Capitol Hill

NRCA's Fall Committee Meetings and Legislative Conference were held Oct. 18-21 in Washington, D.C. Nearly 150 association members participated to advance the roofing industry's agenda in Congress, and events throughout the four days allowed NRCA members to establish a dialogue with key decision makers. In addition, 33 NRCA committees met to conduct association business.

The event kicked off with Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) speaking at lunch Oct. 18. That evening, NRCA held its Legislators Appreciation Reception in the Hart Senate Office Building with Sens. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and John Thune (R-S.D.). The following day, NRCA members visited the Capitol Hill offices of their respective members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to lobby for NRCA's issues. ROOFPAC's gala dinner that evening featured Sens. James Talent (R-Mo.) and George Allen (R-Va.). On Oct. 20, NRCA members went to a briefing in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next door to the White House.

Government relations

The conference focused on three issues: comprehensive immigration reform; association health plans (AHPs); and a shorter tax depreciation schedule for commercial roof systems. The timing fit well with where each is in Congress—particularly immigration.

On Oct. 18, NRCA Executive Vice President Bill Good participated in a panel discussion about immigration at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as part of a larger program held by the National Chamber Foundation, "Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Fixing a Broken System." NRCA's Government Relations Committee had a table at the program, which included Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).

Concurrent with the Chamber of Commerce's program, Rogers spoke to NRCA members during lunch at the conference hotel. NRCA President Reid Ribble, president of The Ribble Group Inc., Kaukauna, Wis., initiated a discussion about the need for immigration reform proposals to have reasonable guest-worker provisions. Ribble cautioned that reform addressing only border security and interior enforcement could devastate industries with high percentages of immigrant labor in their work forces.

Republicans are preparing to vote on immigration legislation, and many have been leaning toward enforcement first. As part of the House Republican leadership, Rogers now understands NRCA's concerns.

High-level meetings

NRCA members' visits to congressional offices boosted prospects for legislation that would allow NRCA to offer AHP benefits to members across state lines. The bill that passed the House is being rewritten in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and does not have a number at press time. It is a compromise that is expected to have the best chance of an AHP bill in the Senate, which has never passed AHP legislation.

Congressional visits also boosted the Realistic Roofing Tax Treatment Act of 2005 (R2T2) (S 1200/HR 1510) to shorten the tax depreciation schedule for roof systems from the current 39-year schedule to 20 years. A meeting took place with Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), who chairs the Finance Committee. This meeting was made possible by NRCA PAC Advisory Committee Chairman William Taylor, chief executive officer of D.C. Taylor Co., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

NRCA advocates R2T2 to help rebuild states devastated by the hurricanes, and Grassley's staff suggested reviewing the administration's Gulf Opportunity Zone proposals, which appears to propose 50 percent bonus depreciation for commercial buildings but lacks details.

White House briefing

During the White House briefing, Taylor explained R2T2 to Special Assistant to the President Mike Meece and asked how it would fit with 50 percent bonus depreciation. Meece said Congress ultimately will formulate a tax package and offered to facilitate a meeting with the Department of Treasury.

Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy Allyson Ho explained the administration's immigration reform proposals, which NRCA generally supports. The briefing concluded with Deputy Assistant to the President Barry Jackson, who thanked NRCA for being a presence regarding a variety of important issues.

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