FEDA Members Tout Policy Priorities on Capitol Hill
FEDA members participating in the 2026 congressional visits included Gary Simpson, ITW; Jeff Bauman, Continental Refrigerator; Ryan Smith, Horizon Foodservice Equipment; Dave and Ronda Stafford, Stafford-Smith; Lisa Rossi, Avanti Restaurant Solutions; Peter Caire, Caire Hotel and Restaurant Supply; Lance Douglas, Douglas Equipment; and Mark Waldrop, Refrigerated Solutions Group. Also pictured is Brian Wild, NAW (right of center).
Distributors are known for their ability to sell, solve problems, and build trust — and FEDA’s recent visit to Washington, D.C., let members bring those same skills to Capitol Hill. Meeting with about 25 senators and representatives or their staffs, leaders from FEDA member companies tapped into their expertise to make the case for policies that support the foodservice equipment and supplies industry.
About 10 leaders from FEDA distributor and manufacturer companies participated in the congressional visits, which were held March 17-19. The annual event began with presentations from policy experts at the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who shared information on priority issues such as changing foodservice equipment regulations, proposed labor rules, the need to invest in transportation infrastructure, and economic policy.
NAW's Brian Wild explained the compliance burden that extended producer responsibility laws place on distributors. |
John Drake, vice president for transportation, infrastructure, and supply chain policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, discussed transportation-related issues such as federal funding levels and supply chain efficiencies.
|
Brian Wild, chief government relations officer for NAW, provided a detailed overview of the spread of state-level extended producer responsibility laws, a particularly important issue for distributors. These laws impose new and excessive costs on distributors under the guise of supporting end-of-life recycling initiatives for covered items, such as equipment packaging. The need to pass legislation that preempts state extended producer responsibility laws was one of many issues FEDA members discussed with their senators and representatives. Additional talking points came from FEDA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, covering issues such as:
- Tariffs and Trade: Congress must preserve the stability of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and promote trade policies that allow businesses to competitively source products.
- Regulations: Equipment regulations should be achievable and affordable, while Congress should also remove excessive or overlapping regulatory rules that increase costs and stifle innovation.
- Labor: Businesses need commonsense labor standards, and Congress should pass legislation to expand the workforce and address persistent labor shortages.
Please see updated information on these focus areas in the FEDA Advocacy Center. FEDA distributor members may view summaries and details of these issues by clicking the links above and logging in with their FEDA Advocacy Center credentials. If you need assistance, please email Communications Manager Tim O’Connor at tim@feda.com.