Capitol Hill

The Political Insiders Council (PIC) is the major donor program of NRCA's political action committee, ROOFPAC, and available to NRCA members who make personal commitments to ROOFPAC of $5,000 per year—the maximum donation allowable by law. The council was established in 2005 and now has 20 members, giving ROOFPAC the financial support necessary for NRCA to be proactive on a number of high-profile issues in Washington, D.C., not the least of which is comprehensive immigration reform.

A compromise

The first Washington fly-in for PIC members took place May 16-19, and the timing could not have been better to have the maximum effect on the immigration issue in Congress. In fact, it was on May 17, with PIC members gathered in the office of Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), that the senator, who until then had resisted immigration reforms advocated by NRCA, burst into the office exclaiming, "The roofers are here, and we've got a deal on immigration reform!"

May 17 was indeed a turning point in the immigration reform debate as a bipartisan group of 12 senators led by Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) announced a "grand bargain" compromise immigration reform proposal that was quickly embraced by the White House. Introduced as S. 1348, the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 contains three core tenets of comprehensive immigration reform—enhanced border security, a guest worker program and a method to bring undocumented workers already in the U.S. out of the shadows without amnesty.

Although the bill is not perfect, NRCA and the business coalition it co-chairs, the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition, support S. 1348 as the best opportunity to obtain immigration reform that addresses the demographic work force crisis affecting the roofing industry.

All hands on deck

The day also included a breakfast for Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business, who had held a May 10 committee hearing on immigration at which Craig Silvertooth, NRCA's director of federal affairs, testified. Following the breakfast, PIC members met with Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.), who will push for an amendment to immigration reform legislation to see that employer requirements are workable and have reasonable legal standards concerning the liability of general contractors and subcontractors.

ROOFPAC then hosted a lunch at the Capitol Hill Club for Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) where PIC members thanked him for being the lead Republican sponsor of H.R. 1645, the Security Through Regularized Immigration and Vibrant Economy Act of 2007, which also contains the three previously mentioned core tenets of comprehensive immigration reform and now has 70 co-sponsors. After lunch, PIC members met with senators whose votes would be crucial to advancing meaningful immigration legislation.

As mentioned, the first meeting was with Sen. Isakson and validated NRCA's efforts with the announcement of a Senate bill. PIC members then met with staff of Georgia's other senator, Saxby Chambliss (R), who was also a negotiator of the compromise. That evening, ROOFPAC hosted a reception for Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), who supports S. 1348 and will face a tough re-election battle in 2008.

The following day began with a breakfast featuring Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs Robert Wilkie. PIC members then went to the Labor Department to meet with Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin Foulke. This was followed by lunch with David Sackett of The Tarrance Group, Alexandria, Va., a political polling firm. The day ended with a cruise on the Potomac River aboard the U.S.S. Sequoia Presidential Yacht, sponsored by Johns Manville, Denver.

Making a difference

PIC members demonstrated that a unified industry group speaking with one voice on Capitol Hill can be a catalyst regarding important legislation. Although prospects for comprehensive immigration reform are uncertain, legislation would not have been introduced without NRCA's input.

NRCA members are encouraged to attend NRCA's Fall Committee Meetings and Legislative Conference Oct. 16-19 in Washington, D.C., to take part in meetings with key decision makers who affect the roofing industry. For more information about the meetings, log on to www.nrca.net.

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