A bipartisan group of Senators, including Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), have proposed repealing the 12% federal excise tax on heavy-duty trucks. Proponents of the bill argue that the current tax significantly inflates the cost of new equipment, adding between $15,000 and $30,000 to the price of a new truck, trailer, or tractor, which discourages companies from upgrading their fleets. By removing this tax, lawmakers aim to incentivize the purchase of newer, cleaner, and safer models, noting that approximately 20% of the largest trucks currently on the road still use engines manufactured before 2010. Sen. Alsobrooks emphasized that the legislation would support a more fuel-efficient industry by making it easier for companies to adopt modern technology. However, the proposal faces a significant hurdle regarding infrastructure funding; the excise tax currently generates more than $6 billion annually dedicated to road construction and repairs. Because Congress has historically struggled to find replacement revenue for the highway fund, the loss of this billion-dollar income stream presents a challenge for future road maintenance.
The Senate passed the homeland security reconciliation bill late on June 4, 2026, following a marathon vote-a-rama that stretched into the early morning hours. The Republican-led package, which uses the budget reconciliation process to provide roughly $70 billion in dedicated funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other Department of Homeland Security priorities, cleared the chamber on a party-line vote. This marks a significant victory for Senate Republicans, delivering multi-year resources to bolster immigration enforcement and border security after months of negotiations and a partial government shutdown earlier in the year. With the bill now headed to the House, it sets the stage for final congressional action on one of the session’s top GOP priorities.
During the June 4th vote-a-rama, a legislative proposal by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) intended to significantly increase financial support for energy and housing assistance was rejected by the Senate. The amendment sought to allocate $62 billion toward the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other affordable housing initiatives by repurposing funds from a larger Republican reconciliation bill. Despite the effort to prioritize utility aid for struggling families, the measure failed to reach the necessary 60-vote threshold during a high-speed voting session. Despite the effort to prioritize utility aid for struggling families, the measure failed to reach the necessary 60-vote threshold during the high-speed voting session. Despite this setback, the fight for LIHEAP funding is not over. Congress is likely to pass a continuing resolution to sustain the funding levels for LIHEAP later this year.
House Republican appropriators have unveiled a fiscal year 2027 Department of Transportation (DOT) spending bill that relies heavily on repurposing funds from the 2021 infrastructure law to sustain rail and transit agencies. Under the proposal, the DOT would face a $4.7 billion cut in total new budgetary resources, dropping from $108.4 billion to $103.7 billion. However, by utilizing $7.9 billion in transfers, money from the already appropriated Biden-era package, the department would actually see a $1.2 billion year-over-year increase in total available funds, reaching $111.6 billion. This strategy has drawn criticism from Democrats, who argue the GOP is "raiding" the 2021 law to mask "woefully inadequate" funding allocations. DOT subagencies face various reductions and shifts in funding sources. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) would see a $1.7 billion cut in total budgetary resources, with its Capital Investment Grants receiving no new money and instead relying on $737 million in repurposed funds, a significant drop from the $1.7 billion in new spending it received in fiscal 2026. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) would see a $1.3 billion cut, with new General Fund spending for highway programs eliminated in favor of transfers. In contrast, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would see an $81 million increase in total budgetary resources, while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) would face a $5 million cut due to reduced motor carrier safety grants.
DOE Eliminates Fuel-Switching Rebates Under IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued updated program guidance that eliminates the use of federal rebate funds to incentivize consumers to switch from heating oil, propane, or natural gas systems to electric heat pumps. The change is significant for EMA members whose customers had been exposed to federally subsidized campaigns encouraging replacement of conventional heating equipment.
Regulatory Background
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) established nearly $9 billion in federal funding across three home energy rebate programs:
HOMES Rebate Program — up to $8,000 for whole-home energy efficiency improvements (Program Notice 26-1)
HEEHR Program for States and Territories — up to $14,000 for specific appliances and equipment administered by state energy offices (Program Notice 26-2)
HEEHR Program for Indian Tribes — a separate version administered directly by federally recognized Tribes (Program Notice 26-3)
Under the Biden Administration's original program design, these funds were explicitly structured to encourage homeowners to remove working fossil-fuel heating systems and replace them with electric heat pumps. That incentive structure has now been eliminated.
