NLBMDA Hosts Successful Legislative Conference
WASHINGTON, DC - The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) hosted its 2017 Spring Meeting and Legislative Conference last week, March 27-29. In addition to NLBMDA members meeting with congressional offices on Capitol Hill, other highlights of the meeting included political analysis from political commentator and author Matt Lewis, speeches at the Washington Briefing Breakfast by Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC) and Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), and a congressional reception in the Rayburn Congressional Office Building.
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| Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC) speaks to attendees |
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NLBMDA members focused on a range of issues as part of the visits with lawmakers that included the following:
* Improve regulations by updating the Administrative Procedures Act and eliminating back door rule makings through sue and settle agreements;
* Renew the Softwood Lumber Agreement between the U.S. and Canada;
* Preserve the mortgage interest deduction and its role in American housing policy; and,
* Repeal the estate tax that harms businesses like lumberyards that have a large asset base.
NLBMDA's congressional visits paid immediate dividends with 20 members in the House of
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Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) speaks to attendees
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Representatives signing on as cosponsors to the Death Tax Repeal Act (H.R. 631). With respect to regulatory reform, Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) plans to introduce a Senate version of the Regulatory Accountability Act (H.R. 5) in the coming weeks, following passage in the House in January. Overall, NLBMDA members met with nearly 150 lawmakers during the Legislative Conference to advance the public policy priorities of the lumber and building material industry.
On the first day of the meeting, attendees heard political analysis from political commentator and author Matt Lewis, who has authored several books, is featured regularly in publications such as the Daily Caller, and is a frequent guest on cable news programs. The next morning, during the Washington Briefing Breakfast, featured speakers Rep. Tedd Budd (R-NC) and Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) thanked those who had
made the trip to the nation's capital and spoke about state of healthcare reform, the need for regulatory easing, and their goals for the current Congressional session.
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NLBMDA members from the Midwest Building Suppliers Association meet with Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN)
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After a full day of meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, a reception was held in the Rayburn C
ongressional Office Building
. Attendees had the opportunity to discuss the results of their meetings and relax after a long day of meetings.
NLBMDA thanks all its members who took time away from their businesses to champion issues of importance to the lumber and building material industry. The event was successful and will help make a difference in advancing NLBMDA's legislative and regulatory agenda.
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