Court strikes down Corporate Transparency Act
On March 1, a federal district judge found the Corporate Transparency Act unconstitutional—a huge advocacy win for NRCA! The Corporate Transparency Act would require more than 32 million businesses—including many NRCA members and roofing industry professionals—to provide sensitive private data to the government to somehow capture the illicit activities of shell companies. With NRCA’s support, the National Small Business Association filed a legal challenge to the law in 2022. In his opinion explaining the decision, Judge Liles Burke wrote: “The CTA exceeds the Constitution’s limits on the legislative branch and lacks a sufficient nexus to any enumerated power to be a necessary or proper means of achieving Congress’ policy goals.” View the full opinion.
The Department of Justice is almost certain to appeal this court decision, and NRCA members therefore should remain prepared to be in compliance with the law until further litigation is resolved. However, this ruling will help focus the public, media and lawmakers on the threat the Corporate Transparency Act poses to the privacy of law-abiding Americans and ultimately will help NRCA fight overreaching laws in Congress.
Register for Roofing Day in D.C.
Join your fellow roofing professionals April 16-17 for Roofing Day in D.C., the largest advocacy event dedicated solely to the roofing industry. It is vital we have a strong turnout to speak with one voice as an industry on Capitol Hill during this critical election year.
Review our key advocacy issues for 2024—solutions to workforce shortages and pro-growth tax reform. To view our draft itinerary and register, visit www.nrca.net/roofingday.
House consideration of Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act delayed
House leaders postponed a vote for the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act (H.R. 6585), which had been scheduled for consideration Feb. 29, after higher education organizations announced opposition to the bill in its revised form. This legislation would allow students enrolled in short-term workforce training programs to become eligible for federal Pell Grants, which provide financial assistance to students of limited means. The higher education groups are concerned regarding a tax on certain educational endowments that is designed to offset the cost of the expansion of Pell Grants and avoid adding to the federal deficit. NRCA supports the bill and sent a letter urging approval because it would allow more individuals to gain the skills needed to work in the trades and help provide balance between federal support for workforce training and four-year degree programs. It is unclear when the bill will be rescheduled for a vote in the House.
Congress moves toward completion of funding legislation
Congressional leaders released new legislation as part of a bipartisan plan to complete the long-delayed appropriations process for fiscal year 2024, which began Oct. 1, 2023, and finally provide funding for federal agencies for the remainder of the fiscal year. The plan is to pass two packages, each containing six of the 12 appropriations bills needed to fund the government. The first bill contains about $460 billion in funding for the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation and Veterans Affairs and other agencies and was approved by the House March 6 with a bipartisan vote of 339-85. The Senate is expected to approve this bill before yet another deadline to avert a partial government shutdown March 9. A second package to fund the remaining government agencies still is being negotiated ahead of a March 22 deadline and could prove to be more contentious. If lawmakers succeed in approving these two packages to finally fund the government for fiscal year 2024, they then will immediately start the process for setting the federal discretionary spending for fiscal year 2025.
