EPA Climate
Change Decision Recission
2026:
Midterm Congressional Elections Take Over Calendar
Capitol Hill
Locked In Standoff Over DHS Funding
NUCA Government Affairs Monthly
Update Webinar: March 17
NUCA Supports
NYC Hudson Tunnel Project
Trump Finalizes Rollback of NEPA
Regulations
Guidance
Pamphlet On Immigration Enforcement
NUCA Government Affairs
Committee Meetings
Seeking
Information on ICE Immigration Actions
NUCA/PAC: Going Strong Since
1976
Second
Session, 119th Congress Schedule
NUCA Official Letters To
Congress
Join NUCA's
Government Affairs Committee
The Newsletter of the NUCA
Governmental Affairs Department
Fiscal Year 2026
Battle Concludes With Final Deal
As Congress finally wraps up its Fiscal Year (FY) 2026
spending actions, NUCA's work over the past several months to
preserve federal funding for industry projects paid off.
The Interior and Environment Appropriations bill,
signed into law in late January, maintains funding for the industry's
two EPA water infrastructure programs at prior-year levels.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) received a
final appropriation of $1.638 billion, unchanged from FY2025.
Similarly, the Drinking Water SRF was allocated $1.126 billion,
reflecting no increase or decrease compared to the previous fiscal
year.
These funds support critical loans and grants for
wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and safe drinking water
projects nationwide, though significant portions-—$892.7 million
Clean Water SRF and $715.3 million for Drinking Water SRF—were
directed toward Congressional earmarks, reducing available revolving
capital for the funds. NUCA has consistently argued that the earmark
process, while
delivering short-term benefits to the industry,
deliver long-term headaches for SRF sustainability. As FY2026
concludes, the FY2027 appropriations process is now underway,
beginning with the President's budget submission expected this month.
NUCA
will be advocating for an increase in funding to reflect the demand
for resources to build and repair this critical national
infrastructure.
David Howell Elected
NUCA Chairman of
the Board
NUCA’s Board of Directors formally inducted David
Howell as our new Chairman on February 13 at the Annual
Meeting held in Tucson, Arizona on Feb. 12.
"This coming year we will continue the
efforts that the last few Chairmen have been leading and that is
the advancement and modernization of our organization," said
Howell in his acceptance speech. "The one thing we cannot do
is to ever rest on our laurels. NUCA is the only trade group out
there that represents the contractors and the American utility
industry. We will continue to work together on funding,
regulation, damage prevention, safety, and workforce
development.”
Howell currently serves as NUCA’s Vice-Chairman
and has served over the last few years as both Treasurer and
Secretary. He has also represented multiple NUCA Chapters on the
association’s executive committee, including the chapters in
Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Howell is the
Vice President of Business Development for Midwest Mole. He has
been with the Midwest Mole family of companies for over 20 years,
beginning his career working on trenchless tech projects across
the country.
NUCA Government
Affairs Monthly Update Webinar: Mar. 17
The NUCA Government Affairs Committee will hold a
webinar on Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026, at 2:00pm ET to update
the membership on our legislative agenda. We will be discussing the
status of the FY2026 appropriations legislation critical to funding
the industry's State Revolving Fund programs, updates on the 2026
surface transportation bill, NUCA government affairs events
including the May 19-20 Washington Summit, the 2026 Congressional
election cycle, and other items of interest to our industry on
Capitol Hill.
The
Second Session of the 119th Congress is underway! This is the year
to come to Washington and introduce your business and your Chapter to
your lawmakers.
Washington
Summit is a unique member benefit that only NUCA membership can
deliver--taking you direct to Capitol Hill and meet with your federal
lawmakers!
NUCA
expects that the State Revolving Fund reauthorization legislation
will be introduced in early spring with action taking place alongside
the larger surface transportation bill.
It's
easy to take advantage of this unique NUCA member benefit. Your Chapter
will arrange your meetings with lawmakers. You simply have to travel
to Washington, D.C. and bring your smile and strong voice.
