NAHB Continues to Engage the Administration, Congress on Lumber

As lumber prices remain stubbornly high, NAHB continues to work relentlessly with the White House and Congress to seek solutions that will increase lumber production and bring prices lower.

NAHB CEO Jerry Howard and senior NAHB staff on April 29 held a productive virtual meeting with White House staff from the Domestic Policy Council, National Economic Council and the Office of the Vice President. The discussion covered mill capacity issues, mill worker shortages, and how soaring lumber prices are exacerbating the housing affordability crisis and putting the American dream of homeownership out of reach of millions of households.

Affordable housing is an important issue for the White House and NAHB was able to hammer home the fact that the lumber price spike over the past 12 months has added nearly $36,000 to the price of an average new single-family home and $119 more a month to rent a new apartment.

NAHB urged the White House to bring together interested stakeholders to hold a summit on lumber and building material supply chain issues and to temporarily remove the 9% tariffs on Canadian lumber to help ease price volatility. The administration was noncommittal on both requests but the door remains open for future talks.

Engaging Congress

On the congressional front, NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke and First Vice Chairman Jerry Konter recently met with congressional leaders to urge lawmakers to take steps to ensure an adequate supply of lumber and other building materials to help stem rising housing costs.

NAHB grassroots also is actively engaged in this effort. Members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City have discussed this urgent issue with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Maine builders have brought this to the attention of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) as well.

During a Senate appropriations hearing on funding for the office of the U.S. trade representative, the two senators aired their concerns about rising lumber prices and tariffs on Canadian lumber.

"In today’s environment, a most common conversation I have with Kansans is about the expense of buying a home and the expense of building a home and the lack of supply chain regarding lumber and steel," said Moran, who added that he remains concerned about the harm that tariffs have caused to U.S. families and businesses.

"Where do the negotiations stand with Canada on softwood lumber?" he asked U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. "Softwood lumber will always be in my sights in the conversations with Canada," said Kai, who added that she will seek to "engage our Canadian counterparts in some out of the box thinking on this issue and others in terms of how we manage longstanding differences that we have that really make an economic impact for our stakeholders and our economy."

Later in the hearing, Sen. Collins said: "I agree with my colleagues on the need for there to be a negotiation with Canada to renew the softwood lumber agreement. We’ve seen lumber prices go sky high. We obviously preferred domestic sources but when domestic sources can't meet the demand, as is the case right now and prices are so high, we desperately need a new agreement to be negotiated so that we are not involved in imposing countervailing and antidumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports."

View the Senate hearing here with Sen. Moran's remarks on lumber at the 21:50 and 35:05 mark and Sen. Colliins at the 59:20 time frame.

A Chance to Talk Lumber with Your Lawmakers

NAHB members have a unique opportunity to build on the efforts of their leadership team by Bringing Housing Home® during the week of May 3-7. Congress will be in recess, allowing all those involved in the residential construction industry to meet with their federal lawmakers in their home districts to discuss the important issues listed above, as well as other matters that impact their businesses and communities.

Visit BringingHousingHome.com for complete details and information on how to identify your representatives and invite them to a meeting.