WDMA Hosts Successful Legislative Conference

In addition to WDMA members meeting with congressional offices on Capitol Hill, other highlights of the meeting included an in-depth political analysis from political commentator and author Matt Lewis, speeches at the Washington Briefing Breakfast by Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC) and Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), and a congressional reception in the Rayburn Congressional Office Building.

WDMA members focused on a range of issues as part of the visits with lawmakers that included the following: 

* Advancing a broad federal regulatory reform agenda;

* Supporting legislation to clearly define what technical assistance the Department of Energy (DOE) can provide in developing new model energy codes and to guarantee that certain products and technologies are not given preferential treatment;

* Supporting common-sense reforms to the implementation of EPA's Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (LRRP);

* Urging EPA to conduct a new economic analysis of the LRRP Rule to account for the costs associated from the lack of a compliant test kit;

* Improving regulations for businesses by making needed reforms to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA);

* Ensuring Congress is part of the approval process for high-impact regulations;

* Providing transparency to the "sue and settle" process and ensure the public is able to comment on proposed settlement agreements before being agreed to;

* Requiring federal agencies to adopt the least costly rule considered during the rule making process;

* Requiring federal courts to conduct a review of all interpretations law made by a regulatory agency and cease the practice of deferring judgements to agencies.

On the first day of the meeting, attendees heard  political analysis from political commentator and author Matt Lewis, who has authored several books, is featured regularly in publications such as the Daily Caller, and is a frequent guest on cable news programs.

The next morning, during the Washington Briefing Breakfast, featured speakers Rep. Tedd Budd (R-NC) and Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) thanked those who had  made the trip to the nation's capital and spoke about state of healthcare reform, the need for regulatory easing, and their goals for the current Congressional session.

After a full day of meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, a reception was held in the Rayburn C ongressional Office Building . Attendees had the opportunity to discuss the results of their meetings and relax after a long day of meetings.

WDMA thanks all its members who took time away from their businesses to champion issues of importance to our industry. The event was successful and will help make a difference in advancing WDMA's legislative and regulatory agenda.