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Government Affairs News

Week in Review

Nov 20, 2023

Government Funding Punted to 2024
After ten straight weeks in session, Congress has avoided it’s second government funding deadline. The Continuing Resolution (CR) passed the House on November 14th with 127 Republicans and 209 Democrats supporting the measure. The Senate followed suit, passing the CR on the evening of November 15th. This two-tiered “laddered” stopgap bill establishes two funding deadlines for different parts of the government. The Agriculture, Energy-Water, Military Constriction-VA, and Transportation-HUD funding has been extended to January 19th. The other eight funding bills will run until a February 2nd deadline.

NECA's Take: The House will return on November 28th for three weeks of session. The House has only passed 7 out of the 12 spending bills and stalled on T-HUD and Labor-HHS over funding levels of various programs the Republican Caucus cannot decide on. The Senate, on the other hand, is working on a ‘maxi-bus’ that would couple the remaining nine appropriations bills into a larger package. The Senate process has garnered wide bipartisan support with only minimal dissent. NECA will continue to work with Members of Congress to ensure full funding for construction programs in FY24 appropriations.

 

$1.3 Billion for Transmission Lines Announced
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to a $1.3 billion commitment in three transmission lines crossing six states. These three projects will add up to 3.5 GW of additional grid capacity upon completion.

NECA's Take: These three combined projects will add almost 500 miles of transmission lines throughout various regions of the country that will provide NECA outside line contractors job opportunities.

 

$3.46 Billion to Strengthen Grid Resilience and Reliability Announced
New Department of Energy (DOE) funding will help bring more than 35 gigawatts of new renewable energy online, investing in 400 microgrids through 58 projects across 44 states. This funding comes from the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, and this $3.46 billion investment represents the first round of selections under the broader $10.5 billion GRIP Program.

NECA's Take: This investment will spur hundreds of new contracting opportunities for NECA contractors on a wide range of electrical projects ranging from microgrid, transmission, solar, fire resistance, and battery storage. NECA government affairs will continue to work with the Department of Energy to ensure all electrical needs are being upgraded to better serve the grid.

 

Last Chance to Win with NECAPAC!
Any donor, at any level, that contributes to NECAPAC or the Operational Fund between now and December 20th will be automatically entered to win a $700 Cobra Puma golf gift card. Donations can be mailed, emailed, or taken over the phone (713-870-8619). View the full sweepstakes information here.

 

NECAPAC Update
Special thanks to Laura Richardson of Kolkay Electric, Mike Boggs of Boggs Electric, and Don Wilson of Wilson Construction for renewing their PLC memberships!

Congratulations to the Illinois, Atlantic Coast, and Northern Indiana Chapters on reaching their 2023 NECAPAC Goals!

NECAPAC Total 11/20/23 - $672,415
Operational Fund Total 11/20/23 - $339,124

 

NECA On the Move
Over the past three weeks, NECA’s Government Affairs team met with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Senator Michael Bennett (D-CO), House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Congressman Nick LaLota (R-NY), Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY).