For Immediate Release: June 26, 2019
Contact: Kevin McKenney, 202-367-2480
NLBMDA Statement on Executive Order to
Establish Council on Affordable Housing
[Washington, D.C.] Today, the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) released the following statement on President Trump’s
Executive Order
creating the “White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing.”
“NLBMDA is encouraged that the Trump Administration will be examining ways to make housing development more affordable,” said Jonathan Paine, NLBMDA President & CEO. “Regulatory barriers at all levels of government, while well-intentioned in many cases, can impede the development of affordable housing. NLBMDA stands ready to work with the Administration to make housing more affordable for all Americans. Incentives such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit have been an effective means to expand the supply of affordable housing and we hope the Administration will complement these incentives with smart regulatory reforms.”
The Council will be chaired by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson and will consist of members from across eight federal agencies including HUD, Treasury, Labor, Interior, Agriculture, Transportation, Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Council has been tasked with accomplishing the following directives by January 2021:
- Engage state, local, and tribal leaders to identify and remove obstacles that hinder the development of new affordable housing.
- Examine the impact federal, state, and local regulations are having on the costs of developing affordable housing and the economy.
- Take action to reduce federal regulatory barriers to affordable housing development.
- Support state and local efforts to reduce regulatory barriers.
- Recommend solutions to reduce statutory, regulatory, and administrative burdens at every level of government that hamper affordable housing development.
- Streamline interagency processes and deliver faster results.
###
The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) represents its members in the national public policy arena, with emphasis on efforts to 1) promote the industry and educate legislators and public policy personnel; and 2) assist legislative, regulatory, standard-setting and other government or private bodies in the development of laws, regulations and policies affecting lumber and building material dealers, its customers and suppliers. Founded in 1917, the association has over 6,000 members operating single or multiple lumber yards and component plants serving homebuilders, subcontractors, general contractors, and consumers in the new construction, repair and remodeling of residential and light commercial.
