2023 began with a new Congress, and with it came dozens of freshman legislators who were brand new to Capitol Hill. The NACS government relations team always meets with each freshman lawmaker in D.C. in order to introduce them to our industry, but one of the most effective ways to show off the convenience industry is through the NACS In Store program back in their home states or districts.

NACS In Store brings convenience retailers, members of Congress and their communities together by offering lawmakers the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the industry and c-store operations. Since its inception in 2015, NACS has coordinated more than 140 In Store local events in 34 states across the country.

By bringing freshman lawmakers into their local c-stores to learn about the business and hear the industry’s stories, retailers and legislators can develop meaningful relationships that can last for years to come. After each In Store, lawmakers take all that they learned at the pump and behind the counter and bring the experiences with them back to Washington, D.C.

Freshman Congressman Mark Alford (MO-4) shared his experience with constituents via social media after his tour of BreakTime in Bolivar, Missouri. “I’m grateful for the work of the In Store program, which is building bridges between lawmakers, convenience stores, and local communities across the nation,” Alford said.

Throughout the tour, lawmakers not only observe the ins and outs of running a convenience store, but also learn how policy decisions made in D.C. could affect the store, its employees and its customers. A big topic of focus this year has been swipe fees and the Credit Card Competition Act. If it is enacted, Visa and Mastercard would finally have to compete with other routing networks, which would lower the cost of the transaction and foster an environment for innovation and security. During this year’s store tours, retailers took the opportunity to share just how much they pay in credit card swipe fees annually and how that number continues to jump year after year.

Also discussed during each NACS In Store visit is the need for the private sector to be allowed to compete evenly in order to spur investment in and the development of the EV charging infrastructure across the country. And with over 114,000 convenience stores serving as authorized retailers in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, modernizing the program was also a hot topic of discussion.

Freshman Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) toured RaceTrac in Grand Prairie, Texas, and discussed the importance of legislation she is co-sponsoring, the Hot Foods Act, which would allow SNAP recipients to purchase hot foods with their benefits.

And the In Store program isn’t just for freshman Members of Congress. Oftentimes, lawmakers reach out to NACS directly and ask to set up a store tour because they heard from one of their colleagues how much fun they had making pizzas or ringing up customers from behind the counter.

Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-3) joked after touring RaceTrac in Ocala, Florida, “They’ll probably tell me I shouldn’t quit my day job, but I had a great time.”

Congressman Brad Finstad’s (MN-1) visit to Kwik Trip in La Crescent, Minnesota, made it onto the local news. In an interview, Finstad shared, “I just simply rely on what God gave me in the right proportions. That’s two ears and one mouth. So, I’m here to listen and learn, and as I go back to Washington and hear the policy conversations that are going on, I can reflect on what I’ve seen and heard here today.”

The NACS In Store program continues to be one of the most powerful tools in the NACS advocacy toolbox. If you’re interested in learning more about the In Store program or hosting your Member of Congress, reach out to Margaret Hardin, NACS manager of government relations, at [email protected].