Rep. Nikki Budzinski of Illinois has only been in Congress for three years, but she has already become a trusted advocate for rural electric cooperatives, the state's co-op leaders say.

“In my experience, when I have interacted with congressional representatives, it seems like the newer reps do a lot more talking than listening," says Craig Sondgeroth, president and CEO of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives.

“But Congresswoman Budzinski isn't like that. She's wiser than her short tenure in Congress would suggest. She is someone who is willing to listen to a problem and try to do something about it in a bipartisan way."

It helps that Budzinski is no stranger to politics, says Nick Reitz, vice president of government relations for the statewide association.

Before being elected to Congress in 2022, she worked as a senior adviser for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. She also chaired the state's Broadband Advisory Committee, which focuses on bringing high-speed internet to underserved parts of Illinois, including rural communities.

Budzinski later served as chief of staff for the Office of Management and Budget during the Biden administration, where she helped implement the American Rescue Plan and establish the Made in America Office to create more U.S. jobs.

“Her background helps give her a good base of knowledge to represent the district," Reitz says. “She's hit the ground running."

Budzinski also has supported funding for the U.S. Department of Energy's Rural Utilities Service programs for energy infrastructure projects, community economic development and broadband, Sondgeroth says. Her district includes parts of six distribution co-op territories, and some of those co-ops are either deploying broadband service or looking to do so.

The congresswoman also organizes the writing of an annual letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting funding for the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), which provides loans to co-ops to improve energy efficiency.

“Whenever we've asked her for support, she's always delivered," Sondgeroth says.

Budzinski says co-ops are important to her constituents.

“Co-ops are the backbone of so many rural communities in my district—they keep the lights on, connect families to the internet, and drive local economic growth," she says. “I'm proud to support them and will keep working to ensure that more people in rural communities here at home and across the country get the access and opportunities they deserve."

The 48-year-old congresswoman also has been responsive to co-op concerns about a proposal by the U.S. Postal Service to cut back on evening mail service in rural communities, Reitz says.

“Some of the mail distribution centers have also been slated for closure," he said. “We're concerned about cost increases for mailing out our statewide magazine. But it's also a service issue for a lot of our distribution co-ops that need to send out bills to their members and get payments back in the mail."

On broader energy issues, Budzinski is a strong advocate for renewable power and energy efficiency, but she also has shown concern about not wanting to shut down baseload generation while it is still needed to maintain reliable, affordable power, Sondgeroth says.

Affordability, he says, is especially important to the congresswoman because she represents many rural residents who are struggling financially.

“We have a diverse energy portfolio in Illinois," Sondgeroth says. “She understands the need for balance if we're going to prevent rolling blackouts or brownouts."

Budzinski and her staff have been accessible to local co-ops from the start, and the congresswoman was quick to accept an invitation from small, 5,000-meter Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative in Auburn, Illinois, to visit their headquarters and meet with their board of directors, Sondgeroth says.

“I think there's just a lot of trust there both ways," he says. “The congresswoman and her staff see us as a trusted resource since co-ops are not-for-profit and have been around for a long time. And we really trust her in return. She's been there for us whenever we've needed her."