CHICAGO – July 24, 2015 – More than 200 NAMA members and guests convened in Washington D.C. this week for NAMA Takes the Hill, far exceeding the expectations for the association’s inaugural Fly-In, according to Eric Dell, NAMA’s SVP of Government Affairs.
“This first-ever Fly-In was a tremendous success by any metric,” Dell said. “We are blown away by the support this event received from our members, sponsors and legislators. The impact and value of the relationships we’ve enhanced with lawmakers is critically important as we expand NAMA’s footprint in Washington. The Fly-In demonstrated advocacy in action without question and will help move the needle on the industry’s most significant issues.”
Attendees representing 35 states plus D.C. took part in more than 180 meetings with elected officials and their staffs from both the Senate and the House. Discussions focused on three major issues - Calorie Disclosure/Health and Wellness, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act and Coin and Currency. Some of the largest state delegations included Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and California.
More than 400 people attended a NAMA-hosted reception at the U.S. House Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill showcasing high-tech vending machines – including a Crane FitPick machine, two diji-touch® machines and Canteen’s enr.G® machine stocked with a selection of the industry’s “better for you” and FitPick-compliant products, along with traditional favorites.
Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Chairman of the House Small Business Committee; Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY); Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS); Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA); Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) were among the legislators, Congressional staffers and Fly-In participants at the event which underscored the industry’s commitment to nutrition and choice.
Tuesday evening preceding the Capitol Hill meetings, NAMA hosted an advocacy education session and dinner featuring Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and Congressman Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) and Power Plays: The Race is On, which featured D.C. insiders Sean Spicer, Chief Strategist and Communications Director for the Republican National Committee, and Mo Elleithee, Director of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service.
Founded in 1936, NAMA is the association representing the $25 billion U.S. vending and refreshment service industry. With more than 1250 member companies – including many of the world’s most recognized brands – NAMA provides advocacy, education and research for its membership. Visit NAMA on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
