NLBMDA RECAP
Postcards from Capitol Hill Washington, D.C. — A delegate from Texas orchestrated 14 individual meetings with legislative offices on Capitol Hill during the 2019 National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association Legislative Conference. A dealer from South Dakota saw all three of that state’s national legislators. And dealers from New York say their freshman class of representatives in Washington were polite and eager to listen. The talking points were emphasized and rehearsed at a breakfast presentation, which focused on four issue briefs in the leave-behind packet:
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Taxation of qualified improvement property — This issue seeks to correct a drafting error in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and allow interior improvements to commercial buildings (Qualified Improvement Property) to be eligible for 100% bonus depreciation, saving businesses from an unnecessarily higher tax burden. Repeal of the health insurance tax — The objective here is to delay or repeal the annual HIT (health insurance tax) on plans offered by small and medium-sized businesses. Along these lines, the NLBMDA seeks support for the Health Insurance Tax Relief Act. Strengthen the low-income housing tax credit — Addressing the shortage of affordable housing, the NLBMDA supports the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to incentivize the private sector into building affordable homes.
From left to right: Adam Hendrix of CHIC Lumber of Missouri joins the group at the Congressional Reception. Capitol Hill throght the cherry trees. Brett and Colton Hanson, representing Trie State Building Center of Sisseton, S.D. Dealers came from all over the country to press the issues with their representatives April 1-3; The Legislative Conference included an issue briefing presented by the NLBMDA and the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association.
Renewal of the U.S.-Canada softwood lumber agreement — There hasn’t been an agreement since 2015, and in its place have come countervailing duties and antidumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports. No agreement means no stability in pricing.
Dealers sought out their representatives to talk about things back home, and to press on the issues. Several dealers said the strengthening of the housing tax credit seemed to be the best received proposal of the bunch. Bob Sanford of Sanford & Hawley in Connecticut and chair of the NLBMDA said the dealers delivered a strong message. “It was great to see so many dealers on Capitol Hill educating legislators—especially the freshman class—on the importance,
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intricacies and impact of the building material supply industry on the U.S. economy,” he said. “We also delivered a message about the value of this industry on the shelter and well-being of many Americans.” Brett Hanson of Tri State Building Center in Sisseton, S.D., saw both of the South Dakota senators and its sole House member. With Hanson was his 14-year-old son Colter, who was making the rounds on Capitol Hill for the third year in a row. “Having him by my side makes a statement to my legislators, as well as the representatives of the other states we visit, that I am not just here for today,” said Brett Hanson. The NLBMDA’s next major event is the 2019 ProDealer Industry Summit, slated for Colorado Springs, Colo., Oct. 8-10. HBSD
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