National Rural Electric Cooperative Association welcomes omnibus spending bill advanced by House
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson recently issued a statement welcoming the omnibus spending bill recently advanced by the U.S. House of Representatives.
“House passage of this bill is a positive step for America’s electric cooperatives as we work to enhance the quality of life in rural communities across the nation,” Matheson said. “This bill strengthens programs that are essential to the economic health of rural America while also emphasizing the need to continue pursuing innovative solutions to future energy and economic needs. We look forward to working with the Senate and the Trump administration as this proposal moves forward.”
The bill includes $5.5 billion for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) electric loan program, $600 million to USDA for expanding rural broadband access through a pilot loan and grant program, and $353 million for the Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency.
It also contains provisions aimed at streamlining the process that allows electric co-ops to manage vegetation near utility rights of way on public lands.
The bill also does not include the Trump Administration’s budget proposal to sell Power Marketing Administrations (PMA) transmission assets and avoids cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program.
