Podcast: Remembering a Pro-Housing President and a New Congress is Here

In the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez discuss what to expect from the new Congress, with Republicans in control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the White House.

In terms of leadership, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) retained his role in the House, while John Thune (R-S.D.) will take the helm as Majority Leader of the Senate. Both will have to contend with slim majorities and governing strategies moving forward.

As President-Elect Donald Trump prepares for his next term, he has been quick to share big ideas but has also provided a more orderly transition — a lesson learned from his first term. His agenda includes immigration and the debt ceiling — as well as a significant a tax bill to address expiring tax codes — and his team has actively been reaching out to NAHB to discuss housing policies.

“They’re calling us. I get emails every other day, it seems like,” Tobin shared, with a goal to hit the ground running. “It’s going to be a busy couple of years, no doubt. They’re always busy, but this one seems like a lot of activity.”

NAHB has already been active in addressing policy by filing a lawsuit, along with 15 state attorneys general, against the Department of Urban and Housing Development’s (HUD) energy mandate.

“I love being aggressive,” Tobin stated. “This is a real opportunity for us to take the political moment that housing and housing supply is enjoying and turning it into a policy moment. This is the opening salvo of that.”

Tobin and Lopez also pay tribute to former President Jimmy Carter. Carter supported housing and was a steward for Habitat for Humanity, which has been a great partner for many of state and local home builders associations, and been supported by builder and supplier efforts.

Listen to the full episode of the podcast below, and subscribe to Housing Development through your favorite podcast provider or watch all the episodes on YouTube.