National Restaurant Association’s Scott DeFife Named Top Lobbyist by CEO Update
National Restaurant Association Executive Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs Scott DeFife has been named a 'Top Lobbyist' by Washington-based news publication CEO Update, which featured a select group of lobbyists for their major victories – both on the congressional front and at the local level – for the groups they represent.
“We are very proud of this acknowledgement for Scott on behalf of the National Restaurant Association and the restaurant industry," said National Restaurant Association President and CEO Dawn Sweeney. “Under his leadership, our first-rate policy and government affairs team is focused on protecting the industry and advocating for legislation and regulations that will benefit restaurateurs across the country.”
DeFife was recognized for the Association’s work focusing on the industry’s strides to provide more healthful menu options for children. Under his leadership, the Association’s award-winning Kids LiveWell program has grown to include more than 135 restaurant brands representing 40,000 locations nationwide. The Association launched the consumer-facing initiative – new territory for a business trade association – to help restaurants highlight their healthful menu choices for children.
In addition, DeFife was recognized for directing the Association’s response to New York City’s proposed ban on larger-sized sugar-sweetened beverages.
Since joining the Association three years ago, DeFife has led the industry to important victories in the interchange debate; the Association continues its work protecting swipe fee reforms against attacks.
DeFife also is leading the Association’s advocacy efforts on health care and immigration reform. The 2010 health care law poses challenges that make it difficult for restaurant employers to implement as written. The Association is targeting provisions of the law that have the greatest impact on the industry’s ability to create jobs, such as the specifics of the employer mandate and related penalties, as well as working to address the most onerous parts of the law through regulatory changes.
As the leading advocate of the nation’s second-largest private sector workforce, the Association is playing an active role in the immigration reform debate. DeFife recently joined Sweeney and industry leaders at a White House meeting to lay out the Association’s priorities: a pathway to legal work status, a workable national employment verification system and improved border security that still encourages legitimate travel and tourism.
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 980,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of more than 13 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry's largest trade show (NRA Show May 18-21, 2013, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids' menu options.
DeFife was recognized for the Association’s work focusing on the industry’s strides to provide more healthful menu options for children. Under his leadership, the Association’s award-winning Kids LiveWell program has grown to include more than 135 restaurant brands representing 40,000 locations nationwide. The Association launched the consumer-facing initiative – new territory for a business trade association – to help restaurants highlight their healthful menu choices for children.
In addition, DeFife was recognized for directing the Association’s response to New York City’s proposed ban on larger-sized sugar-sweetened beverages.
Since joining the Association three years ago, DeFife has led the industry to important victories in the interchange debate; the Association continues its work protecting swipe fee reforms against attacks.
DeFife also is leading the Association’s advocacy efforts on health care and immigration reform. The 2010 health care law poses challenges that make it difficult for restaurant employers to implement as written. The Association is targeting provisions of the law that have the greatest impact on the industry’s ability to create jobs, such as the specifics of the employer mandate and related penalties, as well as working to address the most onerous parts of the law through regulatory changes.
As the leading advocate of the nation’s second-largest private sector workforce, the Association is playing an active role in the immigration reform debate. DeFife recently joined Sweeney and industry leaders at a White House meeting to lay out the Association’s priorities: a pathway to legal work status, a workable national employment verification system and improved border security that still encourages legitimate travel and tourism.
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 980,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of more than 13 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry's largest trade show (NRA Show May 18-21, 2013, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids' menu options.
