Advocacy
BIA works diligently to help safegaurd the indsutry as called for in the Association's Mission Statement (to both promote and safeguard the industry.)
BIA does this through analysis of key policy issues, as well as practical programs to advocate for the brick industry position. This work is guided by BIA’s Government Affairs and Compliance committee, chaired by Brad Belden of The Belden Brick Company.
Leveraging Member Relationships
BIA employs a number of tools in its advocacy work. BIA leverages resources of staff and outside consultants as well as alliances with like-minded trade associations. But no tool in the arsenal is as important as utilizing and leveraging relationships of BIA’s active members.
Relationships forged by brick representatives with their legislators form the basis on which BIA can successfully advocate for common sense policies. There are many things BIA members can do to increase positive exposure for the industry and build or renew relationships with members of Congress back in their home districts. Foremost among these is hosting lawmakers at a brick facility.
Facility Tours stand as one of the most effective ways to establish or cultivate a relationship with elected officials. They afford the chance to increase lawmakers' understanding of: a) legislative and regulatory issues most important to brick the industry, and b) the industry’s many economic, environmental and community contributions.
A Capitol Hill Fly-In that brings BIA members to the offices of two dozen key Senators (e.g., Sen. Michael Bennet D., CO) and Congressional Representatives (Jim Jordan R., OH) can enable high-level dialogue and influence. In 2023, almost a dozen BIA members briefed Congressional staff and elected officials of the industry’s economic contributions and policy concerns:
- Boost the workforce;
- Increase access to affordable engery such as natural gas;
- Fight sizable tax increases; and
- Urge that Executive Branc regulating agencies focus on genuine risk.
Given the gravity of the key policy issues confronting the industry, it is critical that BIA members generously support Brick PAC for a Stronger America. Brick PAC is an FEC-regulated, bi-partisan political action committee disbursing money to campaigns of pro-Brick legislators. These leaders are critical in forging national policy that is sensitive to the brick industry’s needs. Contributions to Brick PAC enable BIA to support the reelection of pro-brick legislators. A typical Member of Congress needs to raise at least $2 million for every successful run for Congress. BIA is pleased that Brick PAC has seen increases in member contributions for five consecutive years.
Contact: Joseph Casper (703) 674-0741 jcasper@bia.org
BIA’s Brick PAC
BIA’s Brick PAC, registered through the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC), raises personal, non-deductible contributions from eligible BIA members for disbursement to re-election campaigns of brick-friendly Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. *Eligibility is limited to salaried and administrative employees of BIA member companies, whose CEO has signed the FEC-required ‘Prior Approval’ form. Contributors must be U.S. citizens.
Local Planning Policies
Look at the communities that have stood the test of time - the neighborhoods that have kept their value, their beauty and their charm long after the builder and/or developer has made their money from the project. Many of these desirable communities – if not most – probably have a lot of brick. Many community planners want to ensure that their neighborhoods today stand for quality, attractiveness and strength.
Support Current Actions
To help ensure that the voice of the brick industry is heard by lawmakers on Capitol Hill and in state capitals, everyone – regardless of membership status - can help! Advocate for your industry, your beliefs or even your own economic interests by supporting the activities that have real consequences on our industry.
HELP US OPPOSE HARMFUL LEGISLATION IN MINNESOTA
HF 3256 and SF 3259 are bills designed as a power grab by strong, national special interest groups and would result in the cheapening of construction design standards for residential dwellings in Minnesota. Decisions regarding our neighborhoods should be made at the local level not by state government leaders in St. Paul.
If enacted, the bill would lower property values, decrease public safety, and lead to a lower quality of life for homeowners in Minnesota. It would also have a negative effect on the state's economy and its small businesses.
Ensure your state representatives vote for local control and urge them to VOTE NO on HF 3256 and SF 3259.
USE THE ACTION FORM ON THIS PAGE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NOW!
Call To Action Minnesota HF 4366 Conference Committee
OPPOSE USING TAX INCREASES TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL
Tax increases on businesses and individuals would harm businesses and the brick industry at large. Instituting major tax increases such as those currently being proposed would reverse the benefits our industry has seen in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and would result in the loss of 1 million jobs in just two years.
BIA urges members to write to their Member of Congress and Senators to urge that they vote in opposition to any significant tax increases as a means of funding the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package and $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. The most troubling tax provisions being proposed right now include increases in:
Income taxes, for those in the top bracket, from 37 to 39.6 percent -- this would include a raise of taxes for “pass-through” income, and continuation of the stepped-up basis;
Corporate taxes by more than a quarter, from 21 to 26.5 percent; and
Capital gains taxes by a quarter, from 23.8 to 28.8 percent.
USE THE FORM ON THIS PAGE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NOW!
SUPPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS
The DRIVE Safe Act would enable trucking companies to boost the number of drivers able to do interstate routes. In this way, enactment would assist BIA in improving the supply chain by providing some relief to the shortage of truckers.
BIA Urges members to write to their Congressman/woman and Senators to urge that they co-sponsor the DRIVE Safe Act, in hopes that it can gain support. The most logical vehicle for passage appears to be via attachment to an infrastructure bill currently being debated.
USE THE FORM ON THIS PAGE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NOW!
OPPOSE TAX INCREASES
As we prime our national economy for a sharp recovery period, as many economists have acknowledged is probably after unprecedented federal assistance during the pandemic, Congress should shelve major tax policy changes.
A recent study commissioned by the National Association of Manufacturers and conducted by renowned economists from Rice University found that corporate tax increases would have a negative effect on the economy over the next 10 years. The study, which leveraged economic models relied on by Congress, predicts higher taxes will equal fewer jobs and smaller national growth. Now is not the time for tax increases!
USE THE FORM ON THIS PAGE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NOW!
OPPOSE HARMFUL LEGISLATION IN TN
HB.0749 & S.0631 are bills similar to those we have defeated in other states, such as Indiana, and which are powered by strong, national special interest groups who are seeking to cheapen the construction design standards for residential dwellings across the country. The bills, if enacted, would strip local authorities of their control over local zoning codes. Local zoning regulations and neighborhood design aesthetics should be controlled by local stakeholders and not state elected officials in Nashville. If enacted, the legislation would lower property values, decrease public safety and a lower quality of life for homeowners in Tennessee.
Ensure your state representatives vote for local control and urge them to VOTE NO on HB. 0749 & S. 0631.
USE THE FORM ON THIS PAGE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NOW!
OPPOSE THE PRO ACT OF 2021
The PRO Act of 2021, if enacted into law, would rewrite the nation's historical labor law practices and, in so doing, jeopardize the economic recovery from COVID-19.
Specifically, the bill would tighten federal definitions of a joint employer and independent contractor in such a way that it would expose the construction industry to enormous liabilities and doom to failure many legitimate small business and self-employed arrangements. The bill would also permit the National Labor Relations Board to undemocratically overturn a secret ballot election which rejected unionization in certain scenarios and force employees to contribute “fair-share” union dues, lessening workers take-home pay.
Tell your U.S. Senators to support economic recovery and urge them to VOTE NO on the PRO Act of 2021.
USE THE FORM ON THIS PAGE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NOW!
HELP US OPPOSE INDIANA HB1114
HB 1114 is a power grab by strong, national special interest groups who are seeking to cheapen the construction design standards for residential dwellings in Indiana in an effort to pad their own bottom line. The bill, if enacted, would strip local authorities of their control over local zoning codes. Decisions regarding our neighborhoods should be made at the local level not by state government leaders in Indianapolis.
If enacted, the bill would lower property values, decrease public safety and a lower quality of life for homeowners in Indiana. It would also have a negative effect on the state's economy and it's small businesses.
Ensure your state representatives vote for local control and urge them to VOTE NO on HB 1114.
USE THE FORM ON THIS PAGE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NOW!
Some of the Issues
Response to Covid19 Crisis
BIA communicated to leaders of all 28 states in which brick is manufactured to assert that it is ‘essential’ at a time of national emergency, given the product’s widespread use in construction of facilities housing both health care services and emergency response. BIA was pleased that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security concurred with BIA’s assertions and declared the use of brick in construction to be essential. Additionally, BIA joined with the National Association of Manufacturers to lobby Congress to pass, and later improve the Paycheck Protection (PP) program contained within the CARES Act. The PP program made available forgivable loans to enable small businesses to retain employees thru the depths of the crisis.
HUD Housing Affordability
BIA has submitted comments on several occasions to the President’s Task Force on Housing Affordability run by the Dep’t of Housing and Urban Development. The comments asserted that building with brick is the best possible option, given brick’s well-documented environmental and thermal benefits, as well as the documented advantages in terms of savings in homeowner energy and insurance costs, as well as the enhanced re-sale value enjoyed by buildings built with brick.
OSHA Enforcement
BIA works to assure that member companies do the best possible job of protecting worker safety and health. This includes working with OSHA, for instance: in regard to finding a workable means of demonstrating compliance with standards vis a vis the possible presence of the coronavirus.
DRIVE Safe Act
BIA has worked with the American Trucking Associations to urge Congressional passage of the DRIVE Safe Act, which would boost the supply of truck drivers able to drive interstate routes. This has been a concern, as there has been a shortage of affordable, reliable trucking resources able to ship brick.
EPA MACT Rule
BIA continues work on its top policy priority: helping the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defend its 2015 rule mandating the use of Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rule. The rule was remanded to the EPA in 2018, and the agency is expected to propose a response in November, 2020. BIA believes that the rule’s metric limits and health basis are fully consistent with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.