Washington Update - 03/07/2007 (Plain Text Version)

View Graphical Version | Subscribe to NAHB Publications | E-mail Our Editor
NAHB Home Page | Browse Other NAHB e-Newsletters | Search Back Issues

Energy and Global Climate Change Take Center Stage

Global climate change, energy efficiency and how to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S. were topics that took center stage in both the House and Senate last week. On Feb. 27, the Senate Finance Committee, under the chairmanship of Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), held a hearing on energy as it relates to carbon mitigation, increasing incentives for energy efficiency in various sectors of the economy and putting a price on GHG emissions. The following day, the House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), held a similar hearing on energy and tax policy to explore how to provide incentives through the tax code to address climate change. For example, there was some discussion of whether or not a flat carbon tax on all emissions of CO2, regardless of source, would change energy consumption behavior in the U.S.

The House Science and Technology Committee, chaired by Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), on Feb. 28 marked up and passed H.R. 85, The Energy Technology Transfer Act of 2007. Introduced by Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL), the measure would provide grants for "advanced energy technology centers" to demonstrate commercial applications and provide opportunities for increased energy efficiency for manufactured and site-built housing, including construction, renovation and retrofit. The legislation envisions a close private-public partnership in an effort to win more energy efficiency in buildings.

Finally, on March 1, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, under the leadership of chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA), convened to hear testimony on state and local level efforts to mitigate climate change and reduce emissions of CO2/GHG within local jurisdictions. Among those testifying were New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, state officials from California, Oklahoma and Colorado, and the mayors of Seattle, Des Moines, Iowa, and Dover, Ohio. Both Governor Corzine and Mayor Greg Nickels from Seattle mentioned that energy-efficient building codes and green building are critical components of any climate change strategy.

NAHB continues to monitor congressional activities in the area of global climate change and weigh-in where appropriate. NAHB established policy during the recent International Builders' Show directing advocacy staff efforts on ensuring that any legislation in this area does not undermine housing affordability or harm the home building industry. For more information, e-mail Elizabeth Odina or call her at 800-368-5242, x8570.

Bipartisan ESA Bill Introduced in Senate

Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) last week introduced S. 700, the Endangered Species Recovery Act. This bipartisan legislation would allow eligible taxpayers to receive a tax credit if they incur costs to protect endangered species and are party to a qualified agreement. Qualified agreements include a perpetual conservation easement, a 30-year conservation easement or another agreement for a specified period of time. In addition, the legislation would create a deduction for recovery expenditures of up to 25 percent of taxable income for expenses resulting from carrying out activities under a recovery plan.

In order to address budgetary concerns, there are caps placed on the total amount of tax credits that may be claimed. However, the total cost of the bill remains high at $2.7 billion over 10 years, which will likely pose a considerable hurdle to the legislation. Nevertheless, the bill has the support of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA), and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Senator Baucus announced that he would include S. 700 in one of the tax packages the Finance Committee will consider this year. To view the legislation, click here and type the bill number in the box in the center screen. For more information, e-mail J.P. Delmore or call him at 800-368-5242, x8412. [return to top]

Congressional Panel to Consider Key Housing Issues

The House Financial Services Committee, under the leadership of new chairman Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), is expected to begin consideration of several key NAHB legislative initiatives in the coming weeks. NAHB has been in close contact with this important committee, and we expect the panel to act soon on government sponsored enterprises reform, FHA modernization, Section 8 voucher reform, and reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA). NAHB will continue to closely monitor movement on these and other key legislative issues. For more information, e-mail Scott Meyer or call him at 800-368-5242, x8144. [return to top]

Builders Oppose Broad Interpretation of Clean Water Act

Since the beginning of the 110th Congress, NAHB Government Affairs staff has been working with other associations to stop legislation that would provide virtually limitless federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction over all waters within the United States. The efforts took on a new meaning last week when it was learned Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) was shopping around a bill on Capitol Hill that was virtually identical to legislation he introduced in the 109th Congress. The measure would expand federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction over all waters within the United States, including all intrastate waters, and could potentially give the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers unlimited regulatory control over all wet areas within a state, including groundwater, ditches, pipes, streets and gutters. In response to the possibility of such legislation being introduced in the near future, NAHB staff reached out to our members and encouraged them to contact their senators and representatives and tell them they should not support or cosponsor any legislation that would expand the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. For more information, e-mail Annie Raymond or call her at 800-368-5242, x8307. [return to top]

Lawmakers Float Health Care Proposals

Last month, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) introduced HR 914, the Tax Equity and Affordability Act. The bill would provide an annual advance tax credit (in effect, a voucher) to assist those who do not have employer based health insurance with purchasing health coverage. The legislation works to make the tax code more equitable in its treatment of individuals and families who lack employer-sponsored health benefits, while helping bring down the high cost of coverage that is a growing burden for both workers and employers. At the same time, it protects the important role of employer based health insurance by improving tax fairness without discouraging employers from offering health coverage as part of their employee benefits package.

Further, Rep. Thomas Allen (D-ME) is preparing to reintroduce a proposal that was dormant in the 109th Congress. It contains reinsurance, tax credits and state mandate requirements. The bill was first unveiled in the previous Congress in opposition to S. 1955, the Health Insurance Market Modernization Act, which was also introduced in the 109th Congress by Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) and contained the Small Business Health Plan legislation. Rep. Allen’s bill is expected to be introduced in the next few weeks. For more information, e-mail Erin Tario or call her at 800-368-5242, x8413. [return to top]

House Approves Brownfields Bill

The House on Feb. 27 approved by voice vote H.R. 644, the Brownfields Redevelopment Enhancement Act. Sponsored by Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA), the measure is designed to give communities access to more funds for the cleanup of contaminated industrial sites known as "brownfields." Currently, the Department of Housing and Urban Development can only award brownfields redevelopment grants to localities that receive "Section 108" loans, which are only available to local governments that pledge their community development block grant (CDBG) funds as partial collateral—something many communities are unable to do. Under this bill, communities would not have to participate in the Section 108 program to get a brownfields grant. The House passed similar legislation during the last Congress but it was never considered by the Senate. To view the legislation, click here and type the bill number in the box in the center screen. For more information, e-mail J.P. Delmore or call him at 800-368-5242, x8412. [return to top]

Washington Update Will Relaunch on Friday

The Washington Update will now be published each week on Friday afternoon when the Congress is in session. It will also be expanded to include more news on BUILD-PAC and State and Local issues.

Look for the next issue on Friday, March 8. [return to top]