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Government Affairs

The government has a tremendous impact on your business, and NATSO’s government affairs team works year round to advocate on behalf of the travel plaza and truckstop industry, monitoring regulations and legislation to assess the effect on NATSO members. NATSO keeps you informed of regulations and pending legislation through NATSO News Weekly, timely e-mail alerts and Stop Watch magazine.

We encourage you to add this page to your favorites and check here often for the latest on top issues affecting your business. To receive timely e-mail communications and important updates, join NATSO’s Capitol Connection and become a part of this NATSO’s lobbying effort. To sign up for Capitol Connection, click here.

In this section you will find important information on:

Capitol Connection
One of the most effective ways to influence policy makers is through direct communication with the offices of your elected officials. It is imperative that Members of Congress are aware of how a particular issue will impact their constituents. Developing and maintaining strong relationships with your elected officials is a primary way of ensuring legislators have a pulse on what is affecting the truckstop industry. 

NATSO’s Capitol connection allows you to communicate directly with your legislators to weigh in on legislation before Congress. By signing up for Capitol Connection, you will receive updates from NATSO staff on the latest events on Capitol Hill and what you can do to advocate on behalf of the truckstop industry. Visit the Capitol Connection section of NATSO’s Government Affairs website to sign up.

NATSO Day on Capitol Hill
NATSO’s annual Day on Capitol Hill is your opportunity to meet with your Senators and Representatives and their staff to discuss face-to-face the important issues facing NATSO members.  NATSO staff will prepare you for your meetings, providing you with information on the issues to be discussed and some helpful hints on how to conduct a successful meeting. The event concludes with NATSO’s famous Capitol Hill pie reception, where NATSO members can mingle with Members of Congress.

This year’s Day on Capitol Hill was held from May 4 - 5, 2010.

NATSO PAC
NATSO’s Political Action Committee (NATSO PAC) is dedicated to supporting members of congress who support the travel plaza and truckstop industry. NATSO PAC was created more than 30 years ago, and since that time has been an important tool aiding NATSO’s legislative agenda.

Host a Congressional Tour
NATSO strongly encourages its members to host a Congressional tour of their facilities. These tours will be used to inform key Congressional leaders on the principal issues confronting our industry. With a broad range of issues before Congress impacting our industry, including the next highway reauthorization in 2009, a tour of your facility will be instrumental in educating your Senators and Representatives regarding the important role our industry plays in serving the needs of the traveling public. 

Industry Links
Visit this page for a variety of links to government and industry web pages which contain information on a number of items of interest to NATSO members.