July 21, 2025 • View in browser

NLBMDA Weekly is our newsletter covering everything from the latest activity in Washington to updates from our members. This is the premier source of federal legislative, regulatory, and industry news for NLBMDA members.

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall speaks with The Building Center CEO John Wheeler

Interested in Hosting Your Member of Congress?

NLBMDA strongly encourages you to host an elected official for a tour of your business during the upcoming August Recess. The congressional recess in August provides House and Senate lawmakers up to six weeks back in their states and districts to interact with their constituents and visit local businesses. This state/district work period is a great opportunity for NLBMDA members to host a member of Congress for a lumber yard tour that showcases your company and highlights the integral role LBM dealers play in their communities. Together, we can create a powerful dialogue that paves the way for positive change, both locally and nationally.

NLBMDA staff will support you by organizing and facilitating the event, and by providing the tools you need to engage your elected officials during a yard tour. This includes direct assistance with scheduling a tour, background information and issue briefs on NLBMDA’s legislative priorities, and guidance on hosting a successful event. Members of Congress are particularly keen to tour constituent businesses during the August recess and we encourage you to take advantage of their upcoming schedule.

If you are interested in hosting your members of Congress at your lumber yard, please fill out the form below:

Congress Passes $9B Recissions Package

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 216 to 213 to approve a Senate-passed package that rescinds more than $9 billion in previously appropriated federal funding. The legislation eliminates funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides subsidies to national and local NPR and PBS stations, and includes substantial cuts to various foreign aid programs. Two House Republicans, Reps. Mike Turner of Ohio and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, joined Democrats in opposing the bill.



Similar to the budget reconciliation process, rescissions bills are considered under expedited procedures and are not subject to the Senate filibuster. This marks the first successful passage of a rescissions package in more than 30 years, although there were unsuccessful attempts during the first Trump administration to reduce federal spending. Congressional leaders have indicated plans to introduce additional rescissions packages, but lawmakers face a tight deadline, with fewer than 10 weeks remaining before government funding expires on September 30. While Democrats were procedurally limited in blocking this package, Democrats maintain considerable leverage in broader government funding negotiations, which require 60 votes in the Senate to advance.

NLBMDA Member Survey: Administration's Tariff Impact on LBM Industry 

As the trade landscape continues to shift, NLBMDA remains actively engaged with key decision-makers across the Administration. In the coming weeks, NLBMDA is scheduled or planning to meet with officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the Commerce Department, and the Treasury Department, three agencies central to decisions on new and revised tariffs affecting our industry. To support these efforts, NLBMDA is asking members to complete a survey detailing how recent or anticipated tariffs impact both your day-to-day operations and long-term business planning. 

Learn from the Next-Gen of the Industry at the ProDealer Industry Summit!

The future of the industry is in good hands—and you’ll meet some of the folks leading the charge. This panel features up-and-coming leaders who are bringing fresh ideas, new energy, and a forward-thinking mindset to the world of lumber and building supply. Hear their stories, lessons learned, and what they see coming next for independent dealers.

NLBMDA's Tax Bill Webinar is Just Two Days Away!

Webinar: The Lumber Market is Easy to Beat When You Know What's Coming

The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) recently announced that it partnered with Layman’s Lumber Guide to offer an exclusive member only discount for their market forecasts. Layman’s Lumber Guide is one of the industry's most prominent and reliable lumber market analyses and forecasts, covering Southern Yellow Pine lumber, Canadian SPF lumber, Western US lumber and OSB. During this webinar, Matt Layman, Publisher & Owner, will share the latest highlights from their lumber market analysis and forecast. Layman will share his key takeaways and how NLBMDA members can make business savvy strategic decisions in the months ahead. 

Join NLBMDA and Layman's for a members-only webinar on Tuesday, August 5 at 1:00 PM ET.

Matt Layman has worked in lumber commodities for nearly four decades, drawing on a wealth of real-world experience. In the summer of 1984 Matt began creating The Pine Page, and the first issue was published May 1985 as a southern yellow pine lumber and plywood market analysis and forecast. In 1992 The Pine Page expanded and rebranded as Layman’s Lumber Guide and became Layman’s full-time occupation.

