The Direct Selling Association (DSA) hosted its annual advocacy event, Direct Selling Day on Capitol Hill, bringing 105 participants representing 15 companies, 26 states and 59 congressional districts to share their stories of entrepreneurial independence. Of the 105 attendees, 87 were independent direct sellers who explained to lawmakers why they chose direct selling over traditional employment and who asked for legal protections for that choice.
Specifically, delegates asked for support of HR 3495, the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act, which the DSA states would “align the treatment of direct sellers and qualified real estate agents under the Fair Labor Standards Act with their classification in the federal tax code.” The bill has already cleared the House Committee on Education and Workforce, and delegates requested help bringing the bill to the House floor a vote.
Lawmakers were invited to join the bipartisan Congressional Direct Selling Caucus so they could meet the direct sellers who live and work in their districts and gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities direct sellers face. According to the 2026 Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) Growth & Outlook Study, there are 5.2 million full- and part-time direct sellers in the US who drive $34.2 billion in US retail sales.
“Across the country, decisions about independent work are already moving forward,” said Dave Grimaldi, Direct Selling Association CEO. “What’s being decided right now is whether people will continue to have the right to choose independence. When someone explains why they pursued independence instead of employment, and how that choice actually works in their life, it helps policymakers understand why the right to choose independence matters.”
The DSA continues to encourage conversations between direct sellers and the representatives in their home districts, and invites direct sellers from across the nation to submit their stories explaining why they chose independence and how that choice has impacted their lives.
