The American Public Power Association’s Legislative & Resolutions Committee approved eight policy resolutions during the association’s 2026 Legislative Rally. These member-sponsored resolutions will guide APPA’s advocacy efforts in 2026 and beyond.
Of note was Resolution 26-08 “In Support of Reforming FEMA and Preserving the Federal Government’s Role in Disaster Response,” which highlights the critical role the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) plays in assisting communities that are overwhelmed by disasters and the adjustments needed to mitigate the complicated maze of rules and administrative hurdles necessary for communities to be reimbursed for response and recovery costs.
In some cases, FEMA can require utilities to provide precise GPS coordinates for poles and other installed equipment. These sorts of requirements are time intensive and can be difficult to produce in the immediate aftermath of a disaster—especially when reliable telecommunications services may be unavailable. These requirements can also slow the progress of crews that are working to quickly and safely restore power.
Additionally, after data is collected and submitted to FEMA, utilities must wait out multiple levels of review that can lead to delays of months (or even years) before utilities are reimbursed for emergency restoration work.
APPA strongly supports H.R. 4669, the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act of 2025, which includes reforms that would clarify, simplify, and reduce regulatory risk from the process of receiving and putting to use FEMA Public Assistance funds.
The full texts of all eight resolutions are available at PublicPower.org/Resolutions.
For information on APPA’s 2026 advocacy priorities, visit PublicPower.org/PolicyPriorities.