NLBMDA Welcomes Barron Designs to the Manufacturers and Services Council

Barron Designs is the newest member of NLBMDA's Manufacturers and Services Council (MSC). The Council is composed of the leading building material manufacturers and service providers serving the LBM industry.

Barron Designs is a leading manufacturer of premium architectural products, offering a wide range of faux and real wood beams, faux and real wood truss systems, faux wood corbels, faux and real wood fireplace mantels, decorative wall panels, mantels, and other innovative solutions for residential and commercial spaces. With a focus on high-end design, DIY-friendly installation, and durable materials, Barron Designs empowers contractors, builders, and designers to create standout interiors and exteriors with ease.

The Virginia Tech–USDA Forest Service Released Housing Commentary For May 2025

The U.S. housing market in mid-2025 is showing mixed signals, with most indicators trending negative both month-over-month and year-over-year. On a monthly basis, some metrics—such as single-family starts and completions, existing home sales, and new home sales under $399,000—saw modest gains. However, affordability challenges driven by high mortgage rates and the "lock-in" effect (where homeowners are reluctant to sell due to their existing low-rate mortgages) continue to suppress broader market activity. The July 17th GDPNow forecast from the Atlanta Fed projects a -6.6% decline in total residential investment for June 2025, with notable drops in new private construction and manufactured housing.

Year-over-year, positives included gains in multi-family starts and permits, completions, new home sales, and total construction spending. Yet, headwinds remain strong. Key concerns affecting the housing market include elevated mortgage rates, inflation, global conflicts, labor shortages, restrictive building regulations, and slower-than-normal household formations. While the underlying desire for homeownership remains strong, both buyers and sellers are proceeding cautiously amid economic uncertainty and constrained affordability.

Remembering WBMA Officer David Shanda

The Western Building Material Association (WBMA) recently shared the news of the sudden passing of David Shanda on Friday, July 18th.



David was West Region VP for Woodgrain Distribution (previously Huttig Building Products). His career with the company spanned nearly 40 years.

David was a familiar face at WBMA events, and he supported the association in many capacities. Having served as Suppliers Council Chairman, WBMA Board of Directors and Executive Committee, he was currently WBMA’s First Vice President and would have been our first Supplier Member to serve as WBMA President in 2026.

Additionally, he taught product knowledge sessions during our educational events. He was a dedicated industry professional and will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with David’s family during this difficult time.

House Appropriations Committee Advances FY26 Funding Bill That Cuts Housing Program Spending

On Thursday, July 17, the House Appropriations Committee voted 38 to 28 to advance a series of Fiscal Year 2026 spending bills. Earlier in the week, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) approved a package that would eliminate funding for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, a federal initiative that provides grants to state and local governments to support affordable housing development. While lawmakers have previously attempted to reduce funding for the HOME program, this latest proposal comes just weeks after Congress passed new provisions intended to spur the construction of more than one million new housing units over the next decade.

In response, the ACTION Campaign, a coalition in which NLBMDA is an active member, sent a letter to Senate appropriators emphasizing the importance of the HOME program. The letter described HOME as a critical source of gap financing for projects that do not qualify for support under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. It stated in part:

“Congress just voted to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which expands the Housing Credit, facilitating the new construction and rehabilitation of as many as 1.22 million additional rental homes over the next decade. This estimate assumes that soft resources—such as HOME—are scalable. Without HOME, Housing Credit production may fall far short of these expectations.”



The Senate has not yet considered the House proposal. Unlike in the House, any Senate appropriations bill must attract bipartisan support to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold.

Trump Calls on Senate to Cancel August Recess to Advance Administration Appointments

Over the weekend, President Trump called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to cancel the Senate’s August recess to address a growing backlog of unconfirmed nominees. Delays in the confirmation process have impacted the functioning of several federal agencies and regulatory bodies. The National Labor Relations Board, for example, has lacked a quorum since January and has been unable to conduct official business. Two nominees to the board are awaiting Senate confirmation, along with hundreds of other judicial and administrative appointees. The House is scheduled to begin its August recess this Thursday, one week ahead of the Senate. Sen. Thune is expected to introduce a package to fast-track confirmation votes, a move that will likely require support from Senate Democrats, who have used procedural tactics to delay many of the nominations thus far.

