NLBMDA urges Congress to support industry priorities
The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) announced that it has sent a letter to Senate leaders in regard to Build Back Better Act.
The letter highlights the industry’s positions on several proposals in the Democratic budget reconciliation plan.
The legislation passed the House of Representatives last month and is now under consideration in the Senate. The roughly $2 trillion plan calls for new investments in social programs related to climate change, housing, health care, labor, education, and child care.
In the letter, NLBMDA outlined its concerns with specific provisions in the House bill and provided recommendations on how to improve the bill in the Senate. These recommendations include:
- Oppose all tax increases on LBM dealers;
- Oppose provisions from the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act;
- Oppose unreasonable increases to OSHA fines;
- Oppose expansion of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA);
- Prioritize workforce development initiatives; and
- Prioritize the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and affordable housing.
The NLBMDA said that members are encouraged to echo the association's advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill by utilizing the Grassroots Action Center to contact their senators in support of the LBM industry’s priorities.
Additionally, the NLBMDA reported that it is unclear when the Senate will vote on the Build Back Better Act as there remain several disagreements within the Democratic Party on the size and scope of the bill.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has said he would like to pass the bill by the end of the month, but it is looking likely that negotiations will continue into 2022.
Democrats will need the support of all 50 of their senators in order for the bill to pass under the budget reconciliation process.