House and Senate Lawmakers Unveil NAHB-Supported Transformer Bill
At NAHB’s urging, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) have introduced identical House and Senate bills — Protecting America’s Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act — that would delay for five years any rulemaking on energy-efficiency standards for distribution transformers.
“At a time when the home building industry is facing a severe shortage of distribution transformers, NAHB commends Rep. Hudson and Sen. Barrasso for introducing this important legislation,” said NAHB Chairman Alicia Huey. “This vital measure will provide needed time to boost output at existing facilities to address the growing supply chain crisis for transformers that has delayed home construction projects across the country and aggravated the nation’s housing affordability crisis.”
This was one of the key issues during the recent NAHB Legislative Conference when more than 700 NAHB members discussed vital matters of concern to the housing industry with their lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The Department of Energy has proposed to increase the energy conservation standards for the production of distribution transformers and NAHB has been working diligently with House and Senate lawmakers to oppose this plan because it will exacerbate an already acute supply-chain shortage.
NAHB continues to work with both chambers of Congress to seek additional funding aimed solely at boosting production of distribution transformers to meet market demand.
Latest from NAHBNow
Jan 29, 2026
Fed Hits Pause on Easing as Inflation and Labor Risks BalanceThe Federal Reserve paused its easing cycle at the January meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee and held the short-term federal funds rate at a top rate of 3.75%.
Jan 28, 2026
NAHB Expands Member Savings Program with New Partners and Big Benefits in 2026NAHB members saved a total of more than $40 million in 2025 through a variety of member-exclusive offers. And in 2026, the portfolio of partners and programs within the NAHB Member Savings Program continues to grow.
Latest Economic News
Jan 28, 2026
Holding Pattern for the FedThe Fed paused its easing cycle at the conclusion of the January meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, the central bank’s monetary policy body. The Fed held the short-term federal funds rate at a top rate of 3.75%, the level set in December. This marked the first policy pause since the Fed resumed easing in September of last year.
Jan 27, 2026
State-Level Employment Situation: December 2025With few exceptions, year-over-year nonfarm employment levels were relatively stable across states at the end of 2025, ranging from a decline of 4.2 percent to a gain of 1.8 percent. Construction employment, however, showed considerably greater dispersion, with declines of up to 9.3 percent in some states and gains approaching 9.0 percent in others.
Jan 26, 2026
Pool Permitting Falls Lower in 2025After a rapid expansion of residential swimming pool and spa construction following the pandemic, permit levels in the latest monthly index for December fell to their lowest level since 2020.