At the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives annual meeting in Springfield on July 31, U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville, 13th Congressional District) received the 2015 Illinois Electric Cooperatives’ Public Service Award. The award was made in recognition of Rep. Davis’ dedicated public service to all citizens of the state of Illinois and for outstanding contributions to the rural electrification program.
Rep. Davis is a supporter of Illinois electric cooperatives and their rural member-owners on a wide variety of rural issues. He currently serves on the following committees: Agriculture, Transportation & Infrastructure, and House Administration.
He has been a strong advocate for rural Illinois. For electric cooperatives he has been a great supporter of issues including: RUS electric loan program, pension legislation, water heater demand response legislation, FEMA reform, the “Waters of the U.S.” proposed regulation, legislation requiring Congressional review of EPA existing power plant regulations and coal ash legislation.
Rep. Davis, who received electric service from Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative for many years, thanked several of the co-op directors at the meeting for their leadership on many rural issues besides rural electric cooperative issues.
He said, “Growing up in a small town you learn there are many challenges we face in rural America. We all have the same goal. When you make your communities better it makes the state better and makes our nation better. The decisions you make in your cooperatives every day are going to be felt by generations beyond. These decisions are not about us. They are about our children, our grandchildren, the next generation and their opportunities that can only be limited by their imagination. That is what public service is all about. That is why I’m so honored to receive this award.”
