Sources: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.; CP staff
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed the concrete masonry industry’s check-off bill (S.429) by voice vote earlier this month, the legislation garnering consideration for possible avenues to the full Senate. The bill would authorize a Department of Commerce-sanctioned stakeholder committee to explore a market development, research and education program funded through a levy on concrete masonry unit sales.
An identical House version of the bill (HR15630) enjoys 170-plus bipartisan co-sponsors but has not yet been reported out of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee to which it is referred. A strong concrete masonry industry effort to sign co-sponsors continues to improve opportunities for the bill to move through the House subcommittee and committee and on to a suspension calendar approach for passage. However, NCMA Government Affairs staff notes that no legislative actions have yet been scheduled in this regard.