With time running short before Congress adjourns for the year, builders are in the midst of a grassroots push to advance critical storm water legislation and are urging House members to support H.R. 5558, the “Stormwater Enforcement and Permitting Act.”

NAHB President David Pressly said that the legislation is needed “to reduce the regulatory burden placed on home builders, simplify compliance and provide a more consistent and sensible regulatory approach that provides better protection for America’s rivers and streams.”

Introduced on June 8 by Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.) and 16 bipartisan cosponsors, the legislation would update and improve the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) duplicative and burdensome storm water permit and enforcement policies, which can add anywhere from $1,400 to $4,500 to the cost of a residential lot.

The bill, which now has 52 cosponsors, takes into account the differences between residential and other construction activities.

With lawmakers planning to recess in early October to campaign for the November elections, Pressly added that it is urgent to build momentum for H.R. 5558 now because it is unclear whether a new Congress will be as receptive to supporting the measure.

Contact Your Members of Congress

Voters troubled over how current storm water regulations unduly increase housing costs while doing little to improve water quality are encouraged to contact their members of Congress today and ask them to support H.R. 5558 by adding their name as a cosponsor to the bill.

To voice your opinion to federal lawmakers, send a letter asking them to support H.R. 5558 by logging on to www.capitolconnect.com/nahb.

To view a one-page summary of the bill, click here.

To read the legislation, click here and enter H.R. 5558 in the box at the center of the page.

For more information, e-mail Jim Tobin at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8258.

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