Capitol Hill

NRCA has belonged to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for many years. But interaction with the chamber has grown stronger during the past 10 years.

Although NRCA takes the lead in fighting for important roofing industry issues, the chamber, a large pro-business organization, works to leverage the association's legislative, regulatory and political goals when possible. In turn, the chamber relies on NRCA's expertise and guidance when setting policy.

Committees

NRCA Executive Vice President William Good is a member of the chamber's Association Committee of 100, a group composed of top association executives from throughout the United States. The committee routinely meets with Chamber President Thomas Donohue to discuss issues affecting associations. Good also is a member of the chamber's Public Affairs Committee, which endorses candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

I serve on the Labor Relations Committee and chair its Occupational Safety and Health Administration subcommittee. The committee's jurisdiction includes labor-management relations and all federal laws and regulations affecting employment. NRCA Director of Federal Affairs R. Craig Silvertooth also is active with this committee, particularly its immigration subcommittee.

My other post is with the Regulatory Affairs Committee, the policy-originating body for the chamber in the area of federal regulatory affairs. When forming the committee in 1995, the chamber's board requested I serve as liaison to the Labor Relations Committee.

Immigration forums

The immigration issue offers an excellent example of the synergy that often can develop between NRCA and the chamber on issues of mutual importance. NRCA and the chamber belong to the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition, which is composed of 36 associations and companies advocating immigration reform and an expanded guest-worker program put forward by President Bush in January (see "Capitol Hill," March issue, page 14).

On March 10, I participated in a panel discussion for an immigration forum titled "Immigration: A Policy for the 21st Century" held by the National Chamber Foundation, an affiliate of the chamber that drives national debate about key policy issues. White House officials at the forum included Margaret Spellings, assistant to the president for domestic policy and senior immigration advisor.

This was the third immigration forum in which NRCA was asked by the chamber to take a lead role. On Dec. 5, 2001, former NRCA President Mike Promen, president of Clark Roofing Co., Broadview, Ill., participated in a panel discussion at the forum "Immigration Policy After Sept. 11: Enhancing Security and Facilitating Commerce." On Oct. 22, 2003, I moderated a panel at the forum "Immigration: Access, Security and the American Economy."

Endorsements

Congressman Jim DeMint (R), who represents the 4th Congressional District in South Carolina, is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring incumbent Ernest Hollings (D). To get to November's general election, DeMint first must be successful in a June 8 Republican primary against candidates that include former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley and former South Carolina State Attorney General Charlie Condon. If no candidate gets more that 50 percent of the vote, there will be a run-off election.

After carefully scrutinizing the candidates' records on business issues, the chamber, which typically does not get involved in primaries, endorsed DeMint. This could be a decisive factor in DeMint winning, and, as mentioned, Good is part of the chamber's endorsement process. NRCA's political action committee, ROOFPAC, has contributed $5,000 to DeMint.

For more information about how your congressmen voted on business issues or to register to vote, click on the "VoteForBusiness.com" banner at the top of NRCA's home page, www.nrca.net. This program to educate and assist NRCA members to vote is produced by the chamber. When clicking on the banner, a welcome letter from Good appears and explains the information available online and importance of voting.

Great success

NRCA has increased its clout in Washington, D.C., considerably during the past 14 years by working with like-minded organizations to achieve mutual goals. NRCA plays a vibrant role within the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that has enabled the association to realize great success for the roofing industry.

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