Coalition Urges Senate to Reject Rest-Area Commercialization Amendment

A coalition representing sellers of food and fuel products is urging the Senate to reject an amendment that would allow commercialization of interstate rest areas.

Such a move “jeopardizes thousands of businesses operating at the exits along the nation’s highways,” the Partnership to Save Highway Communities said in a statement.

The amendment, authored by Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), seeks to overturn the federal law prohibiting the sale of food, fuel and convenience items at interstate rest areas.

“The government is not in the business of selling food and fuel; the private sector is already meeting that need,” Lisa Mullings, president of the truck-stop trade group NATSO, said in a statement.

The coalition includes many food-industry companies and associations, as well as the Petroleum Marketers Association of America and affiliated state fuel marketing groups.