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Government Affairs News

Week in Review

Mar 17, 2023

House Majority Sets Energy Bill as Top Priority
Last week Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), along with Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Energy & Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), and Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR), introduced the Lower Energy Costs Act as their top priority for the 118th Congress. The bill text is 174 pages long and has five main topics: increasing natural gas, LNG, and oil capacity; reforming the environmental permitting process; reversing the administration’s decisions on certain projects; streamlining energy exports; and increasing the production and processing of critical minerals.

NECA’s Take: NECA welcomes House Republican leadership taking the initiative to bring energy and permitting reform to the top of their legislative agenda for the 118th Congress and NECA CEO, David Long, issued a statement in support of the legislation. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) are still in deep discussions of what their proposal would look like in the Senate. NECA is closely monitoring these developments. H.R. 1 is currently slated to be on the floor for a vote the week of March 27th, 2023.

 

DOT Opens Funding for EV Chargers
This week, the Department of Transportation opened a $700 million dollar funding opportunity to states and local governments to install EV Charging Stations and other alternative fuel infrastructure. The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, established by the Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA), will provide $2.5 billion over five years to a wide range of applicants across the country. EV chargers constructed with CFI funds must adhere to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) final rule published earlier this month, a requirement that supports a consistent charging experience for users and ensures the national charging network is convenient, reliable and Made in America.

NECA's Take: NECA applauds the Department of Transportation for disbursing these competitive grant programs. These grant programs will abide to the FHWA regulations that will require qualified apprentices and electricians to be EVITP certified.

 

NECA Submits Comments on Build America and Buy America Provisions
On March 13, 2023, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) closed comments on the proposed revision to their Build America and Buy America Act provisions. The revision adds a new section addressing the Buy America Preference for all awards with infrastructure expenditures.

NECA’s Take: NECA submitted comments to the OMB in their proposed revised guidance on the Build America and Buy America Act provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. NECA gave clarifying recommendations to the agency and asked for them to create a comprehensive plan that would allow items to be easily tracked through OMB.

 

Deputy Secretary David Turk to Speak at NECA Legislative Conference!
We are excited to announce that Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk will be speaking at the upcoming National Legislative Conference! The deadline to register has been extended, secure your spot with the link below.

Deadline Extended -- Register Today!

The conference will take place on March 27 - 29, 2023 at the Salamander Hotel (Formerly Mandarin Oriental). It will start at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27th and end with a Congressional Reception on Wednesday, March 29th.

 

NECAPAC Update
Special thanks to Wayne Hule of Young Electric and Shawn Smith of DL Smith Electric for renewing their PLChips!

NECAPAC Total 3/10/23 - $56,810
Operational Fund Total 3/10/23 - $62,600

 

NECA On the Move
NECA's Government Affairs team met with Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), Whip Tom Emmer's Whip Team and the Senate Armed Services Committee. We look forward to the House and Senate being back in action in DC this week!