NAHB supports farm bill
The House of Representatives passed its version of the Farm Bill by a thin margin yesterday.
Backed by the GOP, the bill passed by a vote of 213-211 and covers farm and food legislation. But it has faced controversy due to more stringent requirements for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP), once known as food stamps.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) supports the bill and said it could lead to a reduction of dependency on lumber imports, however.
NAHB Chairman Randy Noel.
In a statement issued by the NAHB, chairman Randy Noel said, “NAHB commends the House for passing the farm bill. The legislation includes provisions of importance to the housing community. It implements critical forest management reforms that will help improve the health of our forest system and reduce our reliance on foreign sources of timber. This is especially important given that soaring lumber prices—exacerbated by 20% tariffs on imports of Canadian softwood lumber—are harming housing affordability.”
The NAHB also says that the bill repeals the Obama administration’s waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, allowing the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create a new rule that protects the environment “without impeding economic growth.”
Last week the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers submitted a new proposed “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) definition to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review.
Backed by the GOP, the bill passed by a vote of 213-211 and covers farm and food legislation. But it has faced controversy due to more stringent requirements for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP), once known as food stamps.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) supports the bill and said it could lead to a reduction of dependency on lumber imports, however.
NAHB Chairman Randy Noel.In a statement issued by the NAHB, chairman Randy Noel said, “NAHB commends the House for passing the farm bill. The legislation includes provisions of importance to the housing community. It implements critical forest management reforms that will help improve the health of our forest system and reduce our reliance on foreign sources of timber. This is especially important given that soaring lumber prices—exacerbated by 20% tariffs on imports of Canadian softwood lumber—are harming housing affordability.”
The NAHB also says that the bill repeals the Obama administration’s waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, allowing the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create a new rule that protects the environment “without impeding economic growth.”
Last week the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers submitted a new proposed “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) definition to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review.