NAHB achieved a major victory in late February when President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to begin the process of rescinding or revising the overly burdensome “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule.
With this action, Trump honored a campaign promise he made to home builders at NAHB’s board of directors meeting in August, when he vowed to cut WOTUS and other excessive regulations that raise the cost of homes.
This executive order is a critical first step toward reworking the flawed regulation. It gives direction to EPA and the Corps to reconsider the rulemaking that would have greatly extended the areas in which home builders are required to get permits, usurping state and local regulatory authority. The rule was so vague that almost any site could come under federal jurisdiction.
I was privileged to attend the White House ceremony during which Trump signed this executive order. I even had the opportunity to personally thank him for fighting a clear case of regulatory overreach. His response: “We’re going to make home building great again.” I also had productive conversations with Vice President Mike Pence and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt at the ceremony.
This victory was years in the making. Ever since the WOTUS rule was first proposed in 2014, NAHB aggressively opposed it in numerous ways at all levels of the federation. The association voiced its concerns to policymakers, supported legislation to rescind the regulation, and filed lawsuits against it in federal court. I want to thank all of the NAHB members who were involved in these activities, as it definitely was a team effort.
Moving forward, NAHB plans to work with the administration as well as EPA and Corps officials to find a way to protect our waterways that also preserves the interests of small businesses and communities.
The fact that Trump addressed one of our major issues so quickly after taking office demonstrates the political clout NAHB has in Washington. The association has certainly earned a seat at the table. The nation’s chief executive has listened to us and has acted with our concerns in mind. Regardless of whether NAHB members support Trump, the association is right in the middle of the action, where it needs to be.
NAHB will continue to use its political influence to fight overregulation and other issues that have hampered our industry and driven up housing costs. NAHB will keep pressing Trump and other officials to support pro-business, pro-housing policies to ensure residential construction is heading in the right direction.
