Take action over the seven-week congressional break by meeting with your Members of Congress in the communities they represent. The Republican and Democratic National Conventions have added two weeks to the traditional summer recess. Both the Senate and House leave Washington, D.C. on July 15 and will not return until after Labor Day on September 6.
Now is a great time to contact your local House and Senate offices and invite them to tour your lumberyard. NLBMDA staff and your regional association executive are happy to help in providing you with the tools you need to engage your elected officials during the extended break.
When you do make your appointments make sure to let us know, and after the meeting please send your pictures to
[email protected]
.
We encourage NLBMDA members to focus their outreach on the following areas: (detailed talking points on each issue may be found below)
Change DOL's Overtime Rule
- Support the Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act (H.R 4773, S. 2707), which would halt the impending changes to overtime eligibility and require the Department of Labor (DOL) to conduct a comprehensive economic analysis on the impact of mandatory overtime expansion.
Cost-Effective Building Codes
- Encourage the House and Senate to reconcile different comprehensive energy bills and reach a final agreement that includes a provision requiring national model building codes to be cost-effective, transparent and technology-neutral.
Stop the HIT
- Repeal the health insurance tax (HIT) levied annually on fully-insured health care plans that are offered by many small and medium-size businesses by supporting the Jobs and Premium Protection Act (H.R. 928, S. 183).
Regulatory Reform
-
Update the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act to close loopholes and more effectively reduce the disproportionate burden that over-regulation places on small businesses.
End Unfair and Unfounded Lawsuits
- Protect building material dealers, distributors, and other retailers from unwarranted product liability lawsuits by cosponsoring the Innocent Sellers Fairness Act (H.R. 1199) in the House of Representatives--and push for introduction of similar legislation in the Senate.
Ways to Take Action During the Summer Break:
- Invite your Representative and Senators to your lumberyard. Show them what your business entails, how your company operates and what your employees do on a daily basis. Yard tours are a great way for lawmakers to meet you and your employees, hear about your company's success and see first-hand how their votes impact your business. If you are willing to host a plant tour, please reference our guide to hosting a successful lumber yard tour.
- Contact your member of Congress and set up a meeting. You can look up your elected officials at NLBMDA's Legislative Action Center; then contact their staff to schedule a meeting in their district/state office to discuss the legislative priorities with them face-to-face.
- Attend a town hall or other local event hosted by a member of Congress. These meetings usually are small and another way for you to speak with your elected officials.
- Encourage your employees to vote. Put up a flyer in your break room reminding your team that Election Day is on Tuesday, November 8. If you have employees that are not registered to vote, they can sign up here and even receive text alerts reminding them to vote.
NLBMDA Resources:
Have questions or need help in making appointments?
Contact NLBMDA's
Vice President of Legislative and Political Affairs, Ben Gann at 202.367.1169 or email
[email protected]
.
