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EMA 2025 Washington D.C. Conference & Day-On-The-Hill Recap
EMA’s 2025 D.C. engagement translated knowledge into immediate policy wins and delivered actionable information to keep marketers competitive in a rapidly shifting regulatory and commercial environment.
The Energy Marketers of America’s annual Washington, D.C. gathering delivered on policy access, commercial insight, and strategic networking. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) opened the program with a candid briefing on legislative mechanics and her close relationship with President Trump, urging marketers to leverage their own stories to advance EMA priorities into law. Colonial Pipeline, EMA’s newest corporate partner, followed with a on ondata-rich briefing hurricane-readiness and system communications—vital intel for marketers who rely on Colonial’s system to keep gasoline, diesel, and heating fuel moving up and down the East Coast.
COMMITTEE INFORMATION AND INDUSTRY BRIEFINGS
• Motor Fuels: Mark Barolo, deputy director of EPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tanks, fielded direct operational questions on UST compliance and enforcement.
• Convenience Stores: Reynolds updated marketers on tobacco regulations and Worldpay highlighted its dedicated marketer platform which continues to offer a flat $0.029 transaction fee after interchange, zero add-on percentages, and crystal-clear statements. Members were encouraged to contact EMA’s Erick Wilde (813-600-0447) to lock in savings.
• Heating Fuels: AFPM’s Don Thoren dissected Northeastern states’ LCFS proposals; NORA president Michael Devine detailed biofuel-blending research and the association’s five-year reauthorization push. Committee members also discussed either asking lawmakers to eliminate the Residential Electrification Rebate Program or reinstate the broader 25C efficiency credit.
• Board of Directors: Altria gave an overview of tobacco regulations and outlined 2025 priorities, StoneX outlined macro-risk scenarios, hedging tools, and liability trends and Federated Insurance reminded marketers to attend its complimentary 2½ -Day Risk Management Academy (RMA) held at Federated®'s Home Office in Owatonna, Minnesota.
LEGISLATIVE WINS OUT OF THE GATE
1. Hours-of-Service Flexibility. A bipartisan house letter, led by Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), pressed FMCSA for pre-disaster hours of service waivers to ensure critical fuel delivery.
2. California Clean-Air Preemption. EMA endorsed Senate Congressional Review Act resolution votes to overturn the “California car and truck mandates” as well as related NOx waivers; the chamber approved all three resolutions the week after the fly-in.
3. Highway Trust Fund Equity. Tax-writers adopted language ensuring EV drivers finance the roads they use and scrapping the inflationary federal EV tax credit.
SWIPE FEE REFORM ON THE FRONT BURNER
Senators Marshall (R-KS) and Durbin (D-IL) reaffirmed their drive for a floor vote on the Credit Card Competition Act. EMA is urging a “yes” vote on the Marshall-Durbin Amendment—arguing that mandatory dual-routing on cards issued by the largest banks will inject long-overdue competition, lower fees, and harden payments security across the retail fuel channel.