Sens. Tim Sheehy & Jeff Merkley Introduce SAWMILL Act

U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) have introduced the Supporting American Wood and Mill Infrastructure with Loans for Longevity (SAWMILL) Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at strengthening domestic wood processing capacity. The legislation would make permanent the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program at USDA, authorizing up to $220 million in low-interest loan guarantees for sawmills and wood-processing facilities. 

Targeting mills within 250 miles of high-priority federal lands, the program supports investments to expand, reopen, or modernize infrastructure critical to processing hazardous fuels and reducing wildfire risk. Eligible recipients include rural mills that play a key role in forest restoration and economic development. NLBMDA will be meeting with Senate offices to better understand the bill’s progress and explore how the LBM industry can support and contribute to these renewed efforts.

Trump Administration Continues to Send Trade Letters Ahead of August 1st Deadline 

Since NLBMDA’s last newsletter, the White House has sent more than twenty letters to U.S. trading partners notifying them of new tariffs that will take effect if trade agreements are not reached by the August 1 deadline set by the Trump administration. This follows a relatively quiet period while the administration’s trade representatives worked to finalize agreements with some of the United States’ largest trading partners. During the initial 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, the U.S. reached agreements with the United Kingdom and Vietnam. A summary of the proposed tariffs, which are scheduled to take effect on August 1st unless new agreements are reached or the deadline is extended, is included below. 

OSHA Releases Updated Guidance on Penalty and Debt Collection 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) had updated its penalty and debt collection procedures to better support small businesses and encourage faster correction of workplace hazards. The revised policy, now reflected in OSHA’s Field Operations Manual, increases penalty reductions for small employers and those making good faith efforts to comply. 

Among the updates, the 70 percent penalty reduction previously limited to businesses with 10 or fewer employees now applies to those with up to 25 employees. Employers that take immediate action to correct a hazard may also qualify for a 15 percent penalty reduction. Additionally, employers without a history of serious, willful, or repeat violations may receive a 20 percent reduction. “These updates ensure small employers are held accountable while recognizing their limited resources,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “We are giving them the tools to maintain safe workplaces without imposing undue penalties.” 

Simpson Strong-Tie Donates $30,000 for Texas Flood Relief

Simpson Strong-Tie has donated $30,000 to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund following the destructive floods in Texas on July 4, 2025. Kerr County was one of the hardest-hit areas around the Guadalupe River, where the unprecedented flash flooding has tragically claimed at least 120 lives with scores of others injured or missing.

Weyerhaeuser receives plaudits from major homebuilder

Weyerhaeuser Company has been named a winner of David Weekley Homes National Preferred Partner Award. David Weekley Homes, one of the largest privately-held homebuilders in America, recognizes field and manufacturing partners that have consistently operated at the highest levels, as determined by the home builder’s supplier evaluation platform. This annual survey recognizes partners with the best rankings in both quality and service performance based on top-tier metrics. Weyerhaeuser is a 15-time National Preferred Partner Award winner. 

Inside Hancock Lumber's symbiotic partnership with Bright Wood

Maine-based Hancock Lumber and Bright Wood have been partners since 2019, with Hancock supplying eastern white pine boards. Based in Oregon and distributing products nationally, Bright Wood is a manufacturer of wood window and door components, mouldings and engineered dimensional lumber.

LAT to honor Allan Ritter

The Lumbermen’s Association of Texas (LAT), a nonprofit trade association representing the Texas building materials industry, has named the Honorable Allan Ritter, Chairman and CEO at Triple R Brothers, as its 2025 Texas Unity Dinner honoree.  

WCLBMA is now West Coast LBMA

WCLBMA is now West Coast LBMA — complete with a refreshed name, logo, and colors. This rebrand reflects their continued commitment to serving the entire West Coast lumber and building materials industry with a modern, unified identity. While our look may be new, the mission remains the same: to support, connect, and advocate for our members across the region.