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On April 5-6, the roofing industry will visit Capitol Hill for Roofing Day in D.C. 2022. The industry’s biggest advocacy event of the year, Roofing Day in D.C. provides an opportunity for lawmakers to hear the roofing industry speak with one voice regarding key government policy issues. NRCA urges all roofing industry professionals to participate and help demonstrate the breadth and diversity of the industry to Congress.
With more than 400 participants attending the first two in-person events in 2018 and 2019, Roofing Day in D.C. is one of the largest advocacy events of any kind in Washington, D.C. It brings together contractors, manufacturers, distributors, consultants, service providers, field workers and other industry professionals to advocate collectively for the industry’s continued success. Roofing Day in D.C. is a collaboration among NRCA members, industry stakeholders, and numerous regional, state and local roofing industry associations and intended to enhance the industry’s professionalization and prosperity.
New programming
Although Capitol Hill remains under some COVID-19 restrictions for large gatherings, NRCA is working hard to ensure Roofing Day in D.C. is as seamless and successful as possible. NRCA has retained Advocacy Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm specializing in managing large advocacy events, for guidance and reserved additional hospitality space for virtual meetings to be held during the event.
On Tuesday, April 5, an opening program and cocktail reception will be held at the Grant Hyatt® Washington to kick off Roofing Day in D.C. 2022. On Wednesday, April 6, participants will attend a morning program featuring speakers who will discuss the political outlook in Washington, D.C., give tips for congressional meetings and discuss emerging roofing industry issues. In the afternoon, participants will have three to four meetings with senators, representatives and congressional staff to convey the roofing industry’s message. Although not all lawmakers will be available to meet in person because of the pandemic, in-person meetings will be scheduled for as many participants as possible.
A tentative agenda for Roofing Day in D.C. 2022 is available at nrca.net/roofingday.
Roofing Day in D.C. participants will be provided with an online platform to access schedules of congressional meetings, position papers, talking points, links to video meetings, thank-you note templates and other features.
Key issues
All participants will be given position papers and talking points for the key policy issues that will be the focus of the meetings with members of Congress. Selected with input from members of NRCA’s Roofing Day Committee, the issues unify all segments of the industry. At press time, the advocacy issues had not yet been finalized but will likely include thanking Congress for passing infrastructure legislation with a strong buildings component and discussing federal legislation to address workforce challenges.
Virtual Roofing Day in D.C. 2021 was wildly successful because of its passionate participants. Since the event, there has been progress and success on most of the issues participants presented to lawmakers.
Congress is expected to pass legislation with an additional $50 million in funding for career and technical education state grants that can help employers meet their workforce development needs. In November 2021, Congress passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that has a strong buildings component supported by the roofing industry. Roofing Day in D.C. 2021 participants also helped add co-sponsors to the Energy Efficient Qualified Improvement Property (E-QUIP) Act that allows for 10-year depreciation of energy-efficient roof systems and supported the introduction of the Workforce for an Expanded Economy Act that creates a new visa program for foreign workers.
The primary goal of Roofing Day in D.C. events is to establish long-term relationships with lawmakers in Congress that ultimately will help achieve important policy goals for the roofing industry’s future.
Register now
NRCA strongly encourages all industry professionals to register now for Roofing Day in D.C. 2022 and bring along one or more field workers. Elected officials will benefit greatly from hearing from the roofing industry’s dedicated workforce. The registration fee is $95 per person for company representatives and $35 for field workers, students and spouses. It is a meaningful and fun experience you—and they—will never forget.
Additional information about Roofing Day in D.C. 2022 and registration information are available at nrca.net/roofingday.
On behalf of NRCA’s leadership and staff, we look forward to seeing you April 5-6 in Washington, D.C., for the premier advocacy event of the year!
DEBORAH MAZOL is NRCA's director of federal affairs in Washington, D.C.
This column is part of Rules + Regs. Click here to read additional stories from this section.
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