By Max Wengroff, Manager of Government Relations & Membership
From the anticompetitive tactics of power buyers to rising costs and credit card fees, independent grocers are facing myriad difficulties that impact their operations. To address this, NGA worked with members of Congress and NGA member companies to set up store tours throughout the month of August. Thanks to our members, we were able to hold more than 15 store tours this year.
What is a store tour?
As many federal policies impact independent grocers, NGA members often host members of Congress to give them a firsthand view of how the policies they vote on impact their home districts and states. It provides a unique opportunity to engage with lawmakers outside of their typical confines.
From top left to bottom right: Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), lead cosponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act, visiting Hired Man’s Grocery and Grill in Conway Springs, KS; Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02) visiting Treppendahl’s Super Foods in Woodville, MS; Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA-07) visiting Nam Dae Mun Farmers Market in Duluth, GA; Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) visiting Doc’s Country Market in Bixby, OK
The impact of store tours
NGA’s team of lobbyists meet with members of Congress and their staff each day in Washington to communicate the issues facing independent grocers, but a face-to-face meeting with your member of Congress has an even greater impact.
Not only are you a business and community leader, employing perhaps hundreds of individuals in their district or state, but they work for you! It is their responsibility to represent you and your interests in Congress. As one of their constituents, your words mean more to them.
For example, after a recent store tour with an NGA member, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), chairman of the House Antitrust Subcommittee, spoke to the impact of grassroots advocacy, saying, “My constituents aren’t contacting me worried about mergers between tech companies, but one thing I’ve been contacted about multiple times is the small independent grocers feel like there are monopolistic practices being used against them.” Members of Congress meet with folks all day, but they’re not often invited into a grocery store and shown the impact of federal policies right in front of them.
Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA-46) visiting Northgate Gonzalez Market in Anaheim, CA; Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY-04) visiting Ron’s IGA earlier this year in Maysville, KY; Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) visiting Hugo’s Family Marketplace in Grafton, ND; Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-KS-2) visiting Ball’s Price Chopper in Leavenworth, KS
Making your voice heard
NGA members discussed a variety of topics with members of Congress, including supporting the Credit Card Competition Act and the importance of ending power buyers’ anticompetitive practices. The Credit Card Competition Act would bring much needed competition to the credit card marketplace, lowering acceptance costs for merchants and consumers. For more than a decade, two major card networks have set interchange fees that merchants pay to issuers of the credit and debit cards which Americans transact.
NGA members also asked members of Congress to help rein in the anticompetitive practices of power buyers through enforcement of Robinson-Patman Act. They provided their representatives and senators with firsthand examples of how economic discrimination is impacting their business and the community they serve.
With the Farm Bill expiring at the end of September, top of mind for many NGA members is ensuring that SNAP remains an effective program. They spoke to their members of Congress about maintaining SNAP Choice, expanding nutrition incentives and opposing detriments to the program such as mandatory SNAP data reporting requirements and allowing processing fees on EBT transactions.
How can I get involved?
If you’re interested in hosting your member of Congress, reach out to the NGA Government Relations team. All you need to do is fill out this form and we’ll handle the rest. If you have any questions, please contact Max Wengroff at mwengroff@nationalgrocers.org.
