NAHB Now's Latest Posts
Short-Term Window in Collecting Canadian Lumber Duties Could Boost Market
In what could be a positive development in the ongoing U.S.-Canadian lumber dispute, countervailing duties on Canadian lumber shipments into the U.S. will be temporarily suspended between Aug. 26 and Sept. 6. While no one can predict with any certainty how this will affect lumber prices, the lumber futures market is anticipating that this development could temporarily moderate the cost of lumber.
HUD Announces 2-Year Suspension of Small Area Fair Market Rents
In a move that should be beneficial to multifamily builders, HUD has announced a two-year-suspension in the use of Small Area Fair Market Rents as a guideline for public housing agencies in determining their subsidy payment standards in the Housing Choice Voucher program.
HUD Report Shows Housing Affordability Crisis is Worsening
HUD released a report to Congress on Aug. 9 entitled Worst Case Housing Needs 2017 which found that 8.3 million households had “worst-case housing needs” in 2015, meaning they are very low-income renters who do not receive government housing assistance and paid more than half their income for rent, lived in severely inadequate conditions, or both.
Builders Discuss Burdensome Regs with Feds
Home builders and representatives from other industries took advantage of an opportunity to tell federal regulators about a host of regulatory issues affecting their businesses as the Small Business Administration conducted its third regional regulatory roundtable in Cleveland on Aug. 3.
A Focus on Flood Insurance and Lumber
With Congress in its August recess, members are encouraged to visit their lawmakers in their home districts and seek action on two issues – flood insurance and lumber.
Rackleff Confirmed as HUD Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development
The Senate has confirmed Neal Rackleff as HUD assistant secretary for Community Planning and Development. He will administer several key HUD programs in his new position.
Senate Bill Would Cut Legal Immigration in Half
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) yesterday introduced legislation endorsed by President Trump that would cut legal immigration levels in half over the next decade. The bill would reduce the annual distribution of green cards awarding permanent legal residence from 1 million just over 500,000.
Senate Confirms Kaplan to Labor Board
On a party line 50-48 vote, the Senate yesterday confirmed Marvin Kaplan, one of President Trump’s two nominees, to the three-member National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The Senate vote was significant, as the NLRB oversees workplace disputes, unfair labor practices and union elections.
Joint Employer Bill Would Provide Certainty to Business Community
NAHB today commended bipartisan legislation introduced in the House that would help small businesses and boost housing affordability by clarifying under the law what constitutes a joint employer. The standard of joint employment was vastly expanded by a 2015 decision issued by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in which it adopted a broad and ambiguous new definition.
NAHB to Weigh in on DOL’s Information Request on Overtime
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a request for information on the Obama administration’s overtime rule, and NAHB will be submitting comments independently and as part of the Partnership to Protect Workplace Opportunity coalition.
