Washington Update - 05/11/2007 (Plain Text Version)

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Immigration Takes Center Stage in the Senate

As the Senate prepares to begin intensive floor debate on immigration next week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has introduced S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act. The bill is identical to immigration reform language passed by the Senate last year and contains provisions addressing border security, interior enforcement, employer verification and enforcement, future flow immigrant programs and a work authorization program for the 11-12 million illegal immigrants currently in the United States. The bill has not been vetted by any Senate committee, and has instead been placed immediately on the calendar for full Senate consideration.

Reid’s move comes as Republican and Democratic lawmakers work furiously behind the scenes with the White House, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Homeland Security to craft a negotiated compromise bill on comprehensive reform. This group of lawmakers, led by Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), and John Kyl (R-Ariz.), have been working for two months to craft legislation that both Republicans and Democrats can support on the Senate floor. Thus far, those efforts have not produced a completed bill, so Majority Leader Reid has chosen to move forward with last year’s product. Sources in the Senate indicate that Reid has made a commitment to lawmakers that he will offer their bill as a substitute for S. 1348 if they can get language that is agreed upon by next week.

Coming to a final compromise on immigration reform legislation is proving difficult, as Democrats, Republicans and the various business, union and immigrant rights constituencies chime in on the effort. Reid has indicated that the two weeks prior to Memorial Day will be the only time this year that the Senate will consider immigration reform legislation, making quick completion of the ongoing closed door efforts on a negotiated bill all the more important. Several sources from inside those negotiations indicate that many key issues are still being hammered out and that final success is still uncertain. Republican lawmakers participating in the negotiations have indicated that they will band together to oppose S. 1348 if their negotiated package is not completed or considered on the Senate floor. For more information, contact Jenna Hamilton at 800-368-5242, x8407.

Katrina Housing Provisions Caught in Politics of War Bill

This week the House and Senate took another swing at passing supplemental appropriations legislation to fund the war in Iraq that could garner the support of President Bush. The first version was vetoed by the President because of language calling for a date-certain to withdraw from Iraq. The House passed its new version of the legislation before adjourning for the week, which included key small business and Katrina housing tax provisions of importance to home builders. However, the President has already said he will veto the House bill because it only provides partial funding for the war. It is now up to the Senate to attempt to craft a passable compromise. The same small business and Katrina tax provisions will be included in the Senate bill, but it remains to be seen how the Iraq funding issue will be addressed. The answer to that question will determine whether the bill is enacted into law. For more information, contact Greg Brown at 800-368-5242, x8421. [return to top]

Frank Says LEP Mandate Should Fall Under HUD Purview

NAHB and industry allies this week attended a productive meeting with key congressional leaders and a top official at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to address builder concerns regarding HUD’s recently implemented guidelines on Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons. NAHB and our industry partners have been seeking congressional support for making HUD responsibile for translating vital documents and providing oral interpretation services rather than property owners. This would be a much more cost-effective approach than asking thousands of property owners to undertake such activities on an individual basis and would result in a more standard, accurate set of documents for residents.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Reps. Joseph Baca (D-Calif.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), heeded our concerns. While the lawmakers agreed that LEP persons should have full access to HUD-assisted housing programs, Frank indicated that HUD should bear the responsibility for translation and interpretation services because it would entail significant costs to property owners, who are not equipped to provide the requisite standardized information. Frank suggested that a provision be included in the pending Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA) mandating HUD’s responsibilities in this regard. He also committed to helping the agency obtain the funding needed to undertake this task. NAHB will continue to work with our industry colleagues and members of Congress as this issue moves forward. For more information, contact Scott Meyer or Claudia Kedda, or call them at 800-368-5242, x8144 and x8352. [return to top]

House Joint Panel Focuses on Independent Contractors

This week the House Ways and Means Subcommittees on Select Revenue Measures and Income Security and Family Support held a joint hearing on “the effects of misclassifying workers as independent contractors.” In announcing the hearing Select Revenue Measures Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) said, “Employers and the IRS need an easily understood set of rules in order to classify workers. I am concerned that workers may be disadvantaged by the current situation, and hopefully this hearing can shed some light on what can be done.”

Under present law, there are significant differences in what employers must provide and what workplace requirements they must meet for their employees versus those workers who are classified as independent contractors. While there are legitimate economic reasons for both employers and their workers to choose the independent contractor classification, some members of the Ways and Means Committee are concerned that abuses are occurring and that workers and fair competition in the marketplace are suffering as a result. NAHB is submitting a statement for the record expressing our core principles on this issue and weighing in with Chairman Neal and Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) as they develop legislation on the issue. For more information, contact Greg Brown at 800-368-5242, x8421. [return to top]

New Program Links Builders with Members of Congress

Be on the lookout for BuilderLink, an updated national grassroots program that will provide opportunities for NAHB members to connect more frequently with their members of Congress. The program is set to debut on Wednesday, June 6 at the 2007 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. By developing local grassroots activities that bring NAHB members and their members of Congress together throughout the year, BuilderLink will build on the momentum generated by the annual NAHB conference, which is expected to draw more than 1,000 builders to Capitol Hill to share their concerns on housing-related issues with their representatives and senators. For more information on BuilderLink, contact Molly Murray at 800-368-5242, x8282. To learn more about the Spring Legislative Conference and to register online, click here or contact Jessica Boyce at 800-368-5242, x8334. [return to top]

New Congress Reflects Shift in Federal PAC Contributions

First quarter 2007 federal PAC contributions reflect the new reality on Capitol Hill -- with Democrats now in control of Congress, contributions are now flowing more to the party in power and away from the GOP. During the first quarter, federal PACs reported giving $26.9 million to federal candidates, of which $16.6 million went to Democrats (62 percent) and $10.3 million went to Republicans (38 percent). This is a big change from the 2005/2006 cycle when Republicans had majority status in both chambers of Congress and PACS doled out a total of $313 million, with only 45 percent going to Democrats and 55 percent going to Republicans. PoliticalMoneyLine’s Industry breakout shows that Democrats are now receiving more than Republicans from Agriculture, Communications/Technology, Defense, Finance/Insurance, Health Care, Law and Labor. For more information about BUILD-PAC, contact Meghan Everngam at 800-368-5242, x 8259. [return to top]