Key Changes — What the New Guidance Does
Fuel-Switching Rebates Eliminated
Going forward, rebates under all three programs are limited to upgrading existing electric equipment to more efficient electric equipment, and to qualifying new construction. Homes that heat with oil, propane, or natural gas are no longer the target of a federally subsidized electrification campaign.
Weatherization Required First
DOE now requires that homes complete insulation and air sealing upgrades before accessing heating and cooling equipment rebates — unless the home already meets a DOE-approved insulation standard. This requirement substantially raises the cost and complexity bar for electrification retrofits.
Liquid Fuel Equipment May Stay
Households may now retain their existing heating systems even when installing a heat pump. The heat pump need not become the primary heating source for the rebate to apply. This means conventional heating equipment is no longer required to be removed as a condition of rebate eligibility.
Justice40 Requirements Removed
DOE has eliminated all program requirements related to the Justice40 Initiative, which required reserved allocations to certain low-income households fitting a diversity, equity, and inclusion parameter. Instead, the guidance focuses on affordability and consumer choice with more concrete parameters.
Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Controls Strengthened
States are now required to vet contractors through the U.S. Treasury's "Do Not Pay" database and implement a Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Mitigation Plan.
Implications for EMA Marketers
The DOE has fundamentally redirected one of the largest home energy subsidy programs in American history. Nearly $9 billion in IRA funding — originally designed under the Biden administration to accelerate the replacement of oil, propane, and gas heating systems with electric alternatives — will no longer serve that purpose. DOE's updated guidance closes the door on federally subsidized fuel-switching, effective immediately for new rebate approvals. In sum, federal policy in this context is no longer a source of downward demand pressure. States must realign their programs by August 29, 2026. Previously approved rebates may be honored, but the pipeline for new fuel-switching incentives is closed.
EMA Strongly Opposes OCC’s Interim Actions on Credit Card Swipe Fees
Last week, the Energy Marketers of America (EMA) formally submitted detailed comments to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) strongly opposing two controversial interim actions that threaten to lock in excessive credit-card swipe fees for independent fuel marketers and convenience store operators nationwide.
In comments filed under Docket ID OCC-2026-0430 (“National Bank Non-Interest Charges and Fees”) and Docket ID OCC-2026-0431 (“Order Preempting the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act”), EMA called on the OCC to immediately withdraw both the Interim Final Rule and the accompanying Interim Final Order. EMA argues the moves do nothing to ease the crushing burden of swipe fees on small businesses and instead protect the interests of Visa, Mastercard, and the nation’s largest banks at the direct expense of Main Street fuel retailers and the consumers they serve.
“EMA’s members are family-owned businesses operating on razor-thin margins,” the comments state. “Excessive credit-card swipe fees have become one of our largest operating costs—second only to payroll and often exceeding utility expenses. These fees drain billions of dollars every year from businesses that cannot fully pass the costs along without harming customers or losing sales.”
The numbers tell the story: In 2025 alone, U.S. businesses paid an estimated $200 billion in swipe fees, with EMA’s retailer members shouldering approximately $15 billion of that total. Those costs have skyrocketed in recent years with no meaningful competitive pressure, reducing funds available for employee wages, station upgrades, supply-chain resilience, and keeping fuel prices affordable for families and communities.
Rather than promoting competition, EMA contends the OCC’s Interim Final Rule blesses the current system in which third-party networks like Visa and Mastercard centrally dictate interchange rates on behalf of the largest banks. The rule goes far beyond credit-card fees, potentially green-lighting collective fee-setting for ATM fees, annual fees, late fees, and more—further entrenching higher costs for merchants and consumers.
