Bulletin Board Magazine 2022 Volume 1

NJ State Respresentative Report

NEW JERSEY State Representative Report by Michael Kurpiel, Carter Lumber

Key NAHB Housing Issues 1. Resolving supply chain bottlenecks, higher prices for lumber and other building materials, and rising tariffs on Canadian lumber is NAHB’s top priority. We recently received an important win when the Commerce Department announced it was cutting tariffs by 35%, but the fight is far from over. 2. In a victory for NAHB, OSHA rescinded its vaccine mandate and testing rule for businesses one week after NAHB sent the agency a letter urging it to withdraw the rule. 3. NAHB is supporting efforts of all 50 Republican senators to urge the EPA to halt its “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rulemaking process while the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case brought by Idaho couple Chantell and Mike Sackett on the Clean Water Act. 4. A robust turnout at the 2022 International Builders’ Show signals the strength of the home building industry. 5. NAHB and Michigan home builders scored an important legal win on Sept. 28 which means that all Paycheck Protection Program loans for members can be forgiven. 6. The Supreme Court struck down the CDC eviction moratorium in late August. What many of you don’t know is that nearly all NAHB members had been exempt from the eviction ban since March 2021. And we continue efforts to ensure that our members have the tools to access any emergency rental assistance funding and assistance that is available.

NAHB Actions on Lumber and the Supply Chain

• With lumber prices experiencing extreme price volatility, NAHB has relentlessly been working on all fronts to ensure the need for a lasting and stable supply of lumber and other building materials for the home building industry at a competitive price is heard. • NAHB’s tireless focus on lumber tariffs recently paid dividends when the Commerce Department announced on Jan. 31 that it will cut tariffs by more than 35% on shipments of Canadian lumber into the U.S. • When tariffs doubled last November, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post reached out to NAHB on how this would impact housing affordability. Both outlets used our material to run scathing editorials opposing the tariff hike. This helped to lay the groundwork for the tariff reductions announced at the end of January. Policy Front • Since lumber prices began their second surge in late summer 2021, NAHB has been actively engaged with the White House, Commerce Secretary Raimondo and members of Congress to call for the following actions: o Seek immediate remedies to the

Michael Kurpiel

lumber and building materials supply chain bottlenecks that will increase production and lower production costs. This includes calling for sawmills to boost output.

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