Week in Review
The House Passes Debt Limit Package
On April 26, 2023, the House passed H.R. 2811, the Limit, Save, Grow Act, on party lines. This House GOP debit limit package rolls back funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, repeals tax credits
on clean fuels, addresses permitting reform, as well as other budget cuts. Speaker McCarthy’s bill would suspend the debt ceiling until March 31, 2024 or increase the current debit ceiling by $1.5 trillion, whichever comes first. The Congressional
Budget Office estimated that $4.8 trillion will go towards deficit reduction over the next 10 years. This bill is a negotiation tactic by House Republicans to exhibit unity within their caucus and bring the President back to the negotiating table.
The Senate has not released a viable package yet.
NECA's Take: NECA has been monitoring these negotiations to determine what changes are made and how it might impact the industry. We will continue to closely watch this as a final debit limit package takes shape.
DOL Nomination Heads to Senate Floor
On April 26, 2023, the Senate Heath, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee voted for the next Labor Secretary nominee, Acting Secretary Julie Su, to head to the Senate floor. The confirmation
vote is slated for May. Between recent health issues of Democratic Senators and four Democratic votes still unaccounted for, Su’s confirmation is still up in the air. Republican Senators remain united in their disapproval of Biden’s nomination
so Democrats will need full support from their caucus to fill the Secretary of Labor position.
NECA's Take: NECA has been closely monitoring Acting Secretary Su’s progression through the nomination process. We urge the Senate to confirm a Labor Secretary as soon as possible.
House Votes to Reverse Biden Solar Tariff Pause
On April 28, 2023, the House voted on a resolution that reverses President Biden’s 24-month pause on import tariffs for solar cells and modules. This Congressional Review Act
resolution had bipartisan support in the House, far from the 260-vote needed for a veto override. It has gained support from all 49 Republican Senators as well as 3 Democratic Senators. Supporters are concerned with America’s continued reliance
on other countries for our energy supply chains and believe that this pause undermines the recent infrastructure legislation. However, if this resolution were to undo this pause, many believe that progress in the solar industry will be greatly diminished.
NECA's Take: Biden has already spoken out against this resolution and will veto it if it makes it to his desk. NECA will continue to monitor this issue and its impact on the solar supply chain.
NECAPAC Update
Congratulations to the Nebraska Chapter on reaching its 2023 NECAPAC goal!
Special thanks to Stefan Lopata of Kelso Burnett, Michael Quarles of North Kansas City Electric, Terry Lette of Preferred Electric, Don Laffoon of Electrical Corporation of America, and Brent Fatzinger of Abbott Electric for renewing their PLC!
NECAPAC Total 4/28/23 - $255,459
Operational Fund Total 4/28/23 - $126,595
NECA On the Move
NECA's Government Affairs team met with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Richie Neal (D-MA), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA),
and Senator Roger Wicker (R-AL).