PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Te National Team and a Common Goal F
By GHBA President
KEVIN FRANKEL, CGP Frankel Building Group “When the balance of
control changes, we need to use our influence to make sure that our industry is treated
fairly. When oversight looks to overstep, our Government Affairs team is here to protect our members.”
or the last few years, the GHBA, as a part of the National Association of Builders (NAHB), has been monitoring a proposed federal rule regarding control over waterways in the U.S. The rule, which goes into effect on August 28, reclas- sifies U.S. waterways, and allows the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to maintain sweeping jurisdiction over any type of waterway, drainage ditch, and what you and I would call a puddle.
This was on the local and national radar screen from the beginning, and NAHB has been attempt- ing to assist both houses of Congress to pass defensive acts to combat this federal overstep (H.R. 1732 and S. 1140). The GHBA has obviously supported these national efforts.
Why is this a problem? The type of compliance associated with the Army Corp of Engineers and the EPA generally costs the project in both time and money. This extended oversight will likely increase the scope and scale of these costs, and by extension, housing affordability. Economists agree that there has been a shortage of residential de- velopment for a multitude of reasons. This is one more punch to the gut of builders and developers.
Although the rule is extreme for the entire nation, the Gulf Coast looks to be affected more heavily.
The EPA will have jurisdiction over waterways above ground and underground, along with overflow waterways that are apart from very heavy rainfall. We in the Houston area run into more of these situations than much of the U.S.
I want to mention that the Federal Government has good intentions here. It’s easy to see excessive oversight and assume some sinister plot. The gov- ernment is trying to keep these waterways clean for good reason, but we believe their execution was not in the best interest of our industry or the community in general.
The advocacy side of the Association’s mission is not limited to ICC and local laws. When the balance of control changes, we need to use our influence to make sure that our industry is treated fairly. When oversight looks to overstep, our Government Affairs team is here to protect our members.
In this case, the GHBA will be party to a lawsuit along with not only the NAHB, but other national trade associations as well. NAHB cannot do this without our staunch support, which of course they have. While the GHBA is locally focused, we are part of a National Team with a common goal: keep building!
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www.hiallc.com 12 AUGUST 2015 | HOUSTON BUILDER | GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION – BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
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