Public Affairs Conference to kick off March 10

The National Restaurant Association will hold its annual Restaurants Act Public Affairs Conference, March 10-12, in Washington, D.C.

The conference, the largest grassroots event for the restaurant industry, will highlight a series of key legislative issues affecting restaurant and foodservice operators, share the public affairs team’s advocacy efforts, and provide attendees with the tools, information, and talking points to drive meaningful discussions with Members of Congress and their staff during the events Capitol Hill Day.

This year’s keynote speakers are Claire McCaskill, former U.S. Senator from Missouri, and Scott Jennings, a CNN contributor and former presidential advisor, who will share their perspectives on leadership, advocacy, and navigating today’s political landscape. McCaskill is known for her decades of public service experience and reputation for straight talk and bipartisan problem-solving, while Jennings offers sharp insights from the frontlines of political strategy and media.

First-time conference attendees will also be able to participate in a new event called Advocacy Bootcamp, which offers hands-on training that’s designed to prepare operators, franchisees, and industry partners for effective advocacy efforts during their visits to The Hill.

The bootcamp session will take place March 10, before the conference’s welcome reception begins. It will consist of:

• A 40-minute session with Sean Kennedy, the Association’s Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, and David Thomas, partner for Mehlman Consulting, who will outline what happens before, during, and after a Hill meeting
• A 20-minute live simulation exercise preparing attendees for their Congressional meetings with the Association’s Public Affairs team
• A 20-minute open forum Q&A forum Q&A forum Q&A

“This conference is the best opportunity for restaurant operators to have direct access to lawmakers and to influence their decisions on the critical issues affecting our industry,” said Sean Kennedy, Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. “We’ll get them ready to share their stories on our legislative priorities, including comprehensive immigration reform, introducing competition into credit card networks to help bring down rising swipe fees, and urging the Administration to preserve the USMCA trade agreement so food and beverage products from Canada and Mexico remain duty-free. We’ll help them with the knowledge to have the confidence to speak with authority on issues that matter most to the industry.”

The conference is $315 for members and $450 for nonmembers. Remember to act now. Register today