Review the details for Roofing Day in D.C. 2025 and book your hotel before March 17!
Join fellow roofing professionals on Capitol Hill as we advocate for our industry! Congress must hear from you in person to understand the critical issues we face. Together, we can make a difference. Register now for Roofing Day in D.C. 2025 April 8-9, book your hotel room at the Grand Hyatt Washington by March 17 and view our itinerary to prepare for the big day! This year, our advocacy issues again will focus on workforce challenges and pro-growth tax reform.
House approves continuing resolution; Senate must pass legislation this week to avoid shutdown
On March 11, the House approved a continuing resolution by a vote of 217-213 to provide funding for government agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2025, which runs through Sept. 30. This bill provided level funding through the end of September with a few increases in the Department of Defense and immigration enforcement and decreases for some non-defense programs in the amount of $13 billion. The Senate is expected to consider the House-passed bill soon, and Congress must pass legislation the president will sign by March 14 to avoid a government shutdown.
Tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminum take effect as countries consider retaliatory measures
On March 12, President Trump’s increased tariffs on all U.S. steel and aluminum imports took effect. The administration threatened Canada with doubling the duty to 50% on its steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. but reversed course when Ontario paused its effort to impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to some U.S. states.
The European Commission responded saying it would impose tariffs on up to $26 billion worth of U.S. goods next month, though this action mainly is symbolic as EU countries are less affected because a small fraction of targeted products are exported to the U.S. Canada is rumored to be looking at roughly $29.8 billion in retaliatory tariffs, and China and Japan are considering options to safeguard their economies. However, Australia and Britain have ruled out back and forth tariffs. Other countries that are most affected include Brazil, Mexico and South Korea.
As a reminder, Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs reports are due in a few week in concert with reports required under the administration’s America First Trade Policy released Jan. 20, which directed agencies to prepare reports regarding various trade issues by April 1. We anticipate additional tariff announcements may occur around this time.
During this dynamic period of uncertainty, companies should take proactive steps to advance and protect their interests. For example, businesses should understand imports they rely on and their countries of origin; assess a range of potential effects on key suppliers and materials; and monitor the administration’s process for opportunities to provide analysis and data to inform the development of trade policy and potential alternatives.
Department of Justice ramps up immigration enforcement
The Department of Justice has directed federal prosecutors to prioritize the prosecution of immigration-related violations, according to a recent memo issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The memo indicates the department “shall use all available criminal statutes to combat the flood of illegal immigration that took place over the last four years, and to continue to support the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration and removal initiatives.” The department’s action is consistent with President Trump’s numerous Executive Orders aimed at combatting illegal immigration and could lead to more criminal prosecutions of employers that knowingly hire workers who do not have proper authorization. In anticipation of increased enforcement activities, such as I-9 audits and worksite enforcement visits, employers should review Form I-9s and other immigration-related documentation to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. View additional information about how employers can prepare for increased immigration enforcement here and here.
Senate confirms Chavez-DeRemer as Secretary of Labor
On March 10, the Senate voted 67-32, with 17 Democrats joining all but three Republicans, to approve the nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be Secretary of Labor. Former Representative Chavez-DeRemer served two years in the House, representing Oregon’s 1st Congressional District before losing her bid for reelection in 2024. During her confirmation hearing, she indicated she will work with department officials, stakeholders and the public to review existing regulations with the goal of prioritizing the well-being of workers while being clear, practical and achievable for employers. NRCA endorsed her nomination and looks forward to working with her regarding workforce and regulatory issues important to the roofing industry.
Rewrite of federal labor law introduced in House and Senate
On March 5, a (bipartisan) group of senators and House members introduced the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which would dramatically modify federal labor law with respect to collective bargaining activity. The bill would require the use of card check procedures rather than secret ballots in union elections; allow government officials to unilaterally impose labor contracts on the private sector; eliminate right-to-work provisions; and require employers to give union organizers employees’ personal information, among other changes to existing law. The House bill (H.R. 20) was introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) with 210 co-sponsors, including Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and the Senate bill was introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and many other Senate Democrats. NRCA has long been on record opposing this draconian legislation and recently joined with allied associations to send a letter to all senators outlining key policy concerns in detail.
