Thirty cooperative leaders from across the country joined NCBA CLUSA at the National Cooperative Bank last month for the 2025 Executive Roundtable, an annual day of thought leadership and cross-sector idea exchange. The event featured a panel discussion called “Cooperative Advocacy in Today’s Environment,” led by advocates from the credit union, rural electric and agricultural sectors.
Moderated by Aaliyah Nedd, NCBA CLUSA’s Director of Government Relations, the panel included Carrie Hunt, Chief Advocacy Officer for America’s Credit Unions; Louis Finkel, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association; and Lisa Van Doren, Vice President and Chief of Staff for Government Affairs at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. The speakers shared their top policy priorities and insights into how their sectors are navigating the current legislative landscape.
Tax policy remains a critical focus in Washington, DC as Congress is negotiating a major bill through reconciliation, a process allowing laws to pass by a simple majority. The discussion underscored that the current federal tax code recognizes the cooperative business model as one that delivers direct economic value to member-owners.
Panelists emphasized the importance of preserving key elements of cooperative tax treatment, including the tax-exempt status of credit unions, the Section 199A or pass-through entity deduction for agricultural and worker cooperatives, and recent federal investments to maintain an affordable and resilient energy supply.
In a rapidly evolving policy environment shaped by both a dynamic Congress and a new presidential administration, panelists stressed the need for the ongoing education of policymakers about the cooperative business model. They noted that membership with cooperative associations plays a vital role in shaping a favorable policy landscape, and that members themselves are the most effective advocates for shared priorities.
Membership with cooperative associations plays a vital role in shaping a favorable policy landscape.
The conversation concluded with a call to action that cooperative executives should embrace and leverage the power of “cooperation among cooperatives,” the 6th Cooperative Principle, or P6. By working together, panelists agreed, cooperatives can more effectively champion the policies that sustain and strengthen the cooperative ecosystem.