June 9, 2025 • View in browser

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

NLBMDA Canvasses Senate Offices Ahead of Potential Marshall-Durbin Amendment Vote

Last week, NLBMDA’s Government Affairs Coordinator Matthew Delaney met will Senate lawmakers to build support for the Marshall-Durbin amendment. As we covered in our last newsletter, Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) have filed an amendment to the GENIUS Act that would allow the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) to be passed alongside the proposed crypto stablecoin legislation. Since it was initially introduced in 2022, the CCCA has been a centerpiece of NLBMDA’s advocacy agenda on Capitol Hill. For the first time since the bill’s original introduction, the CCCA has a promising legislative vehicle that would allow the legislation to ride with the larger banking bill. 

In meetings with lawmakers and staff, Delaney addressed concerns raised by some lawmakers and countered misinformation that has been disseminated by lobbying groups opposing the bill. A key talking point used by bill opponents is the claim that the CCCA would impact credit card rewards programs. The projected savings as a result of this legislation, $16.4 billion annually, are less than 10 percent of total swipe fee revenues. Financial institutions have more than sufficient profit margins and are incentivized through market competition to maintain current rewards levels. Additionally, countries which have adopted similar swipe fee legislation have not seen a decrease in credit card rewards programs. Since the Marshall-Durbin amendment was filed, pro swipe-fee lobbyist have inundated Senate offices in an attempt to prevent the amendment from being considered by the Senate.

While Delaney and NLBMDA will continue meeting with lawmakers until the Marshall-Durbin amendment reaches a floor vote, NLBMDA encourages its members to reach out to Senate offices to express support the Marshall-Durbin amendment to reign in excess swipe fees. NLBMDA members from Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Dakota are strongly encouraged to reach out to Sens. Blackburn (TN), Budd (NC), and Rounds (SD) who have each currently placed “holds” on the amendment, blocking the legislation from proceeding to a full Senate vote. 

NLBMDA has provided resources for members to use for their outreach.  

President Trump Raises Steel and Aluminum Tariffs to 50% 

As part of an ongoing effort to encourage investment and reliance on domestically manufactured goods, the White House announced that it would double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports effective June 4, 2025. In its statement the White House states, “the increased tariffs will more effectively counter foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminum in the United States market and thereby undercut the competitiveness of the United States steel and aluminum industries.” Late last month President Trump held a rally with steelworkers outside of Pennsylvania as the White House closely monitors a potential partnership between Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel and US Steel. The White House has argued that increased tariffs will stimulate the domestic manufacturing sector, though others have cautioned that prolonged tariffs will impact housing affordability and potentially delay new construction starts. NLBMDA will continue to closely monitor the fluid trade environment and provide members with the latest information as it develops.  

FRAUD ALERT: Be Aware of False Impersonations of NLBMDA

It has come to our attention that some members have received fraudulent emails falsely impersonating NLBMDA staff or leadership. Please know that these communications are not authorized by NLBMDA and may be part of a scam or phishing attempt.

We want to be clear: NLBMDA does not sell, share, or distribute membership contact information. Protecting the privacy of our members is a top priority, and we are committed to safeguarding all personal and professional data entrusted to us. If you receive any suspicious emails that appear to be from NLBMDA or reference our organization inappropriately, we recommend the following actions:

• Do not click on any links or download attachments.
• Do not respond to the sender.
• Report the message by forwarding it to membersupport@dealer.org.

We are actively monitoring this situation and taking steps to address these incidents. As always, thank you for your vigilance and for being a valued member of our community.

Drive Your Business Forward at the 2025 Pro Dealer Industry Summit

The Pro Dealer Industry Summit is an opportunity to drive your business forward! This premier industry event is an exclusive, live educational forum designed to promote the growth of lumber & building product dealers, distributors, wholesalers, and the manufacturers who supply them. Register now for your chance to:

• Network with peers and industry leaders
• Gain insights from LBM experts
• Exchange ideas and collaborate with like-minded colleagues
• Expand your professional connections

Zuern Building Products Earns National Recognition As ProDealer of the Year

Baby Boomers Regain Top Spot as Largest Share of Home Buyers

In a notable shift in the housing market, baby boomers have become the largest generational group of home buyers, surpassing millennials, according to the National Association of Realtors 2025 Generational Trends report. Boomers accounted for 42% of recent buyers, while millennials fell to 29%. Many boomers, especially older ones, paid in cash, highlighting a growing generational divide in financing strategies. In contrast, over 90% of buyers under 44 relied on mortgages, and many millennials cited family gifts as part of their down payments. Meanwhile, first-time buyers dropped to 24% of all purchasers, with younger millennials still leading that group, while older millennials increasingly became repeat buyers with larger down payments.



The report also highlights broader generational patterns in housing. Generation X buyers had the highest incomes and led multigenerational home purchases, reflecting their dual responsibilities for children and aging parents. Generation Z, while still a small share of buyers, showed the highest proportion of single-female purchasers and leaned toward older homes. Real estate agents remained central to the process, with 88% of buyers using one, especially younger millennials. On the selling side, baby boomers again led at 53%, with younger sellers like millennials moving more frequently and often achieving higher sale prices. Across all age groups, agent use remained high, and satisfaction with their services continued to be strong.

Mixed Conditions for Single-Family Construction, Apartment Boost in Smaller Metros

The latest Home Building Geography Index from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reveals a shift in construction activity, with single-family home building gaining modestly in small metro areas and declining in large metro counties during the first quarter of 2025. High interest rates, tight lending, and economic uncertainty continue to constrain growth, especially in high-density markets. Multifamily construction remains weak in core urban areas but is growing in more affordable, lower-density regions, where housing supply can expand more easily. NAHB projects single-family growth in 2025 will mirror 2024 levels unless interest rates drop later in the year.



Single-family home building was most concentrated in small metro core counties, which held 29.2% of market share, followed by large metro suburban counties at 24.6%. In contrast, only 16.1% occurred in large metro core counties. Multifamily construction reflected a notable trend: large metro core counties fell to 35.5% market share—down from 45.1% in 2016 and a full three percentage points from the previous quarter—marking the lowest share since the index began. Smaller and less dense areas like small metro core counties (24.1%) and suburban counties are gaining momentum, signaling a broad geographic diversification of housing development.

USDA Unveils $200 Million Plan to Boost Timber Harvest and Forest Health 

On May 29, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a $200 million investment to implement the USDA Forest Service’s National Active Forest Management Strategy. USDA states the initiative supports President Trump’s Executive Order to expand timber production by streamlining regulatory barriers, accelerating project approvals, and increasing long-term contracting. USDA aims to boost timber harvests on national forests by 25% by FY 2028, equivalent to 4 billion board feet annually with the target of enhancing forest resilience, reducing wildfire risk, and supporting rural economies.  

“NLBMDA applauds the steps being taken by USDA to increase domestic timber production and improve the health of our nation’s forests,” said NLBMDA’s President & CEO Jonathan Paine. “USDA’s newly announced investment will have a demonstratable impact on communities throughout the country supporting job growth at lumber mills and LBM dealers across the country.” NLBMDA looks forward to being a partner with federal agencies in our shared mission of increasing the resiliency of the U.S.’s timber supply.  

H.R. 1 “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Reaches U.S. Senate

Now that the U.S. House has passed H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act, work now begins in the Senate to reconcile key disagreements regarding several of the bill’s provisions ahead of a self-imposed July 4th deadline to pass the sweeping reconciliation bill. Momentum for passing the bill on this aggressive timeline slowed last week after Elon Musk publicly criticized the bill for adding to the federal deficit. Senate lawmakers have repeatedly stated that the Senate will fully examine the bill and have not ruled out potential substantive changes to the legislation. A growing contingency of Senate Republicans have expressed objections to proposed cuts to Medicaid and USDA’s SNAP program. Senate lawmakers have also criticized the aggressive phase out of clean energy tax credits that the House bill would mandate.

Last week, Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) told reporters the Senate is unlikely to include a full repeal of the estate tax, legislation that Thune has championed in the Senate. The Senate bill will likely mirror the House’s provision which permanently increases the estate tax exemption to $15 million with increases each year consistent with annualized inflation. Republican Senators have also targeted potential changes to the House’s proposed increase of the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. Unlike in the House, the Senate has no blue-state Republicans fighting to keep the proposed provision in place. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to release draft text this week that will provide greater insight into the extent Senate lawmakers will seek to impart its priorities in the reconciliation bill. NLBMDA will be on Capitol Hill over the next few weeks to ensure that NLBMDA legislative priorities included in the House bill translate to the reconciled final version that both legislative chambers must pass. 