The companion Interim Final Order targets Illinois’ commonsense law that simply prohibits banks and card networks from charging swipe fees on the tax and tip portions of transactions—amounts merchants collect on behalf of governments and employees but never keep for themselves. EMA notes that a federal district court had already ruled the Illinois law is not preempted by federal law because the fees at issue are set by the card networks, not the banks themselves. The OCC’s rushed order, EMA says, attempts to manufacture preemption that the court declined to find on the merits.
EMA also sharply criticized the OCC’s process, noting that both actions were issued as “interim finals” with immediate effective dates—bypassing the notice-and-comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. “The agency had no ‘good cause’ to skip public input,” the comments state. “The good-cause exception is narrow and reserved for genuine emergencies. It does not excuse an agency from hearing from the thousands of small businesses its actions directly affect.”
The association emphasized that its position aligns with a broad national consensus—from President Trump and bipartisan lawmakers to business associations, labor groups, consumer advocates, and tribal nations—that urgent, meaningful reform is needed to curb excessive swipe fees and restore competition in the payment system.
“Instead of advancing that shared objective, these OCC actions would deliver a windfall to Visa, Mastercard, and the nation’s largest banks,” EMA concluded. “We therefore call on the OCC to withdraw the Interim Final Rule and Interim Final Order without delay.”
EMA will continue to monitor developments on this critical issue and keep members informed of next steps.
Click to Read EMA OCC Comments Interim Final Rule May 2026.
Federal Agencies Urge Immediate ATG Action to Mitigate Cybersecurity Risks
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in coordination with the FBI, NSA, EPA, DOT, and other federal agencies, has issued an advisory warning of active malicious cyber activity targeting automatic tank gauge (ATG) systems at fuel storage facilities across the United States. Federal agencies have observed threat actors exploiting internet-exposed ATG systems to gain unauthorized access, execute commands, alter tank parameters, and pump controls, disable system alerts, and create conditions that could mask leaks or cause physical damage to tank infrastructure.
Per the advisory, EMA urges marketers to take immediate action:
Remove ATG systems from public internet exposure — use firewalls, VPNs, or access control lists for any necessary remote access
Change default passwords immediately and implement strong, unique credentials with multifactor authentication where feasible
Apply available security patches in coordination with certified ATG service providers
Monitor networks for unauthorized access and report suspicious activity to CISA at report@cisa.gov or 888-282-0870
The full CISA advisory and mitigation guidance is available at: https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/cisa-and-partners-urge-hardening-automatic-tank-gauge-systems
FIFA World Cup 2026 Preparation Toolkit for
Marketers
Small Business Disaster Preparedness Series Continues
with SBA Development Center Resources
FEMA recently published two new toolkits to help spread public safety messaging for FIFA World Cup 2026™, which is expected to attract more than five million international visitors and generate tens of billions of dollars in economic activity over 38 days.
For more than a year, FEMA has been working closely with its partners across the country to keep players, fans and host city residents safe during the events. The toolkits are key resources that anyone can use to share specific, actionable public safety tips. They include key preparedness messaging and sample text for use in social media posts, as well as graphics to increase engagement.
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Stakeholder Toolkit is intended for local emergency managers, fire or police departments, city officials and faith leaders. Community leaders of all types can use this toolkit to encourage people to stay safe by following these simple steps.
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Safety Messaging Toolkit for Businesses is intended for private-sector companies across industries. This toolkit includes an overview on business continuity, crisis communications, emergency response and information technology resources.
Both toolkits emphasize five key steps that can help keep you safe during a large event:
Have an emergency plan.
Follow local guidance during an emergency.
Know how to get emergency notifications.
Stay hydrated and prepare for weather.
Be aware of your surroundings.
To learn more ways to stay safe during matches and events, and to download the toolkits, visit Ready.gov/fifa-world-cup-2026.
In addition to the toolkits, FEMA’s next Small Business Disaster Preparedness Series session will be held in partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience (ODRR) on June 23, 2026, from 1:00 – 2:30 pm Eastern Time.
