Urge Senators to Vote ‘Yes’ on the Marshall – Durbin Amendment aka the Credit Card Competition Act!

Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) have filed an amendment aka the Credit Card Competition Act to the Senate’s stablecoin cryptocurrency bill (the “GENIUS Act”). The amendment would require that credit cards issued by the largest U.S. banks have at least two unaffiliated payment networks - ensuring competition in transaction routing. While the amendment opportunity and process are still unclear, we want to ensure that Senators know where we stand, and that’s why we are urging you to contact your Senators now to explain how credit card fees hit your businesses and encourage adoption of the Marshall-Durbin Amendment. The more pressure we put on Congress for an Up or Down vote on the Marshall – Durbin Amendment, the better off we are for success! The Senate will likely take up the Genius Act following Memorial Day Recess.

Grady Gaubert Named 2025 Distinguished Service Award Recipient by Energy Marketers of America

The Energy Marketers of America (EMA) proudly announces that Grady Gaubert, past EMA Chairman and a widely respected leader in the energy distribution industry, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Service Award (DSA)—EMA’s highest individual honor.

The selection committee for this prestigious award included:

• Matthew Greene, Lindsay Oil Company, Seneca, SC (DSA Chair)
• Tim Gross, Executive Director, Fueling Minnesota, St. Paul, MN (State Executive)
• Gerry Ramm, Past DSA Recipient
• Jason Mirabito, Mirabito Energy, Binghamton, NY (Committee Chair)
• Brad Bell, Connell Oil, Pasco, WA (Past EMA Chair)
• Jim Lipscomb, Lipscomb Oil Company, Greenville, MS (Current EMA Chairman)

Grady Gaubert, President of Gaubert Oil Company, is recognized as the embodiment of entrepreneurial drive and industry service. Based in southern Louisiana, Gaubert Oil has grown under Grady’s leadership into a vertically integrated operation that spans wholesale fuel distribution, convenience retailing, marine support services, and more. The company operates four bulk plants and distributes major branded fuels, lubricants, chemicals, and industrial products across Louisiana and Mississippi.

Its retail division includes 22 convenience stores, 6 of which are full-service truck stops with gaming operations. The company’s portfolio also includes a supermarket, five Polar Bear Daiquiri liquor stores, and national foodservice franchises including Subway, Krispy Krunchy Chicken, Huddle House, and Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. The company maintains a transport fleet of 35 trucks, and its marine division supports inland drilling and dredging operations via two tugs and two barges based in Houma, Louisiana.

Grady’s influence extends well beyond his business. He is a past president of the Louisiana Oil Marketers and Convenience Store Association, former South Central Region Chair of the national organization, and led the then-PMAA as national chairman. He has served on boards including the Chevron-Texaco Petroleum Marketers Association, NFIB, Council for a Better Louisiana, LABI, Bayou Industrial Group, and Southeastern Oil Jobbers Co-Op.

One of his most pivotal national contributions came in 2015 when he chaired the PMAA now called EMA search committee that successfully recruited EMA’s current president, Rob Underwood, marking a new era of industry leadership.

“Grady’s deep knowledge of upstream and downstream operations gave him a unique perspective as EMA Chairman,” said Underwood. “His company sits at the intersection of the Gulf’s energy infrastructure. His insights and experience have been invaluable to our organization.”

Reflecting on the honor, Grady remarked:

“Working through EMA’s leadership ranks has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. The relationships, the insights, the ability to shape policy, it’s been an experience where I gained as much as I gave. EMA represents the very best in our industry, and it’s been a privilege to serve alongside so many outstanding individuals working to move our sector forward.”

Grady and his wife Kathy have been married for 38 years this fall. They have two children, Michelle and Gregory, the latter of whom is now actively involved in the family business—and two grandchildren, with two more on the way.

The 2025 EMA Distinguished Service Award is a fitting tribute to a career defined by integrity, innovation, and enduring service to the energy marketing industry.

Inside the Beltway Update

It is a quiet week on Capitol Hill as both the House and Senate are on recess for the Memorial Day Holiday. Congress will return to Washington on June 2 to begin a pivotal month of legislative action before the July 4 holiday.

Behind the scenes, Senate leaders are preparing to begin work on Republicans’ multi-trillion-dollar tax and spending package – the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). This week, Republican Senators have begun to socialize counterproposals to various aspects of the House-passed bill, including proposals for higher spending cuts, longer phase-outs for clean energy tax credits, and additional certainty for various corporate tax breaks. In the coming days and weeks, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is expected to outline whether the Senate will hold committee markups of various portions of the tax and spending bill or if the Senate will proceed directly to the Senate floor with amendments to the House-passed legislation.

While Congress has focused much of its attention on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, congressional committees also continue work on important annual legislative priorities, including the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process and annual defense authorization legislation. In May, several Trump Administration cabinet officials appeared before House and Senate committees to outline their agencies’ spending priorities, including Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Health and Humans Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler. The House Appropriations Committee is expected to begin marking up individual appropriations bills following the Memorial Day recess.

