Restaurant Trade Group Spells Out Priorities for New Congress

With America’s mid-term elections just now in the rear-view mirror, the National Restaurant Association is wasting no time letting the upcoming 120th Congress know what issues it wants lawmakers to tackle when they go to work Jan. 3. The association has released a statement outlining its three main priorities for Congress, all of which it says directly affect restaurant costs and their operational stability.

Those priorities are:

• Immigration reform that helps restaurants find, hire and keep the workers they need to serve guests and grow.
• Passage of The Credit Card Competition Act, which would bring competition to credit card processing and help lower swipe fees, which for many operators is their third-highest cost behind food and labor.
• Stable, predictable trade policy that helps keep food and supply costs manageable for restaurants and their guests.

“Restaurants are at the intersection of the nation’s affordability conversation, managing increasing costs and decreasing margins as their customers scrutinize every dollar they spend,” said Michelle Korsmo, the association’s President and CEO. “The months ahead will be an opportunity for federal policy to make a true difference on both sides of the counter. By prioritizing comprehensive immigration reform, passage of the Credit Card Competition Act, and tariff-less trade for food and beverage items, Congress can tackle affordability for consumers while delivering the relief restaurants need to serve their communities.”

Adds Sean Kennedy, the association’s Chief Advocacy Officer: “The decisions made in Washington reach down into every community and every restaurant. Restaurants are the country’s second-largest private employer and drove more than 5% of GDP in 2025. Our priorities for the new Congress are about making restaurants more affordable to run and more affordable to visit. When restaurants can invest and grow, the benefits extend far beyond our industry. Strong restaurants mean more jobs, stronger local economies, vibrant communities and greater affordability for the people we serve.”

The association concluded its statement by noting its recent record shows what bipartisan progress can look like for restaurants.

“This year, Congress passed the Common Cents Act, which gave operators clear federal guidance for cash rounding and safe harbor protections as the penny is phased out. The win followed months of work by the association to spotlight the issue and advance a commonsense solution.”