NRCA's Washington, D.C., office has earned a reputation for staying abreast of legislative issues important to the roofing industry, and the current debate about health care reform provides yet another opportunity for the association to speak out in support of small businesses.
Despite the partisan bickering taking place, both sides of the aisle agree reform is needed. However, NRCA believes the current bill before the House of Representatives—"America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" (H.R. 3200)—will do a disservice to small businesses and their employees. To that end, NRCA issued a joint letter to the U.S. House of Representatives detailing the problems within the bill. NRCA and more than 3,000 state, local and national associations sent letters.
NRCA's letter states forcing employers to provide health insurance coverage to employees would "stifle the flexibility and innovation that is critical … to expand affordable options for coverage, especially among small employers."
In addition, the letter says the bill "would drive up the cost of coverage and reduce choices for businesses and workers."
The letter echoes the sentiments in an Action Alert NRCA issued to its members in July urging them to contact their congressional representatives and ask them to vote against the bill.
NRCA's opposition to the current health care legislation once again places the association in the midst of important change. And during NRCA's Fall Meetings and Legislative Conference Oct. 20-23 in Washington, members will have an opportunity to learn more about the legislation, as well as other pressing issues, such as climate change and energy legislation and financial reform.
For more information about NRCA's positions on current legislation, log on to www.nrca.net or contact Duane Musser, NRCA's vice president of government relations, at dmusser@nrca.net or (800) 338-5765.
Ambika Puniani Bailey is editor of Professional Roofing and NRCA's senior director of communications.
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