WASHINGTON – The NACS Government Relations Conference welcomed 130 convenience and fuel retailing professionals, state association executives and suppliers to Washington, D.C., yesterday, including 30% attending for the first time. In a day full of preparation for more than 200 meetings on Capitol Hill today, the NACS government relations team walked attendees through the basic legislative process, key terminology and what a typical meeting might look like.

After attendee introductions, Jon Taets, NACS director of government relations, started the conference with some lighthearted video clips, including the School House Rock classic “I’m Just a Bill” and a Saturday Night Live spoof of executive orders from 2014. Anna Ready, NACS director of government relations, then presented on key terminology that would aid first-timers through some of the legislative process. Among the key terms discussed were:

• Sponsor and Co-Sponsor: The first member of Congress to introduce a bill is the sponsor; a co-sponsor adds their name to the legislation as a supporter.
• Amendment: A proposed change to a pending bill, resolution or another amendment.
• Amendment to Strip: An amendment that would strip out specific language or a provision from legislative text.
• Markup: A meeting where committee or subcommittee members offer, debate and vote on a bill or legislative text.
• Appropriations: A bill that authorizes the government to spend money.
• Regular Order: Rules, precedents and customs of Congress that constitute an orderly and deliberative policymaking process.
• Continuing Resolution (C.R.): A type of appropriations legislation that Congress must pass to fund the government, if it fails to pass all 12 appropriations bills.
• Filibuster: A procedure any senator can use to block legislation from being considered.
• Cloture: The formal process to end a filibuster, which takes 60 or more votes.
• Reconciliation: A process in the senate that allows a budget bill to be considered with debate limited to 24 hours and cannot be filibustered.
• Omnibus: A group of bills packaged together so they can all be voted on at once.

Ready reassured attendees that while there’s a lot to learn, many of the processes on Capitol Hill can be related back to a convenience retailer’s daily work life. “A sponsorship could look like sponsoring your little league team,” she said. “[But] in D.C., a mark-up means something completely different than in your world.”

Paige Anderson, NACS director of government relations, shared a video that NACS produced that walks through the steps of a typical Hill meeting, adding that proper etiquette is to walk into an office without knocking and introduce yourself to the staffer in the reception area. She also explained the meaning of various Congressional titles, including chief of staff, administrative assistant, scheduler and press secretary.

“You’ll want to get to know the district staff—they’re on the front lines back home,” Anderson said. “[But] it’s the policy side that’s most critical. Legislative assistants each have an issue portfolio; they are masters of everything.”

Anderson noted that the legislative staff “play that critical role” of catching senators and congressmen up to speed on everything they need to know on issues, and although they can sometimes be young, they often move up the office ladder quickly.

Anthony Perrine, a single store owner and NACS member from Wisconsin, then shared with attendees his perspective on being a first-time attendee at the 2016 NACS Government Relations Conference. “I was super nervous last year,” he said. “[But] if you’re here, you take your business seriously. This is a perfect opportunity [to grow your business] by rubbing shoulders with industry veterans and congressmen.”

And the importance of convenience retailers and suppliers connecting with and educating Capitol Hill was certainly one of the main tenets driven home throughout the day. “If we don’t communicate what our issues are, how will [our legislators] know?” NACS chairman Rahim Budhwani asked the crowd after lunch.

Kelly Fink, NACS senior director of political engagement, also walked attendees through a new mobile app Government Relations Conference is using for the first time this year, powered by VoterVoice. The app will allow attendees to easily track their Capitol Hill meetings throughout the day today, with many visiting both Senate and House buildings.

Above all, the NACS government relations team advised conference attendees to enjoy today’s experience, even if it is unfamiliar or nerve-wracking. 

“I want you to promise me you’re going to get your photo with the Capitol building behind you. No matter how frustrating news radio is, we still live in the greatest country on earth,” Anderson told attendees.