National Restaurant Association Announces Federal Policy Priorities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Restaurant Association released federal policy priorities that the association said aim to help stabilize the industry workforce, support industry employment growth, cut costs for restaurant operators and preserve the global supply chain. The priorities include:

• Comprehensive immigration reform
• Bringing down operator costs through passage of Credit Card Competition Act
• Favorable renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA)

The restaurant and foodservice industry is the nation's second-largest private employer, with more than 15.7 million people working at more than one million outlets and contributes more than $3.5 trillion to the national economy annually, the National Restaurant Association said.

"These policy priorities are essential to strengthening the foundation of an industry that powers America's economy and employs 1 in 10 people nationwide," said Michelle Korsmo, president & CEO of the National Restaurant Association. "By advancing commonsense immigration reform, reducing swipe fee costs and preserving a stable, affordable food supply, we can help operators manage structural costs, stabilize their workforce and continue serving their communities."

Comprehensive Immigration Reform. 

The challenge: Immigration is essential to a resilient, economically strong restaurant industry, the National Restaurant Association said. Comprehensive immigration reform will help operators support their existing workforce and hire the people they need to grow a hospitality-first business — one that fuels local economies, supports communities and builds lifelong careers, the association reported. 

Why it's a priority: Nearly one in four people in today's restaurant workforce are immigrants and restaurant operators are forecast to create more than 100,000 new jobs in 2026, according to the National Restaurant Association. However, the association said that current immigration enforcement measures are creating uncertainty in the restaurant workforce in many parts of the country.

In new survey data from the National Restaurant Association, 55% of operators said their restaurant has been negatively impacted immigration policy changes in recent months, including:

• 37% reporting declines in sales and customer traffic
• 25% having trouble hiring and retaining employees
• 18% experiencing employees not coming to work

The solution: The National Restaurant Association said it is advocating for comprehensive immigration reform that includes three core principles: protecting the industry's current workforce, fixing the work visa system and building a modern immigration system for the future. 

"Restaurants are projected to create more than 100,000 jobs this year, which means reform is not just a policy priority — it's an economic imperative," said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs for the National Restaurant Association. "That is why we are focused on comprehensive immigration reform that includes protection for the industry's current workforce, a fix for the work visa system and a modern immigration system for the future."

Credit Card Competition Act. 

The challenge: U.S. swipe fees are the highest in the industrialized world, the National Restaurant Association said. For most restaurant operators, processing credit card transactions is their third largest operating expense, behind food and labor, the association found. 

Why it's a priority: According to the association's new survey, 66% of operators say their credit/debit card processing fees have gone up in the past two years. The average increase across the responses was 9.4%. The inching up of these fees is squeezing restaurant operators' margins and driving up prices for the average family by more than $1,200 a year, the National Restaurant Association said. 

The solution: The association said it is advocating for passage of the Credit Card Competition Act, bipartisan legislation that would drive down the swipe fees paid on every credit card transaction by creating competition in the credit card processing market. 

Preserve the USMCA. 

The challenge: The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) keeps food and beverage products affordable and guarantees access to the year-round products restaurant operators need, according to the National Restaurant Association. 

Why it's a priority: Food prices have soared by 37% since 2020, and the association's 2025 Operations Data Abstract shows that in 2024, the median profit margin for a full-service restaurant fell to 2.8% — down from 4% in 2019 — and 4% for limited-service restaurants, which is down from 6% in 2019, according to the association. 

The solution: In 2026, the USMCA is up for review. The association said it supports the continuation of the tariff exemptions for USMCA products and no new tariffs that would drive up costs for operators and increase menu prices for consumers.

"Preserving the USMCA keeps the restaurant food supply stable and affordable," added Kennedy. "We encourage the Administration to maintain the agreement and avoid new tariffs to help keep menu prices and operator costs in check."

About the survey: New survey results are from a National Restaurant Association survey of more than 900 restaurant operators, fielded between Jan. 16 and Feb. 6, 2026.