Congress debates immigration enforcement and broader reforms
House and Senate lawmakers continue working to approve appropriations legislation for the Department of Homeland Security, the only federal agency that has not yet received funding for fiscal year 2026. With temporary funding due to expire Feb. 13, Democrats have demanded numerous restrictions on federal immigration enforcement activities. In January, House lawmakers had reached a bipartisan compromise that included several reforms to immigration enforcement, including requiring federal agents to wear body cameras and visible identification, banning agents from wearing masks or concealment gear, and allowing independent investigations when agents are involved in incidents of alleged misconduct.
However, the second shooting of a citizen protester in Minnesota in late January upended that deal, with Democrats increasing their demands for more ambitious restrictions. Republicans have indicated a willingness to negotiate limited reforms, but the two sides remain far apart in ongoing negotiations. A short-term extension of DHS funding or a shutdown of some of the agency’s functions is possible beginning Feb. 14; however, many emergency functions would continue to operate. NRCA will provide more information about how a partial shutdown of DHS operations may affect the roofing industry if that happens.
As Congress works to finalize the DHS appropriations bill, lawmakers have ratcheted up discussions of broader immigration reform legislation. A recent meeting convened by Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas) and other lawmakers has sparked discussion of existing and new reform proposals on Capitol Hill. On Feb. 10 and 11, NRCA and coalition partners within the National Immigration Forum met with numerous lawmakers and staff to push for consideration of broader immigration reforms. This included a meeting with Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.), the sponsor of the NRCA-supported Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (H.R. 5494), to strategize regarding advancing his bill to reform the federal visa system to allow for legal immigration to meet workforce needs. NRCA also met with other lawmakers to advocate for H.R. 5494 and the Dignity Act (H.R. 4393), legislation to strengthen border security while also providing the opportunity for legal immigrants with expiring status and qualifying long-term undocumented workers to earn permanent lawful status. NRCA will continue working with lawmakers on a bipartisan basis to advance immigration reforms that address the roofing industry’s workforce needs.
Bipartisan housing package heads to the Senate
On Feb. 9, the House overwhelmingly approved legislation (H.R. 6644) that contains a wide range of bipartisan proposals to address a shortage of housing and reduce prices. The measure, which passed the chamber by a vote of 390-9, is part of lawmakers’ efforts to address growing concerns about day-to-day affordability leading up to the midterm elections this fall.
Specifically, H.R. 6644 would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development to issue best practices regarding zoning and design for cities and states; expand affordable housing programs currently available to Americans; and ease regulations for development and construction. The legislation also includes changes to community banking, which is backed by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.).
Leading up to the debate on the House floor, Hill said H.R. 6644 “lowers the marginal costs of construction, makes HUD more accountable, and links how important community banks are to our housing ecosystem.”
Passage of H.R. 6644 comes months after a Senate-led housing bill, S. 2651, the ROAD to Housing Act, stalled. However, it is widely expected the House and Senate will negotiate a final agreement regarding this particular housing package during the next few months. These negotiations could include, besides the two chambers’ differing provisions, a priority for the Trump administration—restricting institutional investors such as those on Wall Street from buying single-family homes. First, lawmakers want to see specific language as outlined in President Trump’s Executive Order regarding the matter.
NRCA has made addressing the need for affordable housing an advocacy priority because it is an issue that unites our entire roofing industry and is timely given its current national focus. It will be a featured topic at Roofing Day in D.C., where two complementary pieces of legislation will be highlighted that would incentivize the conversion of vacant or underused commercial property, as well as the construction and/or upgrading of residential homes in certain areas of the U.S.
NRCA signs coalition letter regarding high-priority chemical risk evaluations
On Feb. 9, NRCA joined 20 other stakeholders in the Chlor-Vinyl Alliance to write to the Environmental Protection Agency requesting the agency seek an amendment to the court-approved settlement the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia entered Nov. 22, 2024, regarding high-priority chemical risk evaluation deadlines. The letter argues the EPA, under then-President Joe Biden, acquiesced to deadlines that were wholly unworkable.
In particular, the coalition letter points out the EPA remarkably and without precedent agreed to finalize no fewer than 17 risk evaluations under the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act within about two years. Risk evaluations by their very nature are multiyear, extremely complicated, resource-intensive scientific documents that rely on adequate stakeholder public comment.
NRCA is most concerned with the potential of truncating the Toxic Substances Control Act risk evaluations process because 1,2-Dichloroethane, or ethylene dichloride, is one of the 17 chemicals under consideration. Ethylene dichloride historically has been used as an industrial solvent and an intermediate in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride, which is a material used extensively in many construction applications because of its durability, versatility and cost-effectiveness.
Moving forward, NRCA and its Chlor-Vinyl Alliance partners will continue working with the EPA to seek an amended timeline to accommodate a more realistic, workable schedule to finalize the agency’s initiated risk evaluations.
House votes on tariff policy
In a rare defeat for House Republican leaders, on Feb. 10, three GOP members bucked their party to scuttle a procedural vote aimed at continuing to block politically tricky votes on President Trump’s tariff policies. Specifically, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) joined with all House Democrats to vote against a rule to allow consideration of a critical minerals bill because it included language inserted by House Republican leadership that would have extended through July 31 a preexisting provision blocking lawmakers from forcing votes on the president’s tariffs. As a result, with the prohibition on tariff vote-triggering now expired, Democrats working with anti-tariff Republicans are now able to force floor votes on Trump’s tariff policies.
The first such vote came Feb. 11 when the House approved H.J. Resolution 72, which aims to nullify Trump's emergency tariffs on imports from Canada. The resolution passed 219-211, with six Republicans joining all Democrats in voting for the measure; Republicans cited rising costs and falling exports as their reasons for opposing the tariff. H.J. Res. 72 or any other House resolution disapproving existing tariffs will have to pass the Senate before being sent to the White House, only to surely be vetoed by the president. Moreover, it is unlikely Congress could muster two-thirds of the House and Senate to overturn a veto. So although these recent actions are unlikely to force the president to change course regarding tariff policies, it is expected to result in politically difficult votes on some tariffs for many House Republicans during the months leading up to the November midterm elections.
With tariffs likely to remain in place—pending review of some of them by the Supreme Court with a decision expected as early as later this month—NRCA continues encouraging members to plan for all contingencies during this period of uncertainty. Companies should remain proactive in taking steps to advance and protect their interests. For example, businesses should maintain an understanding of imports they rely on and their countries of origin; assess a range of potential effects on key suppliers and materials; and monitor the administration’s process for opportunities to provide analysis and data to inform the development of trade policy and potential alternatives.
Registration for Roofing Day in D.C. 2026 is open!
Join your friends and colleagues April 14-15 for the largest advocacy event dedicated solely to the roofing industry. Each year during Roofing Day in D.C., roofing professionals meet with members of Congress and their staffs on Capitol Hill to discuss major issues of importance to the roofing industry. Our priority issues this year will focus on solutions to workforce shortages and addressing the U.S.’ affordable housing crisis.
All you need to do is register! During the event, expert speakers and panelists will inform and inspire you to help you prepare for your meetings on Capitol Hill. As always, attendees will have ample opportunity to network and connect with fellow professionals, and we encourage you to bring key employees to the event.
To view our draft itinerary, book your hotel and register, please visit www.nrca.net/roofingday.
