Page 8 - Builder Brief September 2022 Issue

2022 PRESIDENT
WHAT HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON HAS DRAMATIC EFFECTS ON OUR INDUSTRY Join Us October 13th to Help Educate Our Elected Officials
As the November elections approach us, I want to share a few things I have learned this year as your President. We must continue to plug into what is happening on the local level, in Austin, and in Washington, and we must continue to make our voices heard as an industry. Legislation is filed weekly in DC, detrimental to the real estate and residential construction industry.
Housing is or should be the nation’s number one concern. Housing costs make up approximately 40% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Housing affordability is and will continue to be our association’s number one concern in the future as our local, state, and national governments pass ordinances and laws that add to the cost of housing. More than 25% of the cost of a new single-family home is made up of regulations and fees.
Being able to pick up the phone and speak with a member of our Congressional delegation before a key vote is extremely important. This summer, we have engaged our entire Congressional delegation in face-to-face meetings at GSABA, TAB, or NAHB events. This allows us to share critical information with them on legislation that is good for housing and what is bad for our industry, community, and families.
Congressman Henry Cuellar hosted a small luncheon on August 12th, and Michael Moore and Kristi Sutterfield attended. Congressman Vincente Gonzalez met with me and GSABA Leadership Team members on August 18th. After the meeting, the Congressman stayed to network at our Membership Mixer. Councilman John Courage attended the August 16th Board of Directors Meeting, and Councilman Clayton Perry came to the August 18th Membership Mixer too. Staff connected with Senator Jose Menendez and Mayor Nirenberg in August as well.
President Biden signed into law in mid-August the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, a health care, climate, and tax bill that our industry opposed. NAHB provided information to all members of Congress and in the Senate outlining the changes being proposed to the taxation of real estate and the increase in the code requirements would exacerbate the nation’s affordability challenges and it will. The bill will increase the cost of new homes through higher energy code requirements through grants made available to local and state governments. Two-thirds of the funds will be made available for adopting energy regulations that meet zero energy provisions in the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code. However, zero-energy targets are inappropriate for most jurisdictions and not cost-effective for consumers.
MIKE SOWRY
The new law signed by the President with a one size fits all approach to energy codes will exacerbate the current housing affordability crisis and limit consumer energy choices. Together we must take a stand on issues like these. Please join me and 3PAC Chairman Ed Berlanga and Co-Chair Eric Bernal at the 3PAC event on October 13th. We have commitments to attend from several local Council members, state legislators and our elected officials in Washington. We need your support! You'll find more information about the 3PAC event in this issue of the Builder Brief.
Sincerely,
8 SEPTEMBER 2022 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION