Home Builders, Developers Score Key Wins in House Passage of Interior-Environment Spending Bill

Advocacy
Published

NAHB and Florida home builders posted key wins after the House passed its Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2025.

The Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) took the lead in working with NAHB to add an amendment to the spending bill that would codify Florida’s wetlands permitting program. Florida’s Section 404 permitting program under the Clean Water Act (CWA) was granted in 2020 but was divested this year due to a legal case.

FHBA members lobbied Congress to restore the program during NAHB’s June 12 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. The concerted lobbying efforts by FHBA members and NAHB to reinstate this permitting provision paid off with this key amendment added to the House’s Interior-Environment spending bill.

NAHB also secured language in the spending bill that would require the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“the Agencies”) to publicly release any guidance documents related to the implementation of the amended 2023 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

This information is vital for builders and developers seeking federal permit approval because of the Agencies’ failure to define key regulatory terms in its final WOTUS rule. This uncertainty regarding which waters are subject to federal jurisdiction sets the stage for continued federal overreach, bureaucratic delays during the wetlands permitting process, and regulatory confusion for home builders and land developers.

Last fall, NAHB filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking various documents concerning the implementation of the WOTUS, but NAHB received an unsatisfactory response from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — which contained mostly reams of redacted information.

Finally, NAHB was also able to insert legislative language in the Interior-Environment appropriations bill concerning the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This language would withhold funds from the Biden administration to implement and enforce a deeply problematic ESA rule, which imposes mandatory compensatory mitigation for impacts to habitat of federally protected species during the ESA Section 7 consultation.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Tax Reform

Jun 17, 2025

Senate Version of Tax Bill Retains Key Housing, Business Provisions

The Senate Finance Committee on June 16 unveiled its portion of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — sweeping tax and domestic policy legislation that narrowly passed the House last month. The Senate version includes several provisions that are very positive for housing.

Economics

Jun 17, 2025

Builder Sentiment at Third Lowest Reading Since 2012

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes was 32 in June, down two points from May, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. The index has only posted a lower reading twice since 2012 – in December 2022 when it hit 31 and in April 2020 at the start of the pandemic when it plunged more than 40 points to 30.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jun 17, 2025

Builder Sentiment at Third Lowest Reading Since 2012

In a further sign of declining builder sentiment, the use of price incentives increased sharply in June as the housing market continues to soften.

Economics

Jun 16, 2025

Permit Activity Weakens in April 2025

Housing permits continued a downhill trend for the fourth month in a row, pointing to a broader residential construction slowdown for 2025. Over the first four months of 2025, the total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date (YTD) nationwide reached 320,259.

Economics

Jun 13, 2025

Household Real Estate Asset Value Falls to Start the Year

The market value of household real estate assets fell from $48.1 trillion to $47.9 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, according to the most recent release of U.S. Federal Reserve Z.1 Financial Accounts. The value of household real estate assets declined for three consecutive quarters after peaking at $48.8 trillion in the second quarter of 2024 but remains 2.1% higher over the year.