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By failing to create a workable visa program for the U.S. constitution
industry, the bill fails to reflect the economic needs for the housing industry.
Last Spring, NAHB testified before Congress that the legislation’s guest
worker provisions must be improved to address the significant role that
foreign workers play in the housing industry and to help alleviate current
labor challenges that are hampering the housing and economic recovery.
Unfortunately, the Senate failed to adequately address these concerns. As
the legislative process moves forward, NAHB will work with Congress to
craft a final bill that best meets the needs of the housing industry.
FIGHT ONEROUS REGULATIONS THE COST
BUILDERS AND REMODELERS TIME AND MONEY
NAHB is leading the fight to rein-in unnecessary and
burdensome regulation that harm home builders, remodelers,
and consumers.
This year, the association will lead the charge against overly broad
stormwater permit requirements that would literally regulate puddles
under the Clean Water Act, and far-reaching Endangered Species Act
rules that do little to protect species to make it difficult for builders
to obtain permits. NAHB is also championing changes to burdensome
lead pain rules that cost remodelers jobs and money.
The Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act of 2013, NAHB
supported legislation in the House and Senate (H.R.2093 and S.484),
address many of the concerns of NAHB Remodelers and affiliated trade
groups about the EPA’s Lead: Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule.
Just reinstating the lead paint rule opt-out provision for homes not
occupied by children or pregnant women would save $336 million
annually in compliance costs.
NAHB is urging its members to contact their lawmakers and ask them to
co-sponsor the House and Senate lead paint bills.
For additional information about lead paint rule enforcement and
compliance, visit
. Learn more about NAHB
resources on stormwater permits and programs at
View the latest Endangered Species Act developments at nahb.org/esa.
FIX THE FLOOD INSURANCE LAW
NAHB Immediate Past Chairman Barry Rutenberg on Nov, 19th
testified before Congress and urged lawmakers to resolve unintended
consequences of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Act. He said the
requiring full actuarial risk rates to be paid upon the sale or transfer
of a home will lead to lower property values, make many mortgages
unaffordable and hurt many local housing markets at a time when the
U.S. housing recovery remains fragile and uneven.
NAHB is calling on Congress to:
• Delay all rate increases, including premium hikes on second
homes, until the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) completes its affordability study.
• Require FEMA to take into account all flood control
structures when mapping.
• Reinstate the higher “substantial improvement” threshold, which
refers to the value of remodeling and renovation projects the
cause the insurance premium rate increase to kick in.
• Enable FEMA to continue to allow for flexibility for regional issues
and to maintain the current residential “basement exception.”
At NAHB’s urging, legislation to address many of the issues raised by
the association has already been introduced in Congress. NAHB will
work with Congress to find pragmatic solutions that will prevent undue
hardship on the recovering housing market, prevent home values from
decreasing and make the National Flood Insurance Program stronger
and more effective for years to come.
ADDRESS LOCAL LABOR SHORTAGES
As the housing recovery gains steam, builders in some markets are not
able to keep up with demand because of a shortage of workers. If we
are unable to fix our housing labor problems, this will hurt everyone.
Fewer homes built means less workers on the job and a smaller local
property tax base to fund schools. It also harms consumers, because
labor shortages impact production schedules, which increase the time
and cost of building a home and drive prices higher.
To stimulate an increased labor supply in residential construction,
NAHB is urging allied groups to encourage their members to ramp up
their capacity to help their members hire more workers.
Andrew Chaban is the National Area Chairman at NAHB and is the Chief Executive Officer of
Princeton Properties.
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