Meanwhile, trade again dominated the news this week, as the US Court of International Trade (CIT) struck down President Trump’s reciprocal and universal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). On Thursday, just one day after the CIT ruling, a federal appeals court stayed the CIT ruling, reviving the tariffs at least temporarily. In response to the initial decision, the White House insisted that the Administration would continue tariff negotiations with foreign trading partners despite the ruling.

Urge Lawmakers to Support Biodiesel Blender’s Tax Credit Extension

Recently, Representatives Mike Carey (R-OH), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Ashely Hinson (R-IA) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY) introduced the “Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Act of 2025,” (H.R. 3137) which aims to extend the $1 per gallon biodiesel blender’s tax credit through 2026. Extending the biodiesel blender’s tax credit is important to energy marketers to sell a growing portfolio of affordable, efficient, and environmentally friendly liquid fuels that are helping to reduce emissions while propelling Americans forward and lowering heating fuel costs.

Unfortunately, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was signed into law in 2022, replaced the biodiesel blender’s tax credit with a new 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit (CFPC) based on carbon intensity scores. Ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will all be eligible for the new production tax credit, however, the Department of the Treasury has yet to publish final CFPC guidance. Therefore, it is important that Congress acts soon to extend the biodiesel blender’s tax credit to give impacted industries market certainty for at least another year.

• Heating fuels marketers -- click here to write Congress to extend the Biodiesel Blender’s Tax Credit.
• Motor fuels marketers -- click here to write Congress to extend the Biodiesel Blender’s Tax Credit.

Meanwhile, EMA submitted comments on 45Z implementation and the Importance of Extending the Biofuel Blender’s Tax Credit. Click here to read the comments.

Weekend Reads

Trump administration violated ‘impoundment’ law by freezing electric vehicle funding, GAO finds

FMCSA unveils 18 proposed rule changes | yahoo!news

Santa Barbara County ‘Full Steam Ahead’ in Electric Vehicle Transition Despite Federal Pushback | Santa Barbara Independent

Rick Scott says he believes FEMA will be funded sufficiently as hurricane season approaches | yahoo!news

Federated Insurance® Launches 2½-Day Risk Management Academy Offering for Petroleum Business Owners in August

Federated Insurance® is excited to formally invite business owners in the petroleum industries to attend our complimentary 2½-Day Risk Management Academy (RMA) offerings from August 26-28, 2025. Led by risk management professionals, this session will be held at Federated®'s Home Office in Owatonna, Minnesota.

Often, business owners may find themselves so busy in the day-to-day workings of their company that they may have less time to focus on the overall safety of their business. The RMA sessions can help owners in the petroleum industry learn how to prevent losses impacting their bottom line by developing risk management best practices, connecting with industry peers facing similar challenges and insurance professionals who are committed to helping owners, and applying what is learned to make a difference at their businesses.

Building a culture of workplace safety starts with business leaders. Learn more and register now to attend this valuable 2½-Day RMA to help take risk management to the next level. To reserve your spot in the upcoming session, or for more information, please contact FederatedRMA@fedins.com 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®

About Federated Insurance

Founded in 1904, Federated Insurance is a national insurance and risk management organization that serves the property, casualty, and life insurance needs of clients in select industries. The organization has more than 500 recommendations from state, regional, and national associations and buying groups, and is rated A+ (Superior) by industry analyst A.M. Best®.

Member Services Benefit with RINAlliance
Are You Taking Advantage of the Renewable Fuel Standard?

In 2024, the Energy Marketers of America announced an exclusive member service agreement with RINAlliance, so that every fuel marketer has an opportunity to leverage the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Whether a fuel marketer is determining whether to blend and take renewable fuel with RINs, or whether they are a current RFS participant looking to improve RIN management, RINAlliance can help with strategies, tools and expert support.

Schedule your consultation today to learn more by visiting www.rinalliance.com/contact. Be sure to tell them you heard about RINAlliance through EMA or one of its Federation members.

Check Out EMA Journal Anytime Online

EMA Spring Journal is the current issue online. You can take the digital edition with you wherever you go. Scroll to select the articles that catch your eye, then share the content with the icons at the top of your screen. Archived covers are handy on the left side of your browser or use our convenient search feature to find a specific topic. If you prefer to read with pages that flip, select "page view" from the menu bar for a classic page-turner.

In 2023, the Journal adjusted to three issues per year, making it even easier and more affordable for our members and industry supporters to find and connect with each other. For information on marketing to our members, please call 844.423.7272 or email them at advertise@innovativepublishing.com. EMA Summer Journal is expected to be mailed in early July.

EMA Member Services Spotlight Featuring: Cintas
Save Up to 65 Percent off Cintas Uniforms, Safety and Facility Services

Keep your team and workspace looking their best. New Cintas contracts enjoy special discounts and a free one-time UltraClean service and free installation of hygiene dispensers. Enroll with NPP today and save on Cintas!

Enroll your business for FREE with NPP to learn more about Cintas discounts. Enroll with NPP here.

NPP is a member benefit provider of Energy Marketers of America.

Restrictions may apply.