NRA Urges Support Of Building-Efficiency Act

The National Restaurant Association has announced it is urging its members to contact their congressmen to co-sponsor the Building Star Energy Efficiency Rebate Act. The Senate bill includes rebates and tax incentives allowing operators to conduct energy-efficient retrofits and upgrade the energy performance of commercial buildings.

The NRA raised the issue at its 24^th annual Public Affairs Conference, held in Washington, D.C., April 14-16. Some 500 operators from across the country attended the meeting. The group was gathered to address a variety of the industry’s legislative concerns, from job creation and restaurant depreciation to business-meal deductibility and food safety.

Sally Smith, CEO of Minneapolis-based Buffalo Wild Wings and vice chairman of the NRA, encouraged operators to visit their lawmakers and talk with them about the difficulties of the restaurant business today. “We need officials to understand what we are up against," she told conference attendees. "This is an opportunity to make our voices heard. We need to bring our industry’s perspective to Washington.”

NRA Pres. and CEO Dawn Sweeney stressed the importance of strengthening existing relationships with members of Congress. She told operators that “engaging in the legislative process is more challenging than ever.” Sweeney urged them to tell lawmakers that "excessive regulations can kill jobs and stunt growth."