The National Cooperative Business Association is pleased to share the 2026 edition of its Policymakers’ Guide—information and recommendations for the 119th Congress and cooperators reaching out to their Congressional representatives.
Cooperating for a Better Tomorrow: Promoting Access, Agility and Affordability in Today’s Economy through Cooperatives outlines how policymakers can create economic opportunity by providing the critical financing and technical assistance cooperatives need to flourish.
Our guide includes a high-level look at the cooperative ecosystem, along with key legislative priorities for cooperatives in 2026:
- Promoting employee ownership
- Leveraging the Farm Bill to support rural development
- Preserving fair tax treatment
- Expanding access to affordable housing
- Investing in a resilient and future-proof economy
- Building a better world through international co-op development
We’ve expanded this year’s guide to include impact snapshots of six co-op sectors: consumer, credit unions, electric and utilities, farmer and independent small business, housing and worker.
The 119th Congress has an opportunity to help people capture economic opportunities through cooperative businesses—a model in which people own, control and benefit from the businesses they use. One of the best ways to get co-op issues on the radar of lawmakers is to invite them to visit your co-op and learn about your legislative priorities directly. As a cooperator, you are the business model’s best advocate, knowing the ins and outs of your business in ways that every member of Congress would benefit from learning.
We’ve expanded this year’s guide to include impact snapshots of six co-op sectors: consumer, credit unions, electric and utilities, farmer and independent small business, housing and worker.
The 119th Congress has an opportunity to help people capture economic opportunities through cooperative businesses—a model in which people own, control and benefit from the businesses they use. One of the best ways to get co-op issues on the radar of lawmakers is to invite them to visit your co-op and learn about your legislative priorities directly. As a cooperator, you are the business model’s best advocate, knowing the ins and outs of your business in ways that every member of Congress would benefit from learning.
If you’d like to set up a meeting with your representative or have any questions about our Policymakers’ Guide, please email advocacy@ncbaclusa.coop. NCBA CLUSA’s Advocacy team is here to work on your behalf and make the process as easy as possible.