A Look at VARP’s Experience at the Annual Roofing Day in D.C.!

By Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals.  

A group of members from the Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals (VARP) were able to attend the NRCA’s Annual Roofing Day. This is how it went. 

NRCA's Annual Roofing Day in D.C. took place last week. It was a significant industry event, with over 300 roofing professionals from all over the country coming together to advocate for the industry on Capitol Hill. VARP members Tim Dickson, Justin Maitland, Sherri Miles, Frank Painter, Scott Shufflebarger and Caleb Stettler participated. 

On the first day of the event, there were several informative sessions focused on national policy issues facing the roofing industry and the importance of working with Congress to address these issues. 

The second day was devoted to meetings with members of Congress and their staff, where roofing professionals had the opportunity to discuss a range of issues affecting the industry. 

Some of the key issues we advocated for: 

• Workforce development: Attendees urged lawmakers to support initiatives that would help address the labor shortage, including vocational training programs and immigration reform. 
• Infrastructure investment: Attendees asked Congress to support $348 million for the Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office (BTO). The BTO develops, demonstrates, and accelerates the adoption of cost-effective technologies and techniques that enable high-performing, energy-efficient, and demand-flexible residential and commercial buildings. BTO works closely with the construction industry and others on research and development, validation of new building technologies and practices, market stimulation, and the development of building codes and equipment standards to improve efficiency in our most important structures—homes, hospitals, schools, and businesses—to name a few. BTO funding has been an important catalyst for economic growth, jobs, and smart construction and touches all the construction trades and occupations. 
• Main Street Tax Certainty Act: Makes permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income. (Under current law, the deduction expires after December 31, 2025.) Without it, individually- and family-owned businesses organized as pass-throughs would pay significantly higher taxes, putting them at a competitive disadvantage and accelerating economic consolidation taking place in our economy. This provision allows roofing industry employers to invest back into their employees, businesses, and communities. 

The meetings were productive, with many lawmakers or their staffers expressing their support for the industry and its priorities. Overall, the event demonstrated the power of the roofing industry to come together and make a difference in Washington. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to advocate for the interests of our industry. 

 Mark your calendars for the 2024 Annual Roofing Day dates: April 16-17!  

 Original article source: Virginial Association of Roofing Professionals