Co-op leaders bring rural Missouri to Capitol Hill
Improving the quality of life for their members back home was the key focus for nearly 2,000 electric cooperative leaders who visited Washington, D.C., April 17-19 for a legislative conference organized by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Representatives from electric cooperatives across the nation visited Capitol Hill during the conference to urge Congress to prioritize reliability of the electric grid, protect programs within the 2023 Farm Bill that are utilized by co-ops and enact legislation creating a revolving fund for the Southwestern Power Administration.
Missouri’s delegation of 66 electric co-op leaders met with U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt and U.S. Reps. Mark Alford, Eric Burlison, Sam Graves, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Jason Smith. Co-op leaders also spoke with key staff members of U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and U.S. Reps. Emmanuel Cleaver and Ann Wagner.
“Rural Missourians best know the needs of our communities, and it’s vitally important we share those needs with our elected officials,” said Caleb Jones, CEO of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Jefferson City. “Keeping electricity reliable and affordable for rural America is our mission, and carrying that message to Washington shows Congress that co-ops are dedicated to working for our members back home.”