Congressman Don Bacon Announces Retirement

Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) has announced his intention to retire after the current 119^th Congress and will not seek re-election to Congress at the end of his term in 2027. Since being sworn in in 2017, Bacon has been a trusted and greatly admired friend to SMACNA and numerous contractor members. SMACNA has hosted several events over the years for the Congressman, and he has addressed our members at meetings and conferences across the country, becoming a highly influential voice on several of SMACNA’s key issues. These included: infrastructure, procurement reform, defense base facility energy retrofits, skilled workforce development, Davis-Bacon Act reform, registered apprenticeship, and far more.

SMACNA’s Executive Director for Government and Political Affairs Stan Kolbe emphasized, “Without question, Don Bacon has been a highly respected bipartisan leader in Congress since he arrived and too few like him remain to speak up for construction and the skilled trades priorities important to the industry. He will be greatly missed when his last votes in the 119^th Congress are cast in the  House.”

In his retirement statement, Congressman Bacon said: “My service to our great nation started in the Air Force, where I served sixteen assignments, five commands and four deployments and will continue in Congress until the end of the 119th Congress. I’d like to find new ways to serve our great country… it has been an honor to serve the 2nd District of Nebraska and the nation, and I thank our constituents for trusting me to represent them. I am proud of the work we have done and will continue to do until the lights in the office are turned off for the last time.”