ARLINGTON, Va. — National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement on House Passage of the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017 (H.R. 5):
“Overreaching federal rules can have a devastating impact on electric cooperatives and consumers throughout rural America. Regulations like the Clean Power Plan and the Waters of the U.S. rule will complicate the electric cooperative mission to provide safe, affordable, reliable power to 42 million consumers across the nation.
“Co-ops are proud to support the Regulatory Accountability Act, which will help protect American families and businesses from burdensome federal rules. That’s why we joined with dozens of other organizations last month to urge the House to prioritize this bill in the 115th Congress.
“We’re especially pleased that the bill includes provisions of the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, which will require federal agencies to consider the impact of regulations on electric co-ops and other American small businesses. We thank House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), and all other House members who supported this important legislation.”
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.
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