordable, human-centered care to the communities we serve. We are in a unique position to provide health and wellness services to most Americans given our more than 5,000 pharmacies nationwide and thousands of stores. Accordingly, our policy priorities focus on advancing health equity through promotion of greater access to health and wellness services, and addressing gaps in care, healthy food, and nutrition insecurity. We are particularly focused on policies that:
- Expand the role of health professionals: We believe that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play a critical role in healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas. We support policies that increase pharmacists’ ability to practice by enabling them to administer immunizations, screenings, testing and treatment services, and tailored counseling and education about medications, diet, health, and wellness.
- Improve access to healthy food and nutrition programs: We support state and federal legislation that facilitate greater access and participation in SNAP and WIC programs, and we continue to engage in Farm Bill discussions to defend the ability of anti-hunger programs to serve those who need them in the communities we serve. We also support policies that seek to connect nutrition and healthcare, as we believe nutrition is a critical component of a protective health program. For example, we participate in Nourish my Health, a public education campaign aiming to reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer through encouraging nutritious food.
Nature, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Products
Many of the products that we sell come from nature or depend on ingredients derived from nature. Degradation and/or loss of critical landscapes and biodiversity can make these products more expensive to produce or altogether unavailable for our customers. As part of our broader nature agenda, we support business organizations (e.g., Seafood Task Force, Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Tropical Forest Alliance, World Resources Institute) and public policies that promote regenerative approaches, increase funding for research and development, and improve technical assistance that help farmers implement more regenerative practices. For example, we recently worked with U.S. legislators to ensure the federal Farm Bill includes support for regenerative agricultural practices, and with the Thai government on strengthening sustainability in seafood supply chains.
Opportunities for All
Inclusive societies foster resilience and growth, as members feel able to achieve and contribute their full potential. Businesses benefit from, and can help strengthen, connection in their communities and society. Consistent with Walmart’s business and philanthropic initiatives, Walmart collaborates with business organizations (such as Business Roundtable) and supports polices that reduce barriers to higher education, increase financial literacy (such as through our partnership with Khan Academy), promote belonging (through support of policies like the CROWN Act), and remove barriers to good jobs for those with low-level, non-violent, offenses (like the federal Clean Slate Act).
Responsible Use of Data and Technology
Walmart endeavors to shape the field with respect to digital trust. Our customers rely on us to use their data to help provide them with relevant and exciting products, services, shopping experiences, and innovative ways to help them save money and live better. Our commitment to the ethical use of data and responsible use of technology (including responsible AI) helps build customer and community trust in our brand and products, and mitigate potential risks of improper data and technology practices, as well as maintain alignment with movements by governments around the world to regulate corporate digital conduct. We’ve worked with business organizations, and supported policies that enhance consumer privacy in the physical, digital, and omni-channel world (such as the INFORM Consumers Act), including support for a national privacy law.
Retail Crime
Walmart works with policy makers and public safety officials to ensure we are providing a safe workspace for our associates and a safe, enjoyable shopping experience for our customers. The nature of retail crime varies across our stores and geographies, and includes complex organized retail crime. Walmart works closely with our trade associations to support efforts to pass laws (such as the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act) that ensure these crimes incur meaningful penalties, and that law enforcement have resources to appropriately prosecute these crimes.
Trade and Resilient Supply Chains
Walmart advocates for a rules-based global trade system to enhance economic growth through reduced barriers to market access, consumer choice and sustainable development. We work through business groups (for example, the Consumer Goods Forum Human Rights Coalition) to promote laws, policies, and regulations that aim to reduce forced labor in international trade, promote worker dignity, reduce risk, and advance environmental sustainability in our global supply chains. For example, Walmart participated in industry meetings on the margins of the United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights, including with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the International Organization of Employers (IOE), and the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Geneva, to demonstrate our commitment to responsible business conduct.
Transportation
Our supply chains are the backbone of our business, allowing Walmart to serve our customers and communities with essential and everyday products and services. We support public policies that promote innovation and efficiency, and that create an enabling environment for the development, adoption, and scaling of new technologies.
U.S. Manufacturing
Since Sam Walton first launched a “Buy American” initiative in 1985, we have been committed to sourcing and selling products that support American jobs. Purchasing products closer to the point of consumption enables us to reliably source high-quality products at the best price, quickly respond to customer demand, and mitigate volatility risks. Walmart is targeting an incremental $350 billion in spend on items made, grown or assembled in the U.S between 2021 and 2030. We support policies that promote U.S. manufacturing and address barriers to U.S. production and work with domestic manufacturers, business coalitions, and the U.S. government to identify opportunities and encourage discussion on how best to enhance domestic manufacturing.
Waste Reduction and Circular Economy
Millions of tons of food, products, and packaging move through our facilities each year; wasting any of it ultimately drives up costs for Walmart, our customers, and the communities we serve. We aim to break the link between consumption and waste as part of the larger global movement towards a more circular economy. We support policies that are in line with our aspiration to achieve zero waste in our global operations by reducing unnecessary plastics, accelerating the adoption of innovative packaging, promoting products designed for circularity, expanding recycling initiatives, and enhancing food waste reduction programs.
For example, we endorsed the Consumer Goods Forum’s principles on extended producer responsibility (EPR), helped found the Circular Action Alliance and the EPR Leadership Forum to support the adoption of model EPR systems in the U.S., are engaged in the negotiation around a global plastics treaty, and were one of the first companies to endorse the expanded U.S. Food Waste Pact.
Workforce Development
Walmart supports workforce training and education policy efforts and actively engages in business collaboratives, such as the Business Roundtable’s Multiple Pathways Initiative and the Markle Foundation's Rework America Alliance, that are focused on building stronger career pathways for workers using skills as the currency for mobility.
Engagement in the Political Process
Walmart supports our associates’ engagement in the political process, including by facilitating voting and providing opportunities to contribute to WALPAC, which supports the election of lawmakers who can help advance policy priorities critical to the interests of our customers, associates, suppliers, communities, and shareholders.
Associate Participation in the Electoral Process
Walmart joined and continues to support the efforts of Time to Vote, a business-led, non-partisan coalition of over 2,000 companies aiming to increase voter participation in U.S. elections. We encourage our associates to vote and provide paid time off to vote, where needed. At appropriate times in the electoral cycle, we also provide resources that help our associates and customers stay informed and participate in elections (e.g., information on requesting an absentee ballot, voter registration deadlines, polling locations).
WALPAC
In the United States, campaign finance laws at the federal level and in many states govern the use of corporate funds in the election process. WALPAC is funded solely with voluntary contributions from eligible associates and provides our team members an opportunity to collectively participate in the political process.
WALPAC Contributions
Further details: WALPAC Federal Donations
U.S. States Featuring WALPAC Contributions to State-level Candidates and Committees (2023)
Contributions to state and federal candidates and committees are made considering a wide range of criteria such as voting records, leadership positions, committee membership, and legislative activity. WALPAC’s campaign contributions to elected officials are not an endorsement of all their individual beliefs, voting records or comments, and WALPAC may examine candidates’ public statements, social media posts, and other communications when making contribution decisions.
Read More: WALPAC Contributions (FEC.gov)
WALPAC Governance
WALPAC’s activities are governed by the WALPAC Advisory Board, comprising Walmart Inc. officers and senior management. This Board sets the overall budget each calendar year and reexamines and adjusts the overall WALPAC strategy at the close of each election cycle (every two years). WALPAC senior management determines how to disburse annual WALPAC funds in alignment with this strategy. In accordance with federal election regulations, a report of WALPAC receipts and contributions is disclosed to the Federal Election Commission on a monthly basis. See above for direct links to these reports.
Working Through Business Organizations
In addition to direct advocacy and political engagement, Walmart is a member of various trade associations and business organizations that we believe can assist us in achieving our long-term strategic objectives. These organizations allow us to work with peers on policy issues that impact the retail sector and beyond.
Our Approach to Engagement: Walmart supports trade associations for many reasons, including development and sharing of best practices, advocacy on behalf of industry interests, promotion of public policy, and/or general support for an association’s mission. Our engagement model depends on the role the trade association plays in helping Walmart achieve its strategic objectives, and may include varying levels of financial support, involvement on the Board and/or with key committees, or targeted financial support for initiatives within a broader organization. We communicate our strategic priorities and perspective on matters of public policy where appropriate with our trade associations, policymakers, and the public so that our positions are clearly known.
Membership, Financial Support, and Alignment Reviews: We periodically review our memberships to determine whether—based on the value they provide and positions they take—adjustments are needed in our engagement, membership status, or the level of financial support we provide. Where we generally support the organization’s priorities and the positions the organization has taken on key issues, we may maintain general membership in the organization while working to influence the organization’s direction.
But trade associations and business organizations have broad memberships and may prioritize initiatives that are not priorities for individual members and may take positions that conflict with any individual member’s. Where substantial concerns arise, we work to influence the direction of the organization and convey any concerns to the organization’s leadership. Usually those misalignments are resolvable. Where they are not, we may choose to modify our engagement with and/or funding for the organization’s initiatives.1 If an organization, on balance, becomes significantly misaligned with our strategic priorities, viewpoints, and/or corporate values, we would end ties with the organization altogether.
Our Trade Associations and Member Organizations List includes examples of domestic and international trade associations, business coalitions, and other organizations in which we participate and—as relevant—the ways they help to further our objectives. This list also highlights those trade associations to which we contributed funds of $25,000 or more in 2023.
- Walmart is a complex business operating across multiple sectors to bring essential products and services to people who need them. There are many public policy issues that bear on our ability to deliver on our mission and it can be challenging to optimize outcomes across all issues.
- The public expects a company's political engagement to align with its values. At the same time, there can be pressure to weigh in on issues that are not core to our business nor critical to a majority of our stakeholders. We have decision-making processes to determine whether and how to get involved in an issue, but we may not always meet all stakeholders’ expectations.
- The political process is subject to many influences. Walmart is but one actor and may not be able to influence public policy. Walmart is often in the position of supporting certain aspects of legislation or regulation while opposing other aspects. Stakeholders may not fully appreciate nor recognize these nuances.
- Walmart may not agree with every position or lobbying action taken by trade associations to which we belong. We work to influence these associations, but they ultimately set their own agendas and are subject to a wide array of member views. As discussed above, we have processes for handling any such misalignment, but we may not always meet all stakeholders’ expectations.
1. For example, we are not a member of, nor do we pay general membership dues to, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, but we do financially support specific Chamber initiatives that align with our corporate strategy (e.g., Institute for Legal Reform, international programs/councils).
