House passes bill to address rising health care costs, does not extend ACA tax subsidies
On Dec. 17, the House passed H.R. 6703, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, by a vote of 216-211, with nearly all Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing. The bill makes several changes to rules currently governing health insurance plans, including expanding criteria for establishing association health plans; codifying a 2019 rule allowing employees to pay their health premiums with employer contributions in a tax-preferred account; and excluding stop-loss insurance from being considered health insurance under federal laws. The bill also would provide funding for Affordable Care Act cost-sharing reductions for certain enrollees. However, it does not extend the pandemic-era enhancements to the ACA’s premium tax credits slated to expire Dec. 31, which played a central role in the record 43-day government shutdown this fall.
NRCA has previously endorsed association health plan legislation, a key component of H.R. 6703, because it would allow small businesses to join together to purchase health insurance, giving them similar negotiating power to that of larger businesses in obtaining more affordable rates. Specifically, H.R. 6703 would allow association health plans to form regardless of whether employer members are in the same industry, trade or profession if they meet certain requirements.
H.R. 6703 is unlikely to pass the Senate before both chambers adjourn for the holidays. Regardless, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will undoubtedly remain focused on exploding health care costs early in the new year. In fact, four Republicans have already signed a Democratic discharge petition to force a vote in January on a “clean” three-year extension of the ACA premium tax credits without any income cap or other reforms.
Rising health care costs is a renewed area of focus for NRCA as members throughout the U.S. are indicating the cost of reasonable employer-sponsored plans are rising to unsustainable levels and crippling company operating expenses. NRCA will continue working to support sensible reforms to help small-business members obtain access to more affordable options.
House subcommittee holds hearing regarding Temporary Protected Status
On Dec. 17, the House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement of the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing, “The Impacts of Temporary Protected Status.” The TPS program was established by Congress in 1990 to provide humanitarian support for people from countries experiencing natural disasters, wars and other dangerous circumstances and allow individuals from such countries to work legally in the U.S. on a temporary basis. Given the large number of employees with TPS who work legally within the roofing industry, NRCA has long advocated for providing such individuals with an opportunity to earn permanent legal status so they can continue working within our industry and contributing to their communities.
NRCA sent a letter to members of the subcommittee that outlines member concerns with respect to the future for employees with TPS, including those who have recently lost work authorization status because of terminations of TPS by the Trump administration. The letter urged support for NRCA’s two main immigration-related legislative priorities to help address problems related to the debate regarding TPS: the Dignity Act (H.R. 4393), which would provide qualifying individuals with TPS the opportunity to earn permanent legal status in certain circumstances, and the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (H.R. 5494), which would reform the U.S. visa system to provide an alternative legal channel for temporary workers to address industry workforce needs. NRCA will continue advocating for Congress to address workforce and immigration issues of importance to the roofing industry with balanced solutions as lawmakers consider these issues.
Court reverses earlier decision regarding the Corporate Transparency Act
On Dec. 16, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a landmark district court ruling that the Corporate Transparency Act was unconstitutional. NRCA has long opposed the law because it would require more than 32 million businesses—including many NRCA members and roofing industry professionals—to provide sensitive private data to the government to crack down on the illicit activities of shell companies. The Corporate Transparency Act was passed by Congress as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020.
With NRCA’s support, the National Small Business Association filed a legal challenge to the law in 2022, and in March 2024, Federal District Court Judge Liles Burke agreed and deemed it unconstitutional. The Department of Justice subsequently appealed this court decision, which led to the 11th Circuit’s ruling this week. Writing for the 11th Circuit, Judge Brasher concluded the Corporate Transparency Act falls within Congress’ power under the Commerce Clause and also rejected Fourth Amendment challenges, finding the law’s reporting requirements are reasonable because they are uniform, limited in scope and subject to privacy protections.
Despite this legal setback, there is strong belief among legal experts that this issue was always destined for the U.S. Supreme Court and the 11th Circuit’s treatment of Commerce Clause and Fourth Amendment concerns are likely out of synch with the Supreme Court’s current judicial makeup.
At this time, the interim final rule issued in the spring by the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network remains in place. That rule exempted U.S. companies and citizens from the Corporate Transparency Act’s reporting requirements. The Treasury Department has promised to issue final rules, and NRCA and its coalition partners have been encouraging the agency to issue the rules and publicly purge the existing database of beneficial ownership information at the same time.
ROOFPAC needs your help to finish 2025 strong!
Thank you to all members who support ROOFPAC—the only political action committee dedicated to the roofing industry—in personal and corporate donations to help support pro-business elected officials. Your contributions help amplify NRCA’s work advancing pro-growth policies to protect and strengthen your business.
With just a couple of weeks left in the year, we need your help to finish 2025 strong. Please donate by Dec. 31 to help us meet our end-of-year goal and receive ROOFPAC swag and a holiday ornament. NRCA members can contribute any amount up to $5,000 annually online.
You won’t want to miss our fundraising events at the International Roofing Expo® in Las Vegas; the live auction and reception will be held Jan. 19, 2026, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Zouk Nightclub, and the popular silent auction with amazing prizes will be displayed in NRCA’s booth Jan. 21, 2026, through 4 p.m. CST. All proceeds support ROOFPAC’s mission of electing pro-business members of the U.S. House and Senate—winning for you!
