Inside Washington: September 2025
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Government Funding and Shutdown Update
VET Act and Veteran Hiring Hill Briefing
Chicago Convention Recap
The Government Affairs team enjoyed our time with everyone in Chicago. During Convention, the team presented on the latest on what is happening in Washington and how it impacts your companies, employees, and families. The Team was also happy to host a separate discussion with lawyers from Klasko Immigration Law Partners on I-9 Compliance and How to Protect Your Business.
If you have any follow up from your discussion with us throughout the weekend, or you would like to host a similar Washington, D.C. update at your chapter, please reach out to a member of the team.
Congratulations to the NECAPAC Sweepstakes winners!
- Andy Zeller (Zeller Electric Inc.)
- Shane Cox (The Mike Cox Electric Co.)
- Rick Oskbakken (Holden Electric)
- Gene Gini (Collins Electric Co.)
- Tricia Ferry (VEC Inc.)
- Tom Coble (Shelley Electric Inc.)
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for the NECAPAC Reception prior to the Opening Reception at the Griffin Museum. We understand some invitations were not received and are committed to finding a solution for future events.
We’d also like to thank our Contractors for their generous support during the 2025 Convention and helping us raise a total of $128,310 for NECAPAC and the Operational Fund.
We’re especially grateful to the PLC Members who renewed their contributions during Convention:
- Kurt Brinkman (Intrepid Electronic Systems Inc.)
- Larry Clennon (Clennon Electric Co.)
- Ronnie Cogburn (Cogburn Bros. Inc.)
- Brian Connelly (Connelly Electric Co.)
- Chandler Crews (Cogburn Bros. Inc.)
- William Darish (Industrial Electric Co.)
- Chris Foster (Whitehead Electric Group)
- Gene Gini (Collins Electric Co.)
- Kevin Gini (Collins Electric Co.)
- Mark Mazur (MJM Electric)
- Todd Mikec (Lighthouse Electric)
- Rick Osbakken (Holden Electric)
- Jeff Weir (Kelso-Burnett Co.)
- Collin Weiner (CalEnergy Electrical Corp.)
Chairman's Challenge Update
Recently, the Arizona Chapter hosted Rep. Ansari from Pheonix, AZ at their newly remodeled Western Campus of their JATC. They also had staff from Reps. Stanton and Biggs as well. Chapter leadership and staff highlighted the critical training programs available to NECA-IBEW apprentices to meet the growing construction and energy demands of the region.
The Challenge
In order to increase member involvement in NECA Government Affairs, we encourage all NECA Chapters and contractors to participate in the following areas to earn points for your chapter:
- Congressional visits at a member’s company, jobsite, or NECA Chapter office—5 Points/visit
- Respond to a NECA Action Alert by writing a letter to your Member of Congress—1 Point/letter
- Attend the NECA Legislative Conference in Washington, DC—3 Points/attendee
For Congressional visits, be sure to have a picture taken with the Member of Congress and send it to [email protected].
The chapter that has the most points by December 31, 2025, will win the Chairman's Challenge.
Government Funding and Shutdown Update
The federal government is facing a shutdown with funding set to expire at midnight on September 30th.
A Continuing Resolution (CR) is Congress’s short-term fix to keep the government funded as they continue to negotiate remaining full year funding bills. CRs are generally used to buy time so negotiations can take place without funding lapsing.
House Republicans passed a CR that extends funding through Nov. 21 at FY25 levels. Senate Democrats, however, view current funding levels as unacceptable. The CR also does not include enhanced health insurance subsidies (ACA subsidies) that expire at the end of 2025 which is critical for Democrats. Senate Democrats offered their own version which included ACA subsidy funding, but it also failed. On Sept. 23, President Trump briefly agreed to meet Minority Leaders Hakeem Jefferies and Chuck Schumer to negotiate before cancelling the meeting.
With both chambers on recess, the odds of a shutdown are rapidly rising. The Trump Administration is viewing the shutdown as a “base management” exercise for Minority Leader Schumer. This means in their opinion, Leader Schumer must “take a stand” against the CR to keep his position in leadership but expect him to cave quickly. Whether or not that holds true, however, remains to be seen. Republican leadership has also hinted they intend to use OMB control to make a shutdown as politically painful as possible for Democrats.
Federal agencies have yet to publish their legally required contingency plans, outlining which programs and employees will continue to work during a shutdown.
If a shutdown does occur, federal employees will likely face furloughs, delayed paychecks, and possible termination, according to the Office of Management and Budget. Essential services like mail delivery and border protection will continue, but other government functions could be suspended. Large-scale construction projects might come to a halt if a shutdown extends for multiple weeks. Certain maintenance contracts, particularly related to the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security may continue.
If you are currently performing federal contracting work and are concerned about payment disruptions, please contact the government affairs team. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide more detailed guidance on expected impacts.
Permitting Reform Progress
Three key permitting reform bills—H.R. 4776 (SPEED Act), H.R. 3898, and H.R. 3062 (Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act)—each took important steps forward in the House this month. Together, these measures aim to streamline project approvals, provide greater regulatory clarity, and strengthen U.S. energy and infrastructure development.
SPEED Act (H.R.4776)
The SPEED Act seeks to streamline permitting by shortening timelines, curbing frivolous litigation, and simplifying NEPA review requirements to ease the burden on agencies. The bill would also set clear judicial review limits—establishing a 150-day deadline for filing claims, creating a new standard of review, and eliminating procedural tactics that can delay projects. H.R. 4776 is currently before the House Natural Resources Committee and is expected to move toward a vote on the House floor in the near future
PERMIT Act (H.R.3898)
H.R. 3898 aims to provide greater regulatory clarity and relief under the Clean Water Act, particularly for large-scale construction and water projects. The bill narrows the definition of “navigable waters” by excluding waste treatment systems, ephemeral features that flow only after precipitation, prior converted cropland, groundwater, and other features identified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These changes would help streamline compliance for projects that currently face higher environmental and permitting standards, including many energy projects. H.R. 3898 recently advanced out of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and is expected to receive a vote on the House floor soon.
Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act (H.R. 3062)
H.R. 3062, the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act, also passed the House this month. The bill would streamline approval for energy projects that cross U.S. borders—such as electric transmission lines, pipelines, and energy transport bridges—by replacing the current Presidential Permit process with a transparent, statutory framework. This change is designed to reduce delays, provide regulatory certainty for developers, and strengthen North American energy integration and reliability.
The Government Affairs team has worked closely with Chairman Westerman, Rep. Collins, and Rep. Fedorchak on these bills, and we are encouraged to see them gaining momentum. Rest assured, our team will continue to actively monitor permitting reform negotiations to ensure that any final legislation reflects the priorities and needs of NECA contractors.
VET Act and Veteran Hiring Hill Briefing
On September 22, NECA hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill with representatives from NEMA, NAED, Schneider Electric, and Sonepar to highlight the need for hiring veterans to meet the need for electrical workers. NECA’s own Lt. Gen. Bailey, SVP of Industry Development, was a panelist and presented on NECA’s leadership in creating direct career pathways for transitioning service members, as well as the need to train and hire a skilled workforce of electricians and electrical workers.
The briefing also highlighted the NECA-endorsed VET Act, H.R.4105, which would create a Department of Labor grant program for employers in energy and advanced manufacturing who hire eligible veterans, service members, and spouses. H.R.4105 provides up to $10,000 per hire and $500,000 per employer annually for training, certification, relocation, and onboarding, prioritizing support for involuntarily separated service members and retirees and veterans with service-connected disabilities or experiencing homelessness.