White House Sends Supplemental FY26 Budget Proposal to Congress

Following the release of a “skinny” budget in May, the White House has submitted supplemental materials for its FY26 budget request to appropriators on Capitol Hill. The proposal calls for funding cuts of around 22 percent for non-defense programs. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposes a 44% cut to HUD programs including zeroing out several affordable housing programs. The House Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations subcommittee has scheduled July 17th as the date it intends to markup its FY26 spending bill. NLBMDA will be on Capitol Hill advocating for continued support of federal programs which incentivize new housing starts and benefit the LBM industry. Lawmakers face a September 30th government shutdown deadline to pass a FY26 spending bill or extend current funding levels through passing a continuing resolution. 

OSHA Nominee Testifies Before Senate HELP Committee 

On June 5th David Keeling, nominee for Assistant Secretary for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee as the Senate continues to progress through the hundreds of political appointees which require Senate confirmation. Prior to being nominated, Keeling oversaw safety at both UPS and Amazon. Keeling’s opening remarks centered on three goals; modernizing regulatory oversight and rulemaking processes, expanding OSHA’s outreach and collaboration initiatives, and a so-called “enforcement transformation” that would involve the agency updating outdated technologies and using new data to enhance workplace safety.  

During the hearing Keeling was asked how OSHA intends to adjust following recent cuts made to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the primary entity tasked with researching and making recommendations to prevent workplace injuries. Keeling stated he was unaware of any, “data and information” gaps as a result of NIOSH cuts though stated he would explore the issue once he assumes his position. Keeling did not receive questions regarding OSHA's Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rule during the hearing. NLBMDA has filed formal comments with the U.S. Department of Labor outlining several concerns with the heat rule as currently proposed arguing the rulemaking adds an excessive administration burden for businesses and prescribes a flawed one-size-fits-all approach. The Senate HELP committee is likely to vote on Keeling’s nomination within the next week with a full senate confirmation vote anticipated this summer.  

Weyerhaeuser buys $375m worth of timberlands

Weyerhaeuser Company has agreed to acquire approximately 117,000 acres of timberlands in North Carolina and Virginia from Roanoke Timberlands LLC, a subsidiary of Roseburg Forest Products, for $375 million. Comprising what it calls mature, highly productive timberlands, Weyerhaeuser says the acreage will be well-integrated with existing company timberland and mill operations in North Carolina, will expand the company's footprint into "attractive" markets in southeastern Virginia and will offer substantial alternative value opportunities. 

BlueLinx appoints VP of product management

BlueLinx Holdings Inc. has appointed Mark Mason as vice president, product management, effective June 9, 2025. Mason brings 15 years of leadership experience across product management, category management and commercialization in the building products and industrial tools sectors. He will lead the company’s product management strategy, overseeing roadmap development, portfolio optimization and cross-functional execution.

LMC Dealers Gather at South Central Regional Meeting

LMC brought dealers from across the South Central US together in Arlington, TX for three action-packed days exclusively for them. South Central Regional Manager Mike Tester led the event, focusing on strategic, in-person opportunities designed to deliver real results. The meeting addressed dealers looking to strengthen supplier partnerships and connect with peers who understand their challenges.

Frisco Lumber CEO Neil Agarwal writes "Straight talk on tariffs"

Uncertainty regarding tariffs continues to challenge companies across industries. It's a common theme in every conversation I’ve had with fellow business owners lately: How do we plan, price or grow when the rules are constantly shifting?

In our case, the lumber industry got a temporary break—framing lumber from Canada, which makes up over 30% of the U.S. market, was exempt from the original tariffs. That’s good news for now, especially for residential construction.

But there’s still no clarity on imports from other key countries like Brazil and China, where tariffs remain in full effect. That could have a serious impact on specialty products like Ipe and hardwood veneers. Other building materials—fasteners, finishes, flooring, and more—are also caught in the middle.

BlueLinx, LP expand partnership

BlueLinx Holdings Inc. and Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP) are expanding their distribution partnership to Springfield, Missouri. The expanded collaboration will include LP's Siding Solutions brands and prefinished solutions, namely LP SmartSide Trim & Siding and LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding. BlueLinx says the move expands the company's stocking footprint of LP SmartSide to 19 locations, spanning five of BlueLinx's regions across the United States.