Each year, members of the Greater San Antonio Builders Association (GSABA) join hundreds of housing professionals from across the country in Washington, D.C., for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Legislative Conference. This annual event provides an opportunity for builders, remodelers, developers and industry leaders to