Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; National Precast Concrete Association, Carmel, Ind.; CP staff
NRMCA and NPCA are encouraging members and allied interests to stress to federal lawmakers the importance of passing H.R. 5839 Disaster Savings and Resilient Construction Act in conjunction with emergency funding and tax credit measures in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Through H.R. 5839, builders applying resilient construction practice—complying with the 2009 or later International Building Code—qualify for $3,000 and $25,000 tax credits, respectively, on residential and commercial projects in federally declared disaster zones.
Introduced in May, the NRMCA-authored bill dovetails with a White House request that Congress provide $60.4 billion for recovery and rebuilding efforts in New Jersey, New York and other areas hit hard by late-October extreme weather events. Administration officials contend that action is warranted “to prevent losses of this magnitude from future disasters” and recognize the need for “ensuring that funds are used most effectively and on appropriate activities with proper spending controls.” Concurrent with the White House move, New Jersey and New York Congressional delegations are seeking tax breaks for constituents’ post-Sandy rebuilding expenditures.
The Sandy relief and the NJ/NY tax measures bills provide ample opportunity for passage of Disaster Savings and Resilient Construction, which advances policy that has garnered NPCA support alongside NRMCA, plus a host of allied groups tracking Capitol Hill. NRMCA and NPCA urge members to contact their representatives in Congress and support the inclusion of H.R. 5839 in Sandy relief and related tax break measures. Among potential talking points to reinforce that request:
• Disasters such as Hurricane Sandy are increasing in number and severity each year—at a major cost to federal government as disaster assistance is typically unfunded.
• Promoting resilient construction in disaster areas will ensure more homes and buildings are able to withstand future disasters.
• H.R. 5839 will help to save lives and taxpayers’ dollars.
Quick links to Representatives can be found by zip code search here. Additionally, NRMCA Government Affairs staff has set up automated relay of H.R. 5839 support messages here.
Groups joining NRMCA and NPCA in rallying support for H.R. 5839 include National Concrete Masonry Association, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, Portland Cement Association, Prestressed/Precast Concrete Institute and Silica Fume Association, plus American Society of Civil Engineers, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, International Code Council, and, Tilt-Up Concrete Association.