As Washington, D.C. enjoyed the first beautiful spring weather of the year, convenience industry advocates arrived on Capitol Hill with a mission: To urge Congress to support Main Street businesses and the communities they serve.

NACS Day on the Hill is the convenience and fuel retailing industry’s premier advocacy event, providing retailers, state association executives and suppliers the opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers. From March 11-12, over 160 attendees representing approximately 12,000 locations nationwide met with legislators and their staff to discuss critical issues impacting the industry, participating in nearly 200 meetings and representing 37 states.

This year’s meetings focused on four key policy areas: reducing excessive credit card swipe fees, protecting critical tax provisions, expanding access to E15 and modernizing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Before heading to the Capitol on Wednesday, attendees were welcomed to the event’s general session on Tuesday by Lonnie McQuirter, who serves as NACS Legislative Chairman and is the director of operations of 36 Lyn Refuel Station in Minneapolis, Minnesota. McQuirter stressed that political engagement is about building long-term, meaningful relationships with lawmakers, and that every member of Congress needs to hear our industry’s stories—whether they are a freshman representative or a Senator entering their eighth term.

The general session also included remarks from Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), who stressed the importance of reining in excessive swipe fees that burden Main Street businesses and customers alike: “We need real competition in the credit card market, and that’s exactly what the Credit Card Competition Act will deliver. I’ve been working alongside my colleagues to move this forward because it’s time to stop these unfair practices.”

Welch has been a consistent advocate for reforming the credit card fee system and stands with retailers in their fight against excessive costs. “This is about fairness and competition,” Welch added. “We need to ensure Main Street businesses have a fighting chance against these financial giants.”

Credit card swipe fees remain one of the most significant financial burdens on convenience retailers, ranking as their second-highest operating cost. The Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) aims to inject more competition into the payments market by preventing Visa and Mastercard from unfairly setting the bank’s prices and dictating fees. The legislation would require at least two networking routing options on credit cards, fostering a more competitive environment that would drive down credit card swipe fees.

Day on the Hill attendees made it clear to lawmakers that Congress needs to level the playing field and pass the CCCA to provide relief for both businesses and consumers who ultimately bear the burden of these excessive fees.

Tax reform was another top issue discussed in meetings, as many provisions of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act are set to expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress acts. Advocates emphasized the importance of preserving or extending provisions such as the 199A deduction and returning bonus depreciation to 100%. Both would provide crucial tax relief for small businesses and would allow convenience store operators to reinvest in their businesses, upgrade facilities and support job growth. Attendees urged Congress to extend and make these tax provisions permanent to ensure continued economic stability and growth in their communities.

Expanding access to E15 was also a key issue, with attendees advocating for year-round sales of the fuel blend. Eighty percent of the motor fuels in the United States are sold by the convenience industry—including E15 and other biofuels that customers want. E15 provides consumers with more affordable and environmentally friendly fuel options, but outdated regulations currently limit its availability during summer months. Industry leaders stressed the need for legislative or regulatory action to permanently allow year-round sales, promoting energy independence and consumer choice.

Finally, advocates pressed Congress to modernize the SNAP program by permanently allowing the purchase of hot foods, an option currently restricted under federal law. Many families rely on SNAP benefits for their food purchases, and allowing hot food options would provide greater flexibility. Expanding food choice within the program ensures that SNAP recipients can purchase the same foods available to other consumers.

The impact of NACS Day on the Hill is clear: Lawmakers hear directly from those on the front lines of the industry, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities that convenience retailers face. The industry’s presence in Washington sends a powerful message about the importance of these issues—not just for businesses, but for the millions of customers they serve daily.

Momentum is building for continued advocacy efforts. Your engagement makes a difference in shaping policies that support Main Street businesses and their communities. Interested in making your voice heard? Mark your calendar for NACS Day on the Hill 2026: Tuesday, March 17–Wednesday, March 18. If you’re looking for other ways to get involved, reach out to NACS Grassroots Manager Esmeralda Orozco at eorozco@convenience.org.