Washington Update - 07/20/2007 (Plain Text Version)

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House-Passed Labor Spending Bill Faces Presidential Veto

The House this week passed the fiscal 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill, H.R. 3043, by a vote of 276-140, moving activity on the labor bill to the Senate and clearing the way for House consideration of the HUD appropriations bill next week. The fiscal 2008 Labor bill funds priorities such as Job Corps, the nation’s key vocational training program for disadvantaged youth, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforcement and compliance activities. Job Corps received a funding increase in the fiscal 2008 bill, and the OSHA provisions included $10 million in funding for the Susan Harwood Training Grant program. NAHB and the NAHB Research Center are frequently recipients of the Harwood grants, which are used to provide safety training programs to NAHB members.

Ultimately, the President is expected to veto the Labor appropriations bill because it exceeds the spending levels he set out in his fiscal 2008 budget. Currently, the House legislation provides for $151.7 billion in discretionary spending, $7.1 billion above fiscal 2007 levels and $10.8 billion more than the White House requested in its budget.

Ergonomics Guidelines a Concern

Of concern in the committee report (H. Rpt. 110-231) that accompanied H.R. 3043 was language inserted by Democrat appropriators that would require OSHA to develop ergonomic guidelines for several industries and expresses congressional dissatisfaction with OSHA’s failure to do more to address the issue. Additionally, the committee report included language urging OSHA to require employers to pay for all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the final regulation that is expected to be published in November. NAHB sent a letter to all members of the House objecting to the ergonomics and PPE language in the report. On ergonomics, NAHB cited a long-standing argument over the scientific basis for determining work-related ergonomics injuries,and how they should be addressed. NAHB also reiterated its objection to making employers pay for all PPE. The association has long-argued that items such as work boots and hard hats should be paid for by the employee because they are personal in nature and are items that an employee will take from one job site to another.

The HUD appropriations bill will be considered in the House next week, and that bill is also expected to be vetoed by the President, setting the stage for an expected omnibus appropriations bill at the end of the year.

Immigration

Of note in several of the appropriations bills being considered in the House and Senate are provisions that would require all employers in the U.S. who are recipients of any federal contract to participate in the Department of Homeland Security’s Basic Pilot Employer Verification program. This program allows an employer to verify over the Internet that a new employee is legally authorized to work in the United States. This requirement would not go into effect until completion of the appropriations process at the end of the year. Under the requirements, employers would have to check all new employees through the system as they are hired. They would not be required to verify current employees. To view the Labor appropriations bill, click here and type H.R. 3043 in the box in the center screen. For more information, contact Jenna Hamilton at 800-368-5242, x8407.

Affordable Housing Trust Fund Focus of House Hearing

The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing yesterday on H.R. 2895, the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007. The trust fund, introduced late last month, would provide grants and other assistance to support the production, rehabilitation and preservation of affordable housing. NAHB agrees that the substantial unmet housing needs throughout the country justify additional federal attention and supports the creation of the trust fund. NAHB submitted a statement for the hearing expressing support for the proposed trust fund while outlining several areas where the bill can be approved. NAHB will continue to work with the committee as the bill makes its way through the legislative process during this Congress. To view the legislation, click here and type H.R. 2895 in the box in the center screen. For more information, contact Scott Meyer at 800-368-5242, x8144. [return to top]

Builders Weigh In Against Oberstar Wetlands Bill

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), held a hearing this week titled “Status of the Nation’s Waters, including Wetlands, under The Jurisdiction of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.” The hearing was comprised of six panels of witnesses and stretched out over two days. Attendees included Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, former EPA Administrator Carol Browner, and other government officials and stakeholders. Most of the focus was on H.R. 2421, The Clean Water Restoration Act, legislation introduced by Reps. Oberstar, John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.).

The legislation would replace the word “navigable” from the Clean Water Act with “waters of the United States.” NAHB staff has been actively working against this legislation because the definition of “waters of the United States” is so broad that it would give federal jurisdiction over essentially every body of water in the nation. This expanded definition would increase the number of permits required by home builders and would hamper the industry's efforts to keep housing affordable. NAHB staff submitted written testimony emphasizing the harm H.R. 2421 would cause the home building industry and will continue to follow the issue over the next few months. To view the legislation, click here and type H.R. 2421 in the box in the center screen. For more information, contact Annie Raymond at 800-368-5242, x8307. [return to top]