New LBM government advocacy alliance is launched
A new lumber and building materials government advocacy organization has officially launched.
According to a statement on its new website, the American Building Materials Alliance (ABMA) said it plans to actively advocate on behalf of its members to advance, shape, and influence policy in all branches of government.
“We work directly with members of Congress, the White House, and federal agencies to impact the legislative and regulatory process as it affects the LBM industry,” the statement reads.
The ABMA is backed by the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA) and the Construction Suppliers Association (CSA).
The new government affairs organization stems from CSA’s decision to leave the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association last October.
This past May, the NRLA also reported that it was ending its association with the NLBMDA and said it planned to form its own lumber and building materials lobbying agency in partnership with the CSA.
In an email issued this morning, the ABMA described itself as “your new source for comprehensive federal legislative and regulatory services.”
An eight-member ABMA Federal Legislative Committee, made up of NRLA and CSA members, held its first meeting on Aug. 26 to formally identify its legislative priorities. They include:
- The infrastructure package, including potential tax law changes;
- Workforce development, including immigration and minimum wage;
- And a new Softwood Lumber Agreement.
ABMA Federal Legislative Committee members include:
- Joe Cecarelli, Hood Distribution, AMBA Chair
- Ida Ross Hicks, Swift Supply, ABMA Vice-Chair
- Sara Belletete, Belletete Inc.
- Andrew Brown, Brown Lumber Co.
- Phil Kennedy, Comanche Home Center
- Bob Magbee, Magbee Contractors Supply
- Matt Semonik, Arnold Lumber
- Rod Wiles, Hammond Lumber
The organization has named Pat Rita as its government affairs associate.
As part of its kick-off, the alliance has asked members to help introduce the ABMA to federal representatives through an ABMA Intro Action Alert button.
Additionally, the ABMA plans to provide weekly updates every Friday via an “ABMA Advocate” newsletter. The communication is designed to keep members up to date on committee activities, legislative and regulatory news, and grassroots activities.
More information about the new organization is available at ABMAlliance.org.
The NRLA represents more than 860 retail locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
The CSA represents more than 320 retail locations in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.
But the move by the NRLA and CSA has come under fire from the NLBDMA.
In a statement released in May by the NLBMDA, following the NRLA's departure, the association said the move did not take into account the past year's accomplishments; particularly the achievements made during a global health pandemic.
"The actions of the NLBMDA were the only reason lumber and building material dealers in the United States were able to keep their doors open," the statement read. "NLBMDA utilized its decades of relationships and partnerships and recognition on Capitol Hill to ensure that the industry was deemed ‘essential’."
The NLBMDA also points to its base of operations in Washington, D.C. as being key in accomplishing pro-LBM legislation.
"It is critical that the industry speak with one voice in Washington D.C. or risk losing its influence," the association noted. "The NLBMDA has unique knowledge, credibility and depth that simply cannot be replicated by the NLRA’s idea of a third-party lobbyist. The entire LBM Industry will be better-positioned with the unified, credible voice of the NLBMDA."
