NRECA’s ongoing advocacy efforts remain focused on ensuring that Congress considers electric co-op priorities as they move legislation to assist families, businesses and communities enduring hardships caused by the pandemic.
As the House and Senate develop additional relief legislation, NRECA CEO Jim Matheson wrote a
letter urging Congress to pass provisions to address pandemic impacts that directly affect electric co-ops and the communities they serve. NRECA and electric co-op leaders are working with lawmakers who are championing our priorities
The nation faces a long recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, and NRECA continues to advocate for important policy proposals to help co-ops to address short-term challenges created by the crisis and long-term opportunities for economic growth.
Our electric co-op advocates can continue to help make impact in this effort by encouraging their congressional delegations to pass legislation to address the needs of their co-ops and communities.
Urge your member of Congress to take action to protect the 42 million Americans who rely on an electric co-op to power their homes and businesses.
Congress Took Swift Action on Initial COVID-19 Relief
Three relief packages quickly passed by Congress expanded emergency family and medical leave and sick pay that can help electric co-op consumer-members and the CARES Act with $2 trillion in comprehensive worker and business support.
The CARES Act includes assistance, tax and policy provisions that Matheson recommended in a
letter to congressional leaders. NRECA worked with lawmakers to ensure that coronavirus relief efforts will help electric co-op members and support co-op managers’ efforts to ensure electric system reliability and manage other impacts of this crisis.
Provisions important to co-ops include funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief, Small Business Administration and rural broadband programs. NRECA and electric co-op leaders continue to work with Congress and federal agencies to ensure co-ops receive funding and support enacted in the COVID-19 relief package.
NRECA’s follow-up efforts include emphasizing that most co-ops are small businesses and should be recognized as eligible for small businesses support under the CARES Act. Many co-ops face the same challenges as other small businesses in employee retention, payroll and daily expenses, all while providing reliable power for communities they serve.
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