U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) met virtually with stakeholders involved in the home building supply chain this week, including builder representatives from Kansas, lumber industry participants from New Hampshire, and affordable housing advocates.
The group discussed supply chain disruptions, recent price volatility, the shortage in availability of homes, and potential areas for cooperation among stakeholders.
“The volatility in the lumber market is pricing hundreds of thousands of potential home buyers out of achieving the American dream of homeownership,” said Sen. Moran in a press release. “Supply chain shortages caused by the pandemic have driven up the price of building and buying homes and the threat of increasing countervailing duties on certain lumber imports from Canada threaten to exacerbate the situation.”
Tommy Bickimer, president of Bickimer Homes and vice president of the Kansas City HBA, and Lindsay Hicks of Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City participated in the roundtable discussion to share how the increase in lumber prices has impacted housing construction.
Jasen Stock, the executive director of the New Hampshire Timberland Owners’ Association, and Barry Kelley, president of White Mountain Lumber Co., were also in attendance and spoke about the impact of supply chain interruptions on the lumber industry.
“The COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on the home building supply chain. Challenges like supply bottlenecks and skyrocketing demand for construction materials resulted in surging prices and harmed the supply chain—affecting timber harvesters and haulers, sawmills, retail stores, home builders, and ultimately Granite State families who need a safe and affordable place to live,” added Sen. Shaheen. “We felt the impact in New Hampshire, and, after today’s discussion, it’s clear the ripple effect was felt across the country.”
