National Electrical Contractors Association, lawmakers highlight need for infrastructure improvements

National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) members and staff discussed with members of Congress the
need for infrastructure improvements and their role in economic growth at the 2017 National Legislative Conference and Political Leadership Council Summit in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) expressed his support for a “real infrastructure bill to rebuild America,” improving U.S. airports, its electrical grid and deploy a high-speed rail system.

“There is a loss of confidence in this country, not externally but internally,” Boyle said. “But I reject the view that the American dream is out of reach.”

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) emphasized that his party wants to discuss economic growth and is not anti-business. He noted that globalization and automation present challenges to the U.S. economy but also proposed potential solutions. Those solutions, he said, include increasing access to broadband, implementing a smart energy grid, investing in technology and relocating 10 percent of the federal workforce to other parts of the country.

David Haynes, president of London Road Electric and governor of NECA’s Greater Cleveland Chapter has been to the conference multiple times and said that he sees progress being made from year to year.

“Everything NECA is doing is great,” he added. “The conference gets better and better.”