For Immediate Release:

July 13, 2026

Contact: MemberSupport@dealer.org

202-367-1169

Washington, D.C. – The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) applauds the enactment of H.R. 6644, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which became law at the stroke of midnight Friday night. Although the President did not sign the legislation, it became law automatically under the U.S. Constitution after he neither signed nor vetoed the bill within the ten-day period provided for presidential consideration while Congress remained in session.

The landmark bipartisan housing package includes more than 45 provisions aimed at increasing housing supply, reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers, modernizing federal housing programs, and giving state and local governments additional tools to support residential construction.

Enactment represents the culmination of more than 16 months of advocacy by NLBMDA and its members. LBM dealers brought their firsthand experience to lawmakers throughout the legislative process, including during more than 100 congressional meetings held as part of NLBMDA’s 2026 Spring Meeting and Legislative Conference. Additionally, NLBMDA’s government affairs staff maintained a consistent presence on Capitol Hill, engaging with lawmakers and congressional staff as the legislation evolved through multiple iterations and advanced through both chambers of Congress.

Statement from NLBMDA President & CEO Jonathan Paine:

“The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act demonstrates what Congress can accomplish when lawmakers work together to address the housing supply and affordability challenges facing communities across the country,” said Jonathan Paine, President and CEO of NLBMDA. “By removing unnecessary regulatory barriers and improving the processes that govern housing development, this new law creates stronger conditions for residential construction and represents a significant victory for LBM dealers and the customers they serve. NLBMDA looks forward to building on this progress by advancing additional supply-side policies, strengthening the residential construction workforce, and ensuring our industry can help meet the nation’s growing demand for housing.”

While the ROAD to Housing Act represents meaningful progress, additional action will be needed to address the full scope of the nation’s housing supply and affordability challenges. NLBMDA will continue advocating for workforce-development policies that expand career and technical education, apprenticeships, and other pathways into residential construction and the broader LBM industry. By removing unnecessary regulatory barriers and improving the processes that govern housing development, the ROAD to Housing Act creates stronger conditions for increasing residential construction. Building on that progress, NLBMDA will continue advocating for workforce-development policies that ensure builders, contractors, manufacturers, and dealers have access to the skilled workers needed to construct and supply the additional homes made possible by these reforms.

Building on the supply-side reforms included in the ROAD to Housing Act, NLBMDA will also prioritize passage of the bipartisan Neighborhood Homes Investment Act. The legislation would establish a federal tax credit to support the construction and substantial rehabilitation of affordable, owner-occupied homes in distressed urban, suburban, and rural communities where development costs often exceed a home’s potential sale price. By helping close that financing gap, the bill would make otherwise infeasible housing projects economically viable and is projected to support the construction or rehabilitation of 500,000 homes over ten years.

As implementation of the ROAD to Housing Act moves forward, NLBMDA will continue working with Congress and the Administration to advance the broader priorities of the LBM industry, including policies that strengthen the residential construction workforce, support the LBM supply chain, improve transportation infrastructure, and reduce excessive credit card interchange fees, among just a few. As Congress turns to the next surface transportation reauthorization bill this year and continues to consider legislation such as the Credit Card Competition Act, NLBMDA will remain actively engaged in advancing policies that strengthen dealers, support their customers, and promote growth across the industry.

About NLBMDA

The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) is the recognized voice and resource of the Lumber and Building Material industry to federal legislators and regulatory agencies in Washington DC. NLBMDA provides its members the resources and education to comply with federal laws, codes and regulations. NLBMDA identifies challenges and growth opportunities to the industry and collaborates with its Federated Association Partners to develop solutions that require national implementation. Visit us at www.Dealer.org to learn more.