Roofing Day Is How You Can Make a Difference

RCS Influencer Tammy Hall says that we must take on the responsibility to educate our elected officials on the issues affecting the roofing industry.

I am proud to say that CFS Roofing Services has attended every Roofing Day coordinated by NRCA to date.  It is an honor to walk the halls of the Capital with such an incredible group of roofing industry leaders and to share our knowledge/experiences with our legislators and their staff members. 

This question (what would you like discussed at Roofing Day) for me is different since I serve on the Roofing Day Committee and strongly supported all three of the topics, we will be discussing this Roofing Day.  I want to go off subject somewhat to share with you the importance of engaging in this process and difference it truly makes.

The complexity of the legislative process makes lobbying essential to the function of government.  Congress and their staff do not have the knowledge, experience, or time to become experts on our industries issues or the legislative challenges we are experiencing that hinder our ability to be successful.  We must take on the responsibility to educate our elected officials on the issues, assist in language to draft legislation, solicit votes for bills in both houses of Congress and eventually get those bill(s) into law.

With that said, the Roofing Day committee discussed several issues surrounding this year’s lobbying efforts.  NRCA staff maintains great communication with roofing contractors throughout the United States and the concerns that continued to rise to the top of the list were as follows:

• Education
• Infrastructure funding
• Immigration for skilled work force

Increased Funding for Career and Technical Education.  Our request is funding for Perkins Career and Technical Education State Grants for fiscal year 2022 to help address the roofing industry’s workforce needs. 

Support a Strong Buildings Component in Infrastructure Legislation.  Our request will be to co-sponsor the bipartisan E-QUIP Act and urge its inclusion as part of a strong building’s component of any infrastructure legislation in 2021.

Immigration reform that meets workforce needs.  Our request will be to support the Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act and legislation to allow qualifying individuals with TPS and DACA status to continue working in our communities.

With this year’s Roofing Day being virtual, I hope that everyone will make the time to participate and discover that your voice DOES make a difference.

Tammy Hall is the Director of Marketing and Service Division for CFS Roofing Services LLC. See her full bio here.