NLBMDA News - Legislative Affairs

From the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealer Association

Legislative Affairs

Recess Is Over
Members of Congress return to Washington today with a daunting agenda planned between now and the summer breaks. Both the House and the Senate passed FY2010 budget resolutions before the break, which must now be reconciled into a final version. NLBMDA is hopeful that the final resolution will contain the Senate-passed allowance for the estate tax ($5 million exemption and 35 percent rate) but such relief would still have to overcome a likely Senate filibuster with at least 60 votes in support. Both Chambers will be taking up climate legislation with a goal of final passage by the August recess. Card check proponents were active over the spring break but still face a challenge in reaching the 60 votes they need to move forward. NLBMDA and the business community must remain vigilant in informing legislators of the dangers of this legislation, or any so-called compromises, that effectively strip workers of their right to a secret ballot election to determine union representation.

TAKE ACTION: Tell your Representative and Senators to reject card check legislation that would further jeopardize jobs and our economic recovery. Visit Build the Vote and follow the prompts to quickly send an e-mail message today.

Bill Targeting Chinese Drywall Introduced
Senators Ben Nelson (D-FL) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) have taken further steps to address the Chinese drywall investigations currently underway in Florida and other states. Together with Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), they have introduced the "Drywall Safety Act" (S. 793/H.R. 1977) to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to study drywall imported from China in 2004 through 2007 and call for a ban on the import of Chinese drywall and "related materials." Dealers with questions or concerns should contact Colleen Levine at colleen@dealer.org.

Softwood Lumber Tariffs Increased
In response to an arbitration panel's finding that Canada failed to correctly adjust quotas from four provinces in the first half of 2007, as required under the Softwood Lumber Agreement, the US Trade Representative's (USTR) office last week announced an additional 10 percent tariff would be imposed on softwood lumber exports from Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. USTR is accepting comments on the appropriateness of this action; comments are due May 11. Please contact Colleen Levine at colleen@dealer.org if you have any feedback NLBMDA should consider in drafting comments.

Senate Committee Drafting Health Care Bill
Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) and Health, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Ted Kennedy (D-MA) recently outlined their plans for advancing major health care overhaul legislation this spring. The two committees are currently working to draft separate bills which will later be combined before a Senate floor vote. Committee markups of the draft bills are targeted for early summer.