Capitol
Hill Day will be Wednesday, May 20. Our headquarters hotel will
be located this year at the Holiday Inn Capitol Hill, 550 C St. SW,
Washington, DC 20024.
Make
plans to travel to Washington, D.C. this May to make your NUCA story
heard in Congress!
•
Reauthorization of the two critical EPA State Revolving Funds,
and increasing resources appropriated for the funds
•
Advocating for the session's pending highway bill and
inclusion of more resources for water infrastructure projects
•
Reauthorizing the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) and new damage prevention programs
•
Passing permitting reforms stalled in the last
Congress
•
Investing in other subsurface infrastructure activities for
economic growth, such as broadband and electric power
•
Your Chapter's government affairs agenda items, keeping local
project funded
2026: Midterm
Congressional Elections Take Over Calendar
As we enter 2026, a pivotal midterm election year
looms for the U.S. Congress. On Nov. 3, 2026, voters will
decide all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and
approximately one-third of the Senate (33 seats this cycle). These
legislative races will shape the balance of power in Washington,
influencing everything from tax policy to regulatory frameworks that
directly impact construction businesses like yours.
For NUCA members, involvement in this Congressional
election cycle is crucial. Unlike presidential
years, midterms often fly under the radar but carry outsized
influence on local and national agendas. Your district's
representatives and senators will advocate—-or oppose—-initiatives
vital to economic growth.
This is especially true for infrastructure funding, as
the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) expires on
Sept. 30, 2026. Enacted in 2021, the IIJA has poured over $1 trillion
into roads, bridges, water and wastewater, broadband, and clean
energy projects, fueling job creation and supply chain resilience.
Without reauthorization at increased funding level critical
upgrades could be stalled, raising costs for industries reliant on
efficient transportation and utilities.
Trade associations and their members which engage this
year through advocacy, PAC contributions, or policy input can help
ensure provisions that support innovation and competitiveness.
Participation isn't just for executives; encourage
your employees to get involved too. Start by directing them to Vote.gov,
the official nonpartisan resource for voter registration, deadlines,
and polling information. Whether it's volunteering for campaigns or
simply casting a ballot, every action counts.
By prioritizing the 2026 Congressional elections, NUCA
and our members can safeguard future infrastructure investments and
foster a stable business environment. In short, get involved!
Capitol Hill
Locked In Standoff Over DHS Funding
There is no end in sight for the U.S. Dept. of
Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown as both parties are seemingly
nowhere near a resolution. The partial government shutdown began on
Saturday, Feb. 14, after Congress failed to pass funding for the
agency in the wake of increasing scrutiny of immigration enforcement
actions across the country. Democrats remain steadfast in their
demands for reforms of DHS immigration enforcement tactics after
several serious incidents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, occurring earlier
this year.
The White House and Congressional Democrats have
exchanged some proposals and counteroffers since Feb. 14, but nothing
has stuck. Democrats have called for tightening warrant requirements,
unmasking agents engaging in field operations, and ending roving patrols.
Democrat lawmakers say that Republicans and the White House have not
yet made serious offers, while Republicans have insisted that the
White House has made concessions and is negotiating in good
faith.
It appears unlikely that talks will reach a stage that
prompts lawmakers to be called back to Washington, D.C. this week, so
the agency shutdown will continue at least until Congress reconvenes
next week. More
here.
NUCA
Supports Releasing Funds For NYC Hudson Tunnel Project
NUCA released Jan. 29 a statement calling for the
Trump Administration to release approved funds for the $16 billion
New York City “Hudson Tunnel” infrastructure project. "This
critical infrastructure initiative already has contracts in place,
making such a move profoundly anti-business and disruptive to
committed partnerships," said Zack Perconti, NUCA's chief
advocacy officer.
"Halting work now would needlessly jeopardize
the tremendous progress our member’s hard work has already achieved
and waste years of dedicated effort. This isn't the time to play
political games with essential infrastructure. Such uncertainty
also puts future contracts—those currently being bid and soon to
follow—into serious jeopardy, eroding confidence in public-private
collaborations. We urge the Administration’s policymakers to
restore and secure funding immediately to keep this vital project on
track for the benefit of all Americans," Perconti concluded.
