NAED is advocating for you in Washington, D.C., on key policies that impact our supply chain. Read the full Washington Wire here.
Congress Heads Home for August Recess
Congress has left Washington for its annual August recess, with lawmakers expected to return in mid-to-late September. While legislative activity slows, members will spend the break meeting with constituents and preparing for the 2026 elections. The House and Senate may still hold pro forma sessions and could return for urgent matters.
Congress Advances Grid and Ratepayer Protection Measures
The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously advanced the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would require states to consider policies ensuring data centers pay the costs of new generation and transmission infrastructure needed to serve them. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the Senate.
The measure complements the High-Capacity Grid Act, which would expand transmission capacity through advanced technologies and reconductoring.
NAED supports policies that modernize the grid, strengthen transmission capacity, and help prevent infrastructure costs from being shifted to other electricity customers. Congressional action is expected to resume this fall.
At the Races: Redistricting Shapes 2026
New congressional maps are expanding the number of competitive House races heading into the 2026 midterms. Political handicappers now identify dozens of Democratic-held districts as potential Republican pickup opportunities.
With a narrowly divided House, changes in a relatively small number of competitive districts could affect congressional priorities and committee leadership. NAED will continue monitoring
State Watch: NAED Comments on Minnesota EPR
NAED recently submitted comments on Minnesota’s implementation of its Extended Producer Responsibility law, urging regulators to ensure electrical distributors are not treated as manufacturers or responsible producers simply because they warehouse, transport, resell, repackage, private-label, or deliver products made by others.
NAED also called for clear definitions, reasonable documentation requirements, protection against duplicative obligations, and recognition of distributors’ limited access to manufacturer packaging data.
Administration Signals Continued Deregulation
The Trump administration’s 2026 Unified Agenda outlines planned regulatory changes affecting environmental, energy, labor, and permitting policies.
Among the issues NAED is monitoring are changes to Clean Water Act permitting, OSHA ladder requirements, independent contractor and joint-employer rules, compensable work time, and energy efficiency standards. These actions could affect infrastructure development, facility costs, workforce practices, product availability, and inventory planning.
NAED will continue advocating for policies that support efficient business operations and a strong electrical distribution supply chain.
Member Advocacy in Action
Patriot Industries recently hosted SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler and Rep. John McGuire (R-VA) to discuss small business growth, domestic manufacturing, and federal tax policy.
The visit highlights the value of building relationships with policymakers at the local level. Earlier this year, Rep. McGuire recognized NAED during a House floor speech, helping raise the electrical distribution industry’s visibility in Congress.
Want to get involved? NAED can help members build relationships with policymakers. If you’re interested in hosting a member of Congress or becoming more involved in NAED’s advocacy efforts, contact Bud DeFlaviis at bud@naed.org.
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