On March 23-24, 2021, the roofing industry will come together on Capitol Hill for Roofing Day in D.C. 2021. The industry’s biggest advocacy event of the year, Roofing Day in D.C. provides an opportunity for the industry’s collective voice to be heard in the nation’s capital regarding important policy issues.
I urge all roofing industry professionals to participate in this unique event and encourage company owners and managers to bring one or more field employees to participate. We need strong participation from a broad cross-section of the industry to meet with their members of Congress to discuss the most important issues facing their businesses and our industry.
In 2018 and 2019, more than 400 roofing professionals participated in the event, making it one of the largest advocacy events in Washington, D.C. Roofing Day in D.C. brings together contractors, manufacturers, distributors, consultants, service providers, field workers and other industry professionals to speak with one voice regarding matters that unite the industry and are critical for continued prosperity.
The plan
NRCA is working hard to make Roofing Day in D.C. 2021 even more successful than the 2018 and 2019 events (the 2020 event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic). The headquarters hotel for Roofing Day in D.C. 2021 is the Washington Marriott Wardman Park, a premier conference property in Washington, D.C.
After participants arrive in the capital Tuesday, March 23, the event kicks off at 3 p.m. with a keynote speaker who will discuss the key legislative issues participants will advocate for during Roofing Day in D.C. An advocacy training session and issues briefing will prepare attendees for their meetings with members of Congress the following day. A networking reception will follow the program at the hotel.
On Wednesday, March 24, attendees will gather for breakfast before heading to Capitol Hill for meetings with lawmakers and congressional staff. All participants will have three to five meetings with senators, representatives and/or congressional staff to convey the roofing industry’s message to Congress.
Each participant will receive a schedule of meetings, as well as talking points and position papers regarding key policy issues, in advance of the event. Although details about specific policy issues to be discussed during Roofing Day in D.C. 2021 will not be finalized until after the presidential and congressional elections in November, a key focus will be addressing the ongoing workforce shortage confronting the roofing industry. This likely will include legislation to expand career and technical education opportunities and immigration reform designed to meet the roofing industry’s workforce needs.
After the congressional meetings, a closing reception will be held on Capitol Hill. Participants will have the opportunity to network and compare notes from the meetings with fellow attendees. There also will be opportunities for participants to discuss their Roofing Day in D.C. 2021 experiences in video messages that will be posted on social media.
Register now
Registration for Roofing Day in D.C. 2021 will be available in early October at nrca.net/roofingday. The early bird rate is $95 per person for company representatives and $35 for roof system installers, students and spouses. Individuals who registered for Roofing Day in D.C. 2021 and rolled their fees over to 2021 may register for free.
NRCA has every intention of moving ahead with Roofing Day in D.C. 2021 as planned. However, if governmental or travel restrictions continue because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be virtual and participants will attend meetings with lawmakers via video platforms or conference calls.
As a roofing industry professional, you don’t want to miss this exciting event. Your participation is vital to making your business, as well as the entire industry, more successful and prosperous in the future. On behalf of NRCA leadership and staff, we look forward to seeing you on Capitol Hill in March!
Duane L. Musser is NRCA’s vice president of government relations in Washington, D.C.
This column is part of Rules + Regs. Click here to read additional stories from this section.
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