THE HOME BUILDER
July 2024
Page Two
David Lehde Director of Government Affairs From D.C. to Dallas to Denton, DBA Advocacy Stays on Target The HomeFront Government Affairs News and Info
Continued from page 1
shortage of distribution transformers by fixing supply chain disruptions and boosting domestic manufacturing. Protect workforce develop initiatives: The Association urged that the tremendously successful Job Corps program, a vital source of trades trained labor for housing and other industries, remain fully funded. During our time on the Hill, Dal- las BA met with the offices of U.S. Representatives Colin Allred, Michael Burgess, Jasmine Crockett, Jake El- lzey, Pat Fallon, Lance Gooden, Ronny Jackson, Keith Self, Beth Van Duyne and Marc Veasey. We appreciate our members of Congress welcoming us in to discuss important housing policy. Registration Is Open for the Associa - tion’s Clay Shoot Registration is now open for the HOMEPAC Shootout, presented by BGE, Inc., to be held Wednesday, September 4. The clay-shoot benefits HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas. This is a fun opportunity to support Dallas BA advocacy and enjoy the outdoors. The clay shoot will be hosted at the famed Elm Fork Shooting Sports facilities in Dallas. The event will begin with registration and breakfast at 8 a.m., followed by the clay shoot at 9 a.m. Lunch and posting of results will follow the shoot. The event format will be 4-man teams. Participant entry is $150 per shooter, which includes breakfast, lunch, and beverages. You can also register a team of 4 for $600. Shooters must provide their own ammunition (20 or 12 gauge), as well as eye and ear protection. Partnerships are also available at multiple levels. For more information, visit Dal-
lasBuilders.org.
with Permitting and Inspections, under a new Planning and Develop- ment Department. The department also includes a Customer and Team Excellence program to address service needs. Dallas BA has urged efficiency and customer service improvements and hopefully the city’s reorganization focuses on those needs. With the need to deliver hous- ing in Dallas that families can afford, keeping a focus on efficiency in the permitting process, as well as overall planning, design and building ordi- nances that make sense and do not needlessly add to the cost of a home, is necessary for the Planning and De- velopment Department.
homeownership more accessible. During our time on the Hill, three critical issues topped Dallas BA’s dis- cussion about how to protect housing affordability. Dallas BA Visits with Members of Congress Stop a needless codes decree that will worsen the housing af- fordability crisis: HUD and USDA recently adopted a rule that will impact the most vulnerable home buyers most; the very demographic the agen- cies were meant to help. The rule will require that for new home financing to be insured by the agencies, includ- ing FHA loans and, due to statute, Veterans Administration home loans, the home would have to be built to the 2021 International Energy Conserva - tion Code (IECC) – unamended. Studies show that can add up to $31,000 to the price of a new home, a major cost increase that would price many American families out of buying a new home, while doing little to offer meaningful energy savings. Just as concerning is word in Washington that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is consider - ing requiring Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to require new homes and apart- ments seeking their mortgage loan insurance to use the same rule. All of this effectively nationalizing building energy codes, a blatant federal over- reach with dramatic consequences, be they unintended or not. Dallas BA asked our members of Congress to reverse the problematic policy. Help fix the distribution trans - former shortage: Dallas BA asked the Representatives to address the severe
Municipal News
Denton’s City Council is current- ly scheduled for a public hearing on the city’s roadway impact fee updates on July 16. Dallas BA has been engaged on this issue for some time and council members have cited the importance of balancing their infrastructure funding mechanism with the goal of keeping housing affordable. Meanwhile, a shakeup recently occurred in the Development Services Department in the City of Dallas. A department reorganization was an- nounced on June 21. The move puts Planning and Development, along
Director of Govern - ment Affairs David Lehde speaks with U.S. Rep. Marc
Veasey’s legislative director.
Members of Dallas BA and Greater Fort Worth BA meet with Congress - man and Chairman of the House Committee on Rules Michael Burgess (left) and Congressman Lance Gooden.
Dallas BA and Greater Fort Worth BA del - egates also touch base with U.S. Representa- tive Beth Van Duyne.
The Home Builder is published monthly by the Dallas Builders Association at 5816 W. Plano Pkwy., Plano, Texas 75093. Telephone 972-931-4840. BARCIE VILCHES , Editor
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