NATIONAL NEWS
THANKS TO THE FEDERATION FOR BRINGING HOUSING HOME From coast to coast, members of our Federation stepped to materials — and the challenges in overcoming the up last week to bring housing issues to the forefront labor shortage, especially in the wake of the pandemic, during Bringing Housing Home® , NAHB’s 2021 in- with Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.). district Legislative Conference. “We worked with Rep. Burchett locally for years, so Although this year’s conference may have looked a little we’ve had an excellent relationship with him going different — with members setting up meetings virtually on decades,” shared Ashley Burnette, executive vice as well as in person — NAHB appreciates all efforts to president for the HBA of Greater Knoxville. “He’s very deliver our legislative agenda and highlight key issues supportive — always has been — and he believes in of importance in your local communities. what we do as an industry.” Members held more than 140 meetings with their U.S. senators and representatives to build working relationships with their federal legislators and brief them on several issues affecting the home building community — chief among them the lumber price crisis and its impact on home building and housing affordability.
Representatives from the Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) and the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) had the opportunity to share similar concerns during a conference call with Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.).
And the message was well-received.
and events throughout the month to advocate for housing.
“The congresswoman was very receptive to our comments. She had heard them from others,” noted Additional issues of note included: Barry Rutenberg, a builder from Gainesville, Fla., and past NAHB chairman. “She currently serves on the Reforming the nation’s housing finance system Agriculture Committee for the House and has familiarity with lumber industry, which is prevalent in our district. Strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit She was responsive to us not only on the building Preventing federal intrusion into the energy codes materials issue, but also another one of our key issues, development process which was flood insurance.” Creating a national flood insurance program that is The meeting was effective in part because of the predictable and affordable team’s preparation ahead of the call, which included Crafting an infrastructure package that takes housing utilizing both NAHB government affairs and economics resources, as well as outside information from major affordability concerns into account news outlets such as Bloomberg, to support their Investing in federal vocational job training programs discussion. Rutenberg noted that the same information Builders, Associates, remodelers, EOs and state and local has been shared with their local board to distribute as HBA leaders and members worked alongside the NAHB needed during future opportunities. Government Affairs team to ensure housing remains a Although Bringing Housing Home officially ran from May legislative priority. 3-7, members are still encouraged to set up meetings “Great meeting with the @NAHBhome today! #IA02,” tweeted Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa). “We discussed several challenges facing their industry, For more information, contact Lauren Goodwin. including problems with softwood lumber supply chains and pricing issues.” Builders and developers in Tennessee also shared their concerns regarding lumber — not only prices, but access HOME BUILDING NEWS 2021
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