6/21/2012

In a letter to Senators, Glenn English expressed NRECA’s support for S. 3240, The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, and thanked Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member Pat Roberts for their leadership on this legislation. The Farm Bill reauthorization, which passed the Senate by a vote of 64-35, includes enhancements to many Rural Development programs, authorizes the Rural Energy Savings Program Act, which would provide rural electric cooperative members access to low-interest loans through the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and strengthens the RUS broadband loan program.

A key amendment, championed by Sens. Amy Klobuchar and John Hoeven, and adopted during this week’s debate, advances a much-needed study of rail transportation in rural America. NRECA also thanks Senators for supporting electric cooperatives by voting to defeat amendments which sought to limit access to wind incentives, ban USDA from issuing loan guarantees, and effectively shut down the RUS Broadband program.