Capitol Hill

The thunder-like rumbling of the Nov. 4 elections is growing closer every day. The roofing industry can cope with the impending political storm by hiding in the proverbial cellar or by being as proactive as possible as a lobbying and political force, as NRCA has done and will continue to do. NRCA's clout on Capitol Hill and with the current administration is formidable; however, it must grow even stronger for the industry to not only survive the storm but come out ahead.

NRCA's Washington, D.C., office has developed good relationships with a number of congressional Democrats in this Congress, but it is party leadership that determines which bills are brought up for vote. And with Democrats poised to retain control of Congress and possibly gain control of the White House, NRCA must address their pro-labor leanings.

For example, congressional Democrats would like to see a more aggressive Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and they are unhappy OSHA's ergonomics regulations were repealed. Also, all leading Democrats in the presidential race plan to reinstate OSHA's ergonomics regulations if elected to the White House despite the fact OSHA estimates compliance with the regulations would cost businesses billions of dollars annually.

Democrats' plan to "improve" safety would countermand the current administration's successful cooperative approach with roofing and other industries that has resulted in the lowest levels of worker injuries and deaths in U.S. history, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The administration recognized NRCA's commitment to workplace safety when NRCA Associate Executive Director of Education and Risk Management Tom Shanahan was appointed to OSHA's Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH). And Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke Jr. will speak about this and other matters at the National Roofing Legal Resource Center Breakfast during NRCA's 121st Annual Convention and the 2008 International Roofing Expo® Feb. 19-23 in Las Vegas.

Direct and grassroots lobbying

During NRCA's October 2007 legislative conference in Washington, members visited Capitol Hill offices to lobby on various issues, including the Roofing Energy Efficiency Tax Act (REETA). At that time, REETA, which would shorten the tax depreciation schedule for commercial roof systems, had not yet been introduced. NRCA members' direct lobbying paid off on Nov. 8, 2007, when Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.) and Rep. Ron Lewis (R-Ky.) introduced REETA as H.R. 4126, and the bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, of which Pascrell and Lewis are members.

NRCA is working with both representatives to retain more co-sponsors and have REETA added to broader tax reform or energy legislation.

Because major tax bills, such as the Alternative Minimum Tax Exemption, clogged Congress' schedule late last year, NRCA did not push for more co-sponsors at that time.

But NRCA plans to generate more Ways and Means Committee co-sponsors through office visits during the current congressional session. These visits will be supplemented by grassroots lobbying, in which NRCA members write letters supporting REETA that NRCA delivers to the respective congressmen. This technique is being used to get REETA introduced in the Senate, and all this activity is reinforced by ROOFPAC, NRCA's political action committee.

In pursuit

As the Nov. 4 political storm approaches, NRCA continues to pursue the highest degree of visibility and political clout possible in Washington to benefit the roofing industry. This recently has been achieved through Shanahan's appointment to OSHA's ACCSH and through large-scale activities such as the legislative conference. Key to these victories is ROOFPAC, which is proving to be a crucial ingredient in expanding NRCA's influence and forwarding its initiatives.

Craig S. Brightup is NRCA's vice president of government relations.