NCBA CLUSA is pleased to announce its Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus will be re-established in the 116th Congress. The bipartisan caucus, which helps drive a co-op-friendly legislative agenda, will be co-chaired by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN).
The caucus is tasked to promote the cooperative business model as a preferred market solution and policy option to solve today’s public policy challenges. The caucus provides greater visibility, education and awareness of cooperative businesses and works to demonstrate their economic impact across the nation and around the world. To reach this goal, the caucus will brief Congressional staff and stakeholders on a variety of issues, such as small business cooperative development, and work together to support legislation that advances cooperatives’ priorities.
“Because of their values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equity, equality and solidarity, cooperative businesses have the capacity to address countless problems in our economy,” Rep. Pocan said. “Co-ops give workers a voice in the workplace, allow rural Americans to band together to meet their communities’ needs and so much more. I am proud to be a co-chair of the Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus and educate policymakers about the many policy challenges that cooperative businesses can address.”
Incoming Republican co-chair Rep. Baird said he was also proud to be part of the bipartisan caucus. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to support co-ops and highlight the important role that cooperatives play in our local communities.”
Rep. Baird replaces former Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) who served as co-chair until his retirement at the end of the 115th Congress.
Cooperatives exist in every Congressional District across the country and inject $3 trillion into the U.S. economy each year. Co-ops spur economic growth in underserved rural and urban America; empower individuals, families and communities to better their lives; and ensure that people have access to high-quality goods and services at competitive prices and costs.
NCBA CLUSA strongly urges cooperators to contact their Members of Congress and ask them to join the Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus. To find your Member of Congress, visit www.house.gov/find-your-representative and type in your zip code. For more information on the caucus and a sample letter you can send your elected officials, visit www.ncbaclusa.coop/congressional-caucus/.
