Dallas BA Takes Lumber, Workforce and Energy Code Concerns to Congress
Dallas Builders Association members and staff met with our service area’s U.S. Congressional delegation during the first week of May to engage on key policies and challenges that impact home building. The centerpiece of discussion was the crisis of soaring prices and delays being brought on by shortages in lumber and other building materials.
As some builders have reported seeing lumber prices more than quadruple over the past year, the challenge to produce affordable housing also increases. Dallas BA explained to our members of Congress how lumber price spikes have caused the price of an average new single-family home to increase by what NAHB now estimates to be nearly $36,000 since mid- April 2020.
Dallas BA urged our members of Congress to push the White House to undertake a thorough examination of the lumber supply chain and seek remedies that will increase production, as well as return to the negotiating table to seek a new softwood lumber agreement with Canada.
Dallas BA addressed the need to ensure home building has a trained and adequate workforce and the necessity for any infrastructure package to avoid provisions that negatively impact housing affordability. The Association also stressed the importance of ensuring that any energy codes recommended by federal agencies bring real benefits that can be repaid through utility savings in 10 years or less.
Other issues presented to our national decision makers included housing finance reform, the need to strengthen the low-income housing tax credit and the importance of seeking a lasting flood insurance solution.
The meetings were part of our 2021 Bringing Housing Home Legislative Conference in coordination with NAHB. Dallas BA thanks Representatives Colin Allred, Michael Burgess, Beth Van Duyne, Pat Fallon, Lance Gooden, Van Taylor and Marc Veasey for the opportunity to meet with them and their legislative staff.
