Amid royal visit, Iowa electric cooperatives power up in Washington

While King Charles drew global attention during his historic US state visit in late April, another delegation was in our nation’s capital with a powerful mission of its own. Twenty-five advocates representing Iowa’s electric cooperatives traveled to Washington, D.C., not for ceremony, but for service as they brought the voices of their communities straight to Capitol Hill.

The co-op representatives attended the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) annual Legislative Conference and met face-to-face with lawmakers to champion the needs of rural America and the members they power every day. 

During the NRECA Legislative Conference, more than 1,500 electric co-op leaders were briefed on key legislative priorities, including a push for smart energy policy to ensure reliable, affordable power for the member-consumers we serve.

NRECA CEO Jim Matheson told co-op leaders that they are viewed as truthtellers by policymakers, giving them a unique advantage as they advocate for top co-op priorities. “Policymakers know we’re not of Washington,” Matheson said. “We’re laser-focused on doing the right thing for the communities we serve. That’s a powerful differentiator.”

After the conference, the group of Iowa electric co-op advocates met for an issue briefing and then marched to Capitol Hill where they discussed the following key requests with federal legislators:

• Modernize FEMA disaster programs by passing the FEMA Act of 2025 (HR 4669) to expedite disaster reimbursements, expand resiliency programs and better account for damage in rural areas.
   
• Streamline the federal permitting process by passing the SPEED Act (HR 4776) and the PERMIT Act (HR 3898) which would expedite federal environmental permitting processes and implement judicial reforms to limit costly lawsuits.
   
• Increase Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loan funding and give USDA more flexibility to make additional loans when needed, with Congressional approval.

The group met with Senator Chuck Grassley, Senator Joni Ernst and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks in addition to talking with staff from Congresswoman Ashley Hinson’s office and Congressman Zach Nunn’s office amid tight security on Capitol Hill due to the King’s presence.

"These discussions help ensure that the cooperative perspective is heard and that decisions made today support the future of rural Iowa," remarked IAEC Executive Vice President Leslie Kaufman.

For More Information:

Erin Campbell
IAEC Director of Communications
ecampbell@iowarec.org