Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Ozarks Electric Cooperative and OzarksGo recently welcomed Congressman Steve Womack and Senator John Boozman, along with their staff members, during the August congressional recess. Both visits provided an opportunity to discuss key policy issues affecting our members and communities.
Sen. John Boozman, right, listens as Schylar Utley, OzarksGo's director of operations, describes OzarksGo's data center.
Leadership from Ozarks shared updates on both the electric and broadband sides of the business, highlighting ongoing initiatives to strengthen reliability and expand rural connectivity. A central topic of discussion was the bipartisan FEMA Reform Bill (Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act of 2025). This legislation, strongly supported by NRECA, would ensure that cooperatives continue to have access to FEMA’s Public Assistance program—critical funding that helps restore power and rebuild systems following natural disasters. Both Congressman Womack and Senator Boozman voiced support for the measure.
Ozarks emphasized the importance of championing rural broadband, particularly investments in middle-mile infrastructure. Once again, both leaders expressed a willingness to advocate for these efforts in Washington.
Following the policy discussions, delegates toured Ozarks’ state-of-the-art operations center and OzarksGo data center, guided by subject matter experts from our team. The visits strengthened valuable relationships with our northwest Arkansas congressional delegation and reaffirmed shared priorities for our members and communities.