This session: Stay Ready and Resilient with Help from Your Local Small Business Development Center will focus on how small businesses can utilize SBA’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) to enhance business operations across the disaster lifecycle. Session presenters will showcase how your local SBDCs help businesses stay ready, navigate disruptions, and bounce back stronger. SBDCs advisors provide small businesses resources and tools aimed at strengthening funding, planning, technology, and operations before, during, and after a disaster -- helping businesses navigate unexpected challenges, recover with confidence, and stay resilient in any situation.
If you would like to submit a question in advance, please email: OB3I@fema.dhs.gov.
| Click Here to Register via Zoom |
May 2026 Energy Marketers of America Small Business Committee (SBC) PAC Contributions
PAC Co-Chairs Mike Downs and Tim Keigher are grateful for the EMA Small Business Committee (SBC) PAC contributions from the following individuals during the May 1-31, 2026, time frame:
Arizona: Jess Miller
Arkansas: Sadiq Ali, Ethan Blackmon, Keith Davis, Kimball Davis, Steve Goode, Kenneth Grounds, David Hendrix Jr., Albert Heringer IV, Aaron Littlefield, Matthew Lyles, Gary Miller, Terry Stephenson
Connecticut: Mike Devine
Florida: Pierce Schuessler
Indiana: Shane Neal
Iowa: Jason Floy, Debora Gappa, Brian Johnson, Gary Koerner, Gail Koerner, Wade Leblanc, Doug McDaniel, David Rahn, Roger Richards, Steve Sikkema, Inder Singh
Louisiana: Rachel Pantinople
Maryland: Karma O’Neill, Sabrina Pitcher
Michigan: Mark Griffin, James Linton, Brad Van Manen
Minnesota: Jake Areshenko, Debora Gappa, Ryan Gilbertson, Ryan Harrigan, Glenn Hasken, Mason Hutt, Brian Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Vern Kelley, Briana Manning, John Maynes, Doug McDaniel, Blake Molo, Brittany Molo, David Rahn
Mississippi: Ryan Adams, Drew Bryant, Philip Buck, Rex Gillis, David Land II, Jim Lipscomb, Parker Lipscomb, William B. Sumrall, David Tucker, Benjamin Van Cleave
Nevada: Jason Case
NECSEMA: Peter Brennan
New Jersey: Edward Duffy, Robert Woodruff Jr., Norman Woolley
New Mexico: Alex Hodges-Swinford
New York: Kris DeLair, Chris Scaturro, Brandon Smith
North Carolina: John Clark, Daniel Erwin
Oklahoma: Scott Minton, Candace McGinnis, Brindan Shepherd
Oregon: Mark Fitz, Matthew Jubitz
South Carolina: Ryan Adams, Sam Bell, Philip Buck, John Horner, David Jordan, David Land II, Rohit Shetty, Barrett Simmons, David Tucker, Neil Winter
Tennessee: Seth Blanks, Emily LeRoy, Brad Rector, John Yeager
Vermont: Casey Cota
Virginia: Holly Alfano, Sherri Stone
Utah: Roy Hall, Chane Kellerstrass
Washington: Brad Bell, Cara Carruthers, John Hancock, Gerry Ramm
Pain at the pump sparks fuel tax relief across more states | Landline.Media
Federated Insurance Risk Management Academy Complimentary Webinar
The Importance of Mental Health and Suicide
Prevention
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 2:00 pm Eastern
Time
Your employees’ mental health is an important part of their overall well-being. Hear about how to foster an environment where employees feel safe discussing mental health without fear of stigma or job-related consequences. You’ll gain insight into leadership skills on how to address workplace stressors, prepare clear response plans, and the benefits of mental health first aid training and suicide prevention education.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
How to create a culture of psychological safety
The importance of training for managers and staff
The benefits of comprehensive support systems
How to develop postvention protocols
Click here to Register Today!
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Business Owners/Operators
Risk Managers
Operations Managers
HR Professionals
For additional information or to discuss this in further detail, please contact your Federated regional representative or EMA’s National Account Executive Jack West at 262.719.7750 for any additional information or risk management questions. Federated is a Partner in EMA’s Board of Directors Council.
At Federated Insurance, It’s Our Business to Protect Yours®