Lumber dealers gain support in DC

The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association says it pays to knock on the doors of power.

The NLBMDA’s 2016 Spring Meeting and Legislative Conference, held last week, included political eduction, networking and some productive lobbying in the halls and offices of Capitol Hill.

Following NLBMDA's congressional visits, 18 representatives and two senators signed on as cosponsors to the Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act (H.R. 4773, S. 2707) reforming the DOL Overtime Rule. The NLBMDA advocates halting changes to the Department of Labor's (DOL) Overtime Rule that would dramatically increase the number of employees eligible for overtime pay.

In addition, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) has signed on as a cosponsor to the Innocent Sellers Fairness Act thanks to a visit from NLBMDA's Kansas members. This has been a cornerstone issue for the NLBMDA, which seeks to protect lumber dealers from product liability lawsuits through passage of the Innocent Sellers Fairness Act (H.R. 1199).

Association members were also dutifully promoting other key positions:

• Improving regulations for small businesses by strengthening and modernizing the Regulatory Flexibility Act;

• Restoring mandatory sanctions for filing frivolous lawsuits in federal court; and,

• Leveling the playing field between online retailers and local retailers by passing E-fairness legislation. 

Other highlights of the annual meeting included political analysis from former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, speeches at the Washington Briefing Breakfast by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), and a congressional reception in the House Agriculture Committee hearing room.