NAHB Senior Officers Talk Housing with Key Lawmakers

NAHB First Vice Chairman Buddy Hughes and Second Vice Chairman Bill Owens met with Capitol Hill leaders over the past two days to pursue a strong national housing agenda and address key issues affecting the housing affordability crisis.

The two NAHB Senior Officers are slated to become NAHB chairman and first vice chairman, respectively, on Feb. 27 during the NAHB Leadership Council meeting in Las Vegas that is held in conjunction with the International Builders’ Show.

Addressing a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues with serious repercussions for the nation’s supply of affordably priced housing, Hughes and Owens reiterated the importance of housing and homeownership to the economy and urged lawmakers to focus on supply chain, regulatory and workforce development issues to help stem rising housing costs.

They also stressed that a healthy housing market is vital to maintain robust job and economic growth.

Discussions were held with nearly 20 influential lawmakers in key leadership positions, including:

• House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.)
• House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.)
• Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair and Environment & Public Works Committee Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)
• Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.)
• House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.)
• Senate Appropriations Committee member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)

On the supply chain and lumber front, Hughes and Owens urged lawmakers to join with NAHB to call on all parties to remain committed to a productive dialogue to prevent any new tariffs from going into effect. President Trump announced on Feb. 3 that he would delay 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods for one month as negotiations continue.

Tariffs on building materials would raise construction costs, discourage new development and place additional strain on a housing market already facing affordability challenges.

If the president decides to move forward next month to impose new tariffs on Canada and Mexico, NAHB is urging lawmakers to call on the White House to exempt building materials that are critical to housing our nation.

Meetings were also held with lawmakers who are championing key NAHB housing priorities, including Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), who recently introduced the CONSTRUCTS Act, legislation that would support the construction workforce.

Hughes and Owens also met with Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), who last month introduced NAHB-supported legislation that would help jurisdictions preserve local control over the building code adoption process while also encouraging communities to take positive steps to withstand and recover from extreme events.

Attend the June 11 NAHB Legislative Conference

Members will also have the opportunity to speak directly with your member of Congress on the key issues affecting your business and our industry at NAHB’s Legislative Conference.

The meetings, held on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., are a critical part of the Federation’s advocacy efforts to keep housing issues a priority with federal lawmakers. Your participation can make a difference.

Save the date for the 2025 Legislative Conference on Wednesday, June 11.