June 2021 Building Buzz

Bringing Housing Home is an annual National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) sponsored event where every state participates in holding meetings with our national delegation to discuss issues that are impacting the home building industry across the nation. Whether these meetings take place at our Nation’s Capital in Washington, D.C., or back home in our great state of North Dakota, every year we are honored to meet with our members of congress and appreciate the time that they talk with us. Members and Executive Officers from each of our six local associations (located in Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Bismarck-Mandan, Dickinson, and Williston) joined as we had three separate virtual meetings with NDAB CEO · KIM SCHNEIDER 2021 NDAB PRESIDENT Senator Hoeven, Senator Cramer, and Congressman Armstrong. Our PHIL RISBRUDT members were able to share personal stories, ask questions, and even provide feedback on potential legislation being drafted. Topics that were covered included the National Flood Insurance Program, Housing Tax Credit, Infrastructure Package, Soaring Lumber Prices, Vocational Job Training, and Energy Codes. All those important issues were covered within an hour meeting. While our discussions could have stretched out longer, the North Dakota delegation all have an open-door policy with the North Dakota Association of Builders and over the years, we have built strong relationships not only with them, but also with their staff. By welcoming our comments, concerns, and suggestions, our members have an opportunity to reach out to their offices at any time via phone calls, emails, or even personal visits to their local offices. The NAHB also has a top legislative advocacy staff that remains in constant contact with the staff to ensure they are apprised of any issues and the stance our members take on them. Your voice matters and we all work together as a team to ensure that home builders are well represented!

Advocacy is a great member benefit, and the work happens at the local, state, and national levels all year long! Please be watching your inboxes, reading your newsletters, and checking out social media to be kept aware of what is happening and how you can help. Members are our most power resources when it comes to advocacy work. Your voice matters! Key decision makers want to hear your personal stories when they are making important votes on issues that impact the building industry. Please reach out to your local HBA to learn how you can get more involved!

Contributing to PAC is another substantial way to support the building industry. The NDAB-PAC and the BUILD-PAC are two ways that our industry can support candidates who are friends of the building industry. As a non-partisan political action committee, donations from personal, member accounts are pooled together to provide campaign donations to those candidates running for office at your local, state, and federal levels. Contributions to NDAB-PAC are completely voluntary. Contributions to NDAB-PAC are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions at any level are accepted all year long and we invite you learn more by reaching out to your local HBA. Take care, Phil Risbrudt, 2021 NDAB President || Kim Schneider, NDAB CEO