The Trump administration finalized a rule to rescind
federal regulations related to the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA), aiming to streamline the process for infrastructure
projects. The move, praised by industry allies for reducing
regulatory burdens. In a final rule published Jan. 8, the
administration formally adopted its earlier effort to rescind White
House regulations related to NEPA.
The Trump administration issued an “interim final
rule” last year that rescinded all White House regulations — some
dating to 1978 — that detailed how environmental analyses should be
conducted. Since last year’s interim rule, various federal agencies
have issued their own guidelines for how they will conduct
environmental reviews. NUCA has stated in the past it supports NEPA
and permit reforms, citing delays and additional costs in its
arguments.
On Feb. 12, President Trump announced that the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would be rescinding the
landmark legal determination that concluded that global warming
caused by greenhouse gasses endangered the health and welfare of
Americans. This finding, commonly referred to as the endangerment
finding and originally issued in 2009, is the foundation of the
agency's efforts underlying climate change regulations.
The endangerment finding underpinned the EPA's
ability to legally regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles
and power plants and was the guiding legal framework that required
companies to report their emissions. It also required the federal
government to take action on climate change under the Clean Air
Act. The repeal will have far reaching effects, particularly in the
electric power industry, but the extent of its impacts are not yet
fully understood.
The White House and the EPA have described their
decision to repeal the finding as "the largest deregulatory
action in American history." This follows the Trump
Administration's decision to cancel nearly $8 billion in funds for
clean energy projects in October of last year. Experts expect to
see major environmental groups sue the administration over this
decision.
NUCA Legal
Committee Guidance Pamphlet On Immigration Enforcement Actions:
English and Spanish
With the Trump Administration’s renewed focus on
immigration, many industry companies are asking what to expect, and
how to respond to a potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) audit or enforcement raid on their facilities. To prepare for
possible ICE visits or audits, the NUCA Legal Committee has created
a free, member-only, five-page guidance pamphlet, "Immigration
Enforcement: ICE Audits and Raids – Your Company’s Response."
In this pamphlet, practical steps to handle Form I-9
audits and raids are offered to business owners and jobsite
supervisors. Reviewed by expert immigration counsel, this exclusive
NUCA benefit can help employers stay prepared and confident in
managing their obligations under federal law.
In today's increasingly complex immigration
enforcement environment, employers should take proactive steps to
prepare their records and jobsite personnel for possible ICE
visits. The pamphlet is now available in both English and Spanish
language versions.
Advocacy
2026: Become A Strong Voice For Your Industry
Next NUCA Government Affairs
Committee Meeting
The next in-person, full NUCA Government Affairs
Committee meeting will take place at Washington Summit, May 19. All
NUCA members can participate in the monthly online government affairs
update webinars (described above).
NUCA's State and Local Government Affairs Committee
also is now active. If you are interested in representing your
chapter on this committee, please contact your Chapter Executive
Director, the Committee Chair, Kurt Brna (kurt@byrdunderground.com),
and Zack Perconti to learn more. If you are an at-large member and
are interested in representing your state, please contact Kurt and
Zack directly.
o - o - o
Seeking Information on ICE
Immigration Actions Affecting Utility Construction
NUCA would be very interested in hearing from members
who have experienced since January 2025 any Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) administrative compliance requests or even jobsite
raids.
Most of the ICE activity NUCA's governmental affairs
office has noted in the media are directed to residential
construction jobsites, but most recently a domestic manufacturer was
the subject of an enforcement action that took place in Louisiana in
January 2026. Significant ICE resources are currently engaged in
states such as Minnesota and California. The sizeable increase added
to the July 2025 OBBB legislation for ICE enforcement resources may
be a precursor to increased activity in the months ahead.
Please note the section above in this newsletter on
the new NUCA guidance pamphlet, "Immigration Enforcement: ICE
Audits and Raids – Your Company’s Response." It is available in
both English and Spanish.
If you have any information you would like to share,
please email NUCA's CAO Zack Perconti at zackp@nuca.com.
Anything shared will NUCA staff be kept confidential.
NUCA
Thanks Our Many National Partners For Their Generous Support Of
NUCA's Washington Summit & Advocacy Programs
Elections and NUCA/PAC: Going
Strong Since 1976
Get involved! NUCA's Political Action Committee, NUCA/PAC, continues to be
your strong voice on Capitol Hill - supporting pro-infrastructure
policies, and defending your business against harmful laws and
regulations that can affect your bottom line.
NUCA/PAC enables the American utility construction
industry to approach vital public policy issues by helping to
elect like-minded Members of Congress.
Get engaged in the process by authorizing NUCA/PAC
to share information with you and your employees. Federal law requires NUCA/PAC to first obtain
your written permission to solicit your voluntary contributions.
NUCA/PAC was strongly
involved in the 2024 election--let's make our industry's PAC the
strongest it can be in the 2026 election cycle with your
help.
NUCA
Assurance: Get More Control Over Your Business Insurance Program
Join like-minded NUCA contractors who have taken
control of their claims, managed their risk, and secured better,
more focused insurance services for their businesses.
NUCA Assurance is a
construction-focused group captive owned by NUCA members and
designed by insurance experts to deliver the claims control and
risk-management support smart construction business owners need.
This cost-effective association benefit helps your
company purchase workers' compensation, general liability, and
auto liability insurance.
Find out how to get more control over your utility
construction company's insurance needs by starting at NUCAAssurance.com.
Second Session, 119th Congress
Schedule
Both houses of Congress are out this week for the
President's Day holiday, and return to session beginning Feb. 24.
Both are then working straight through March, excepting the House the
week of March 9. On March 30 Congress breaks for its two-week Easter
"district work period". After they return the week of April
13, they are in session until Memorial Day (the Senate taking a week
off May 4).
2026 is a Congressional election year, with Election
Day on Nov. 3. The entire U.S. House is up for election, along with
one-third (33 seats) of the Senate.
NUCA's government affairs program remains committed to
our member's needs of providing excellent value for their investment
through our many legislative goals for this year and 2026. We are
exploring every opportunity the new Congress and Administration present
to NUCA to increase the business success of each of our contractor
and supplier members.
NUCA
Official Letters To Congress & Federal Agencies
January 21, 2026 – NUCA
Coalition to Congressional Leadership: Pass THUD Spending Bill
(H.R. 7148)
All formal NUCA correspondence with Congress and
federal regulatory agencies can be found and read at nuca.com/comment-letters-2-0.
Sign Up For NUCA
Muster Advocacy Alerts
Get involved! Did
you use our Muster system this month to let Congress know your
opinion of their legislative priorities? If you're a NUCA member,
your Washington government affairs team wants you to be part of our
Capitol Hill advocacy program! NUCA urges you to sign up to receive
our Muster
advocacy alerts. These emails will
alert you to pending legislative action where your opinion can make a
difference.
It's easy to sign up via the link
below. Use your personal home address if you can do so, since our
online Muster advocacy program finds your members of Congress via
your voter registration address. But business addresses work just as
well to receive our alerts.
Get involved! If
you enjoy analyzing politics and find the inner workings of Congress
and our industry's legislative program interesting or useful to your
business, why not take the next step and join NUCA's
Government Affairs Committee?
Membership is open to all NUCA members, and we welcome the active
participation of those seeking to make a difference in their
industry, and to help shape NUCA's official policies on legislation.
Help shape the legislative and advocacy program of
your association. Contact NUCA's Chief Advocacy Officer Zack Perconti
to get started today.
NTS Training Room 2920 W Directors Row, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Mailing Address: Payment Address: Contact Information: NUCA of UtahNUCA of Utah c/o NUCAChristine Barnes Salt Lake City, UT3925 Chain Bridge Rd. Suite 300Executive Director
