As 2025 comes to a close, NECA continues to advance strong advocacy efforts on behalf of electrical contractors nationwide. This edition of Inside Washington highlights key legislative wins, ongoing regulatory engagement, and the outstanding commitment of NECA chapters in meeting advocacy and PAC goals.
👋 Welcome to December’s edition of Inside Washington!
As 2025 comes to a close, NECA continues to advance strong advocacy efforts on behalf of electrical contractors nationwide. This edition of Inside Washington highlights key legislative wins, ongoing regulatory engagement, and the outstanding commitment of NECA chapters in meeting advocacy and PAC goals.
Let's dive in!
NECAPAC & PLC Chapter Goals Update
Congratulations to the following Chapters who have reached their 2025 PLC Goals!
Reminder: We kindly ask all contributions be received by Friday, Dec. 19.
Credit card contributions to NECAPAC and the Operational Fund are processable.
Cash and check contributions might be delayed until the New Year due to the holiday schedule.
Need assistance? If you have questions about your Chapter’s progress or an individual contribution, reach out to Seth Guidry at seth.guidry@necanet.org or 985-637-1535.
(As of 12.9.25)
NECA takes a stand for helicopter safety
The Government Affairs Team recently took Mike Starner, NECA’s Director of Outside Line Safety, and Ron Stewart, Director of Helicopter Operations at Wilson Construction, to Capitol Hill to discuss FAA’s proposed Part 108 rule.
Why it matters: The proposed rule impacts helicopters in transmission and line work. NECA advocates for maintaining safe operating space and clear protocols between drones and crewed aircraft.
This includes a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) framework that encourages innovation while maintaining proven safety practices.
Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA.) engaged with FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on the rule as a result of the team’s advocacy efforts.
NECA will continue to work with Congress and the FAA to finalize a rule that strikes a balance between safety and technological advancement.
(Ron Stewart & Mike Starner on Capitol Hill.)
New York Chapters Work to Modernize Antiquated Scaffold Law
(Pictured l-r: Peter Rescigno of NECA NY, Kristine DiNapoli of KND Electrical Contracting Corp., and Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.; and James Payne and Ryan McGuire, NECA Directors of Government Affairs, address the NECA NY Chapter)
NECA’s Albany, Long Island, and New York City Chapters recently convened in Manhattan with the Government Affairs team.
Why it matters: The meeting focused on federal reforms to New York’s Scaffold Law, aiming to reduce construction costs and insurance premiums.
The Infrastructure Expansion Act was a key topic, with potential to mitigate liability exposure on federally funded projects.
The latest: Rep. Nick Langworthy and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves participated in the roundtable.
NECA remains committed to pursuing legislative solutions to modernize the outdated law.
House Passes NECA-Endorsed Permitting and Grid Supply Chain Reforms
The House of Representatives has passed four NECA-endorsed bills to streamline infrastructure permitting and enhance the electric supply chain.
Why it matters: These reforms aim to accelerate project timelines and bolster grid reliability, aligning with NECA’s goals for efficient infrastructure development.
PERMIT Act (H.R. 3898) (Sponsor: Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.)):This Actfocuses on modernizing federal environmental review and permitting for major infrastructure projects. By requiring agencies to coordinate on a single, project-level schedule, it would reduce uncertainty and prevent duplicative reviews.
Why it matters: These reforms would provide greater predictability in project planning and bidding for NECA contractors, helping ensure that large-scale energy, transportation, and infrastructure projects move forward on more reliable schedules.
SPEED Act (H.R. 4776) (Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)): The SPEED Act takes a more targeted approach to permitting reform by addressing litigation-driven delays and inefficiencies within the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The bill would shorten review timelines, limit procedural abuses, and establish clear parameters for judicial review, including a 150-day statute of limitations for claims.
Why it matters: These provisions are designed to prevent last-minute lawsuits from stalling projects, giving NECA contractors increased confidence that approved projects will proceed to construction without prolonged legal uncertainty.
Reliable Power Act (H.R. 3616) (Sponsor: Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio)) The Reliable Power Act would improve the federal rulemaking process to ensure that future regulations affecting power generation will not harm electric reliability in regions vulnerable to blackouts.
Why it matters: For NECA contractors, safeguarding grid reliability supports steady demand for electrical construction and maintenance work and minimizes disruption risks for major infrastructure projects that depend on consistent power performance.
Electric Supply Chain Act (H.R. 3638) (Sponsor: Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio)): The legislation directs the Department of Energy to regularly assess the domestic supply chain for electricity generation and transmission and report findings to Congress.
Why it matters: By identifying vulnerabilities and barriers to manufacturing, transporting, and installing critical grid components, the bill supports strategic investments that align with NECA members’ role in building and maintaining resilient electrical infrastructure.
What’s next: NECA will monitor Senate actions closely to ensure these measures are adopted to effectively support our contractors.
Chairman’s Challenge Update
There are only two weeks remaining in the 2025 Chairman's Challenge!
(As of 12.9.25)
Chapters are encouraged to send over any photos to help illustrate our robust voice across the country to necagovtaffairs@necanet.org. The chapter that has the most points by December 31, 2025, will win the Chairman's Challenge.
Rep. Richie Torres engages with NYC NECA
(Pictured l-r: Gregg Sokoloff of H&L Electric, Peter Rescigno of NECA NY, Rep. Torres, Rick Gilston and Craig Gilston of Gilston Electric)
The New York City NECA Chapter recently hosted Rep. Richie Torres (D-N.Y.) to discuss the essential contributions of electrical contractors to infrastructure and clean energy.
Chapter leaders highlighted workforce development, apprenticeship programs, and the need for policies that support reliable, affordable energy in dense urban environments like New York City.
Rep. Torres emphasized the importance of skilled labor and federal investment in infrastructure to meet growing energy demand.
The bottom line: The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration to deliver safe and future-ready projects.
Thank You for an Outstanding 2025!
Your unwavering support has fortified NECA’s influence on Capitol Hill and beyond. Whether you were submitting comments, participating in advocacy meetings, backing NECAPAC, or responding to action alerts, each action made a significant impact.
Looking Forward: Let’s carry this momentum into 2026, continuing to strengthen our collective voice and make a difference in the electrical construction industry. Your engagement is invaluable, and we are excited to achieve even more together next year!
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