A capital experience

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As NRCA members, affiliate executives and staff converged on Capitol Hill Sept. 30-Oct. 3, they focused on keeping industry-friendly members of Congress alive in their bids for re-election, as well as making sure legislative issues important to the roofing industry remain at the forefront of Congress' agenda.

In addition to an aggressive legislative conference schedule, 21 NRCA committees, NRCA's Affiliate Executives Council, the National Roofing Foundation and The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress met to carry out their essential business for the year. Participation was impressive: 132 NRCA members serving on committees, 40 spouses and 20 staff were on-hand for a week of whirlwind activity.

Legislators appreciation

Participants were delighted to hear from Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.) at the luncheon Sept. 30. Miller, having a construction industry background, discussed the currently overblown situation with mold litigation, immigration reform and health-insurance reform. Miller is a co-sponsor of legislation that would allow associations such as NRCA to provide quality, affordable health benefits through association health plans to their small-business members nationwide.

ROOFPAC, NRCA's federally registered political action committee, hosted a Legislators Appreciation Reception the evening of Sept. 30 in the Dirksen Senate office building. NRCA was pleased that Sens. George Allen (R-Va.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) stopped by the reception to visit with NRCA members about roofing industry issues. ROOFPAC presented each senator with a plaque thanking them for their support.

Time to lobby

Oct. 1 was dedicated to lobbying. NRCA's Washington, D.C., staff set up more than 100 appointments for NRCA members to meet with senators and representatives in their congressional offices. The day began with a legislative briefing during which Craig Brightup, NRCA's vice president of government relations, briefed members about the key issues they would be addressing in their meetings, as well as techniques for successful lobbying.

Brightup also was thrilled to report Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) introduced The Realistic Roofing Tax Treatment Act of 2003 (S 1679) the previous day, and a companion bill soon would be introduced in the House. S 1679 would amend the Internal Revenue Code to provide a more realistic depreciation schedule for commercial roof systems.

Armed with information and leave-behind literature and eager to meet members of Congress, NRCA members combed the Senate and House office buildings throughout the day, stressing support for the new depreciation schedule for roof systems, comprehensive immigration reform and health insurance reform (see "The three key issues").

While many NRCA members were meeting on Capitol Hill, those finished with their appointments attended a taping of CNN's "Crossfire." As audience members, NRCA members were able to experience what goes on behind the scenes during a live television show and vote on issues raised.

The day concluded with ROOFPAC's Show Me the Stars Gala where 95 NRCA members enjoyed a first-class fund-raising dinner that included appearances by Missouri Sens. Christopher "Kit" Bond (R) and Jim Talent (R) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), House majority whip.

White House briefing

Following an early start and another busy day of committee meetings, NRCA members, spouses, staff and affiliate executives participated in a White House briefing held at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is adjacent to the White House. The NRCA group heard from three White House officials, who addressed the Bush administration's current priorities: Iraq and the economy.

A successful week

By all measures, NRCA's Fall Committee Meetings and Legislative Conference was a tremendous success. Committees progressed with their important projects, and NRCA members believed members of Congress would consider the issues of utmost importance to the roofing industry.

Carl Good is publisher of Professional Roofing magazine and associate executive director of communications and membership development.

The three key issues

During NRCA's Fall Meetings and Legislative Conference Sept. 30-Oct. 3, NRCA members, affiliate executives and staff focused on three issues when meeting with members of Congress or their legislative aids: a new depreciation schedule for commercial roof systems, association health plans (AHPs) and comprehensive immigration reform. The following summarizes NRCA's position on these important issues.

New depreciation schedule

NRCA proposes Congress should amend section 168 of the Internal Revenue Code to provide a 20-year recovery period for the depreciation of commercial roof systems rather than the current 39-year schedule. As a result of the current 39-year depreciation period, business owners often delay or forgo roofing work for their businesses because it can be costly and the current depreciation schedule discourages the assumption of such an expense. In addition, 39 years is not a realistic measure of the average life span of a commercial roof system. A recent study by Ducker Worldwide, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., determined the current average commercial roof system life span is about 17 years, less than half the current depreciation period (see "Evidence of depreciation," November issue).

The inability to recognize a loss on the replacement component places taxpayers in the position of having to continue depreciating replaced roof systems. And delaying roof system replacement poses concerns: Aging and inefficient roof systems are less energy-efficient than roof systems in proper condition, and faulty roof systems suffer moisture infiltration, which can lead to structural damage.

Adopting a new depreciation schedule would satisfy two important policy goals—enhanced energy efficiency and a growth impetus for the construction industry. With a new depreciation schedule for commercial roof systems, business owners no longer would put off needed roofing work, opting instead for newer, more efficient roof systems.

AHPs

NRCA urges Congress to pass legislation that would allow bona fide trade, business and professional associations to provide quality, affordable health benefits through AHPs to their respective small-business members nationwide. About 60 percent of the uninsured work force work for or reside in a family employed by a small business—the major problem being small businesses do not have access to affordable health coverage because rising costs and regulations have made it too expensive for many small-business owners. Small businesses simply do not achieve the same economies of scale as large companies and labor unions. On average, small-business employers face premiums that are 30 percent higher than those of large, self-insured companies.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates passage of AHP legislation would result in health insurance coverage for as many as 8.5 million uninsured Americans. AHPs would offer small-business owners administrative efficiencies; larger economies of scale; greater bargaining power with insurers; and new, competitively priced coverage options. And AHPs would expand insurance coverage through private market mechanisms without new taxes or revenue outlays.

Immigration reform

NRCA proposes Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation that would establish adequate legal avenues for foreign workers to relieve the shortage of semiskilled and unskilled labor in the United States.

NRCA members continue to face a shortage of workers because there simply are not enough domestic workers to meet the growing demand facing the construction industry—even in a slow economy. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects in the roofing industry alone 50,000 workers will be needed during the next decade to keep pace with the demand for roofing services. Foreign workers could fill these jobs, yet the workers confront extraordinary hurdles to becoming U.S. citizens or obtaining the required documentation.

Current law provides construction companies the ability to hire foreign workers through a temporary visa program, which is capped at 66,000 workers per year. The program is complex, and all nonagricultural industries compete for these visas. Further, "green cards" are limited to 5,000 per year for essential workers, and currently, there is a five- to 10-year waiting list. These limited programs and the complexity of immigration law make it extremely difficult for roofing contractors to access a sustainable supply of essential workers.

If Congress passes legislation that would allow essential workers to enter the United States legally using simplified, realistic documentation procedures, Congress would recognize the critical role foreign workers play in the U.S. economy and society, as well as strengthen the nation's security.

Taking action

As a roofing industry professional, it is important you become involved in the legislative process—it is your company's future at stake. Contact your senators and representatives about these issues; you might be surprised by how glad they are to hear your feedback. And NRCA's Washington, D.C., office is a tremendous resource for information and strategies.

You can contact NRCA's Washington office at 324 Fourth St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002; telephone (800) 338-5765 or (202) 546-7584; or fax (202) 546-9289.