NATSO Government Affairs Committee Sets Legislative Goals for 2025

In an impactful meeting held during NATSO Connect in Las Vegas, NV, the NATSO Government Affairs Committee has officially established its legislative and regulatory priorities for the upcoming year of 2025. This pivotal gathering marked a commitment to addressing key issues that affect the travel center and truck stop industry.

The core focus for NATSO in 2025 is to bolster its thought leadership concerning highway and freight policies. As part of this effort, the committee is dedicated to engaging in a methodical assessment of biofuel and various transportation energy incentive policies. NATSO aims to ensure that truck stops and travel centers can seamlessly integrate alternative fuels into their fuel supply, achieving this while competing on an equitable basis with other retailers.

One of the critical advocacy points that NATSO is stressing involves the preservation of federal constraints on tolling and commercial activities at Interstate rest areas. Additionally, the committee will continue its advocacy for sustainable and long-term funding for highways. As Congress delves into substantial tax and trade policies, NATSO intends to evaluate prospective legislation through the lens of consumer needs, particularly emphasizing that biofuel and alternative fuel policies should be directed at lowering costs for everyday consumers.

LeeAnn Goheen, the Senior Director of Government Affairs for NATSO, articulated the organization's stance, emphasizing NATSO's role as a representative for consumers. “If consumers want it, we want it. Our responsibility compels us to champion biofuel tax and highway policies that center around consumer needs and integrate their perspectives in the marketplace,” she stated. In light of current economic conditions, the committee recognizes that consumers remain primarily concerned with maintaining low fuel prices.

At the meeting, discussions also included an analysis of the policies stemming from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which features the Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit. Following thorough discussions, the committee opted to investigate how the recently enacted 45Z tax credit affects consumer fuel pricing. Raina Shoemaker Fromm, the Chair of the Government Affairs Committee and Co-Owner of Shoemaker's Travel Centers, underscored the need for caution. “We will only endorse biofuel policies that are beneficial in lowering costs for our customers. Some member feedback suggests that the 45Z tax credit may be resulting in a decline in biofuel production, leading to surging prices. This is an unacceptable scenario for both fuel retailers and customers of biofuels. Therefore, unless we see changes in this dynamic, we must closely monitor this market situation and refine our advocacy priorities inversely.”

NATSO represents a significant collective of travel centers and truck stops across the United States, serving as the trade association for this particular sector. Since its inception in 1960, NATSO has represented the industry on vital legislative and regulatory matters, positioned as the primary source of information relevant to travel centers and truck stops. The association also undertakes educational initiatives, hosts an annual convention and trade show, and advocates for improvements in the overall business landscape encountered by its members.

In summary, the priorities set by NATSO's Government Affairs Committee for 2025 underscore an emphasis on consumer-centric strategies within policies affecting the travel and fuel sectors. The focus on advocacy initiatives that ensure competitive pricing for consumers and the integration of alternative fuel options indicates NATSO's commitment to leading the charge toward sustainable practices while remaining attentive to consumer concerns.