The pygmy owl will be removed from the Endangered Species list,
according to a government decision that becomes effective May 15.

The announcement caps more than nine years of legal wrangling over the status of the pygmy owl, which flourishes just across the border in Mexico but also includes a small population in Arizona. Officials found 18 pygmy owls in the state in 2002, prompting the government to set aside 1.2 million acres considered to be critical habitat for the species. At that time, NAHB economists found that if the proposed habitat designation were to go into effect, construction of new homes would fall by roughly 262 units per year. Meanwhile, the local economy would shrink by $545 million over 10 years and local governments would lose $68.3 million in tax and permit revenues. In the first year alone, 705 jobs would be lost — a total that would grow to about 2,750 jobs over 10 years. NAHB, which participated in the 2003 case in which the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled FWS actions "arbitrary and capricious," hailed the latest decision as "a victory for sound science and for affordable housing." Read more about this good news in our press release, or contact Duane Desiderio (x8146) or Calli Schmidt (x8132).

NAHB's efforts on endangered species are aimed at reducing the costs and delays imposed on residential land developers because of inappropriate applications of the law, pursuing lawsuits that clarify the application of the rules, and ensuring that limited government resources can be directed toward species that actually require protection. 

OSHA's Local Emphasis Programs (LEPs)
are directing a special focus on the residential construction industry in several areas across the country. Implemented by OSHA's regional or area offices, the LEPs are aimed at addressing hazards that pose particular risks to workers. Especially in areas where the LEPs are operating, it is very important for builders to be vigilant about key safety issues such as fall protection, scaffolding, ladders, trenching operations, electrical and housekeeping procedures. Last week's Nation's Building News listed the following areas where LEPs are currently focusing on home builders:

* Hartford, CT
* Philadelphia, PA
* Wilmington, DE
* Cleveland and Toledo, OH
* Louisiana, Arkansas, Okla., Texas, & New Mexico
* Kansas City and St. Louis, MO
* Wichita, KS
* Boise, ID

In addition, one local program is focusing on residential scaffold fall hazards and residential landscaping operations in Englewood, CO. Forewarned is fore-armed, so get information on recognizing the "Big Four" Safety Hazards for the home building industry in a special course being offered by the NAHB University of Housing, or, for information on NAHB resources related to construction safety and health, contact Rob Matuga at x8507.

Be a part of history at NAHB's upcoming Legislative Conference,
which looks very likely to break all previous records for builder attendance this year. Our goal was to hit 944 attendees at the May 10 event, and thanks to the herculean efforts of our National Vice Presidents and State Reps, we now have over 1,000 signed up! If all goes as planned, this will be the largest and most effective single-day grassroots lobbying push for home builder issues EVER. Make sure you're a part of it, and help encourage your fellow NAHB members to attend the Legislative Conference, as well. Hearty congratulations are already due to Delaware for its 500% increase in signed-on attendees, and to Texas for having the highest overall number of registered participants to date (51). Online advance talking points on the event's priority issues are available, or contact Jessi Boyce at x8334.

NAHB's annual Legislative Conference is our biggest grassroots lobbying event of the year, and provides every NAHB member the opportunity to personally communicate with your federal representatives on Capitol Hill about the challenges faced by your business every day. [return to top]

Check out these online resources:

Housing Facts, Figures and Trends Report — This recently updated, online-only publication is commonly referred to as NAHB's "media backgrounder," and reporters love the information it provides. It's also a great source of information for HBAs and individual members, giving you a snapshot of various aspects of the housing market such as housing starts and sales, characteristics of new homes, homeownership rates and more. It's available for free downloading as either a PDF or Word document.

U.S. Homeownership Trends Study — Now available from the Center for Housing Policy on the National Housing Conference Web site, this report looks at minority homeownership and household demographics. Titled "Locked Out: Keys to Homeownership Elude Many Working Families With Children," the report also suggests government policies to help working families with children to obtain first-time homeownership.

Policy Council Newsletter — This important resource provides users with instant access to NAHB's position papers, expert contacts and other policy-related content. It's online and it's free.

These are just a few of the thousands of online resources that are available to NAHB members free of charge. If you haven't been to NAHB's Web site, www.nahb.org, recently, you might be surprised at what's new and available to you. Be sure to log in as an NAHB member, otherwise you won't see all the members-only content that's there for you. Contact: Kym Kilbourne, x8447. [return to top]

The fastest-growing segment of the housing industry
is comprised of active-adult buyers, with America's population of 50-year-olds and up poised to hit 100 million by the year 2010. Targetting these consumers will be a prime focus of the upcoming Building for Boomers and Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium this April 24-26 in Phoenix, AZ. Considered the premier educational and networking conference for the 50+ market, this event will offer separate education tracks in design, multifamily, operations, planning, and sales and marketing. Read more about this increasingly popular event in our press release, register online, or contact Elizabeth Landry (x8680) for more info.

NAHB's educational conferences and events are aimed at helping our members capitalize on ongoing trends in the housing industry and among housing consumers. The 50+ Housing Symposium is offered at a significant discount to NAHB members and is another example of how your affiliation with NAHB puts the best resources and most knowledgeable expert advice close at hand. [return to top]

Calendar of Upcoming Events:
 

April 24-26	Building for Boomers and Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium 2006	Phoenix, AZ
April 27	Construction Forecast Conference — Spring 2006	Washington, DC
May 10	NAHB Legislative Conference	Washington, DC
May 10-14	Spring Board of Directors Meeting	Washington, DC
May 21-22	Building Systems Councils Modular and Panel Plant Tour	Appleton and Wausau, WI
May 23	National Membership Day	Nationwide
June 5-7	2006 NAHB/BALA Design Institute for Builders	Charlotte, NC
June 11-13	Building Systems Councils Concrete Tour & Conference	Phoenix, AZ
Aug. 1-6	2006 EOC Seminar	Uncasville, CT
Aug. 3	2005 EOC Association Excellence Awards	Uncasville, CT
Sept. 13-17	Fall Board of Directors Meeting	Salt Lake City, UT
Oct. 27-29	2006 Custom Builder Symposium	Las Vegas, NV

To view more meetings and events information on the NAHB Web site, click here. [return to top]