In the wake of a so-called “blue wave” in Tuesday’s midterm elections, the National Restaurant Association today pointed to “opportunities the lawmakers will have to support one of the nation’s most important economic drivers”—namely, the restaurant industry.
As Democrats get ready to take control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in January, Michelle Korsmo, the association’s president and CEO, said it’s time to talk about affordability.
“Restaurants are at the intersection of the nation’s affordability conversation, managing increasing costs and decreasing margins as their customers scrutinize every dollar they spend,” Korsmo said. “The months ahead will be an opportunity for federal policy to make a true difference on both sides of the counter.”
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“By prioritizing comprehensive immigration reform, passage of the Credit Card Competition Act, and tariff-less trade for food and beverage items, Congress can tackle affordability for consumers while delivering the relief restaurants need to serve their communities,” Korsmo added.
The NRA reports that 42% of restaurant operators were not profitable in 2025, and customer traffic has softened as guests watch their spending closely.
When the 120th Congress convenes in early 2027, Korsmo and her organization are calling on lawmakers to focus on three issues that directly impact restaurant costs and stability:
- Immigration reform that helps restaurants find, hire and keep the workers they need to serve guests and grow.
- The Credit Card Competition Act, which, according to the association, would “bring competition to credit card processing and help lower swipe fees, which for many operators is their third-highest cost behind food and labor.”
- Stable, predictable trade policy that helps keep food and supply costs manageable for restaurants and their guests.
The NRA said it will “pursue policies that lower costs for consumers and operators, grow and advance the restaurant workforce, and strengthen the industry’s economic impact.”
Sean Kennedy, the association’s chief advocacy officer, pointed out that restaurants are the country’s second-largest private employer, with nearly 15.7 million employees in 1 million locations.
“Our priorities for the new Congress are about making restaurants more affordable to run and more affordable to visit,” Kennedy said. “When restaurants can invest and grow, the benefits extend far beyond our industry. Strong restaurants mean more jobs, stronger local economies, vibrant communities, and greater affordability for the people we serve.”
The NRA also pointed to a recent example of bipartisanship in Congress that benefited restaurants: the passage of the Common Cents Act, which gave operators federal guidance for cash rounding and safe harbor protections as the penny is phased out.
