PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
(NAHB), of which you are also a member. GHBA is represented by 13 directors at the national level of NAHB, who attend three meetings a year to discuss and vote on issues that affect all of us in the home building industry.
In September, we
By GHBA President MIKE DISHBERGER, GMB, Sandcastle Homes Inc.
had a meeting in Milwaukee (the weather was a balmy 60-70 degrees) and were updated on some major national issues. „ NAHB successfully got the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to drop its effluent standard for storm runoff from job sites. The measure would have forced builders and developers to test runoff from the land at a standard almost as clean as the water we drink! So the EPA is back to the drawing board to create fact-based standards.
„ A rule to increase the amount of wetlands controlled by the Corps of Engineers has been delayed. The rule would have made more land “navigable” waterways, like open ditches and standing water.
„ Along with the NAHB, we are gathering co- sponsors for H.B. 1755 (Home Construction Lending Regulatory Improvement Act of 2011) which addresses AD&C financing and appraisals. We are trying to get the regulators
News from NAHB A
s you may know, a portion of your annual membership dues goes towards the National Association of Home Builders
to not use “guidelines” as hard numbers, but instead allow some flexibility in providing construction loans so that we can build homes. The Houston delegation (GHBA) has secured most of our local representatives onto this bill after meeting with many of them in August.
„ OSHA’s Fall Protection Guidelines, which were to go into effect in June, were delayed 90 days giving builders more time to implement. NAHB is currently working with OSHA to make changes to the guidelines for a more practical approach. In early September, NAHB was able to get the head of OSHA and his managers to visit a job site in Virginia, to see the issues involved. Stay tuned on this one.
„ With all the talks of budget cuts and tax law changes, the NAHB is working to save the mortgage interest deduction. We can all agree that this is the bedrock of home ownership, and changing or eliminating this deduction would have drastic results on our industry. This is H.R. 25 and it currently has nearly 200 sponsors, again including most of the Houston delegation.
So, there is a lot going on, and the NAHB along with GHBA are working hard for our industry. Keep an eye on this column, and your weekly e-newsletter for further updates.
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www.hiallc.com 6 OCTOBER 2011 | HOUSTON BUILDER | GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION – BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
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