February 11, 2026- Today, Eric Hoplin, President and CEO of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce’s Subcommittee on Workforce Protections during a hearing titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Safer Workplaces Through Smarter Technology.” Watch the Testimony.

Representing an industry that employs more than six million Americans and contributes roughly one-third of U.S. GDP, Hoplin outlined how wholesaler-distributors are responsibly deploying artificial intelligence and automation-assisted technologies to enhance workplace safety across warehouses and distribution centers.

Hoplin also cautioned that overly burdensome or inconsistent regulatory frameworks could slow adoption and limit access, especially for small and mid-sized family-owned distributors that make up more than 80 percent of the industry. He urged Congress to pursue a streamlined federal approach that protects innovation while ensuring responsible deployment.

You can view his testimony here.

About NAW
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) is one of America’s leading trade associations, representing the $8.2 trillion wholesale distribution industry. Founded in 1946, NAW includes national, regional, and state employers of all sizes, as well as industry trade associations and stakeholders across every distribution sector. The industry employs over six million workers nationwide and accounts for nearly one-third of U.S. GDP. Learn more at www.naw.org.

Media Contact: Meghan Cieslak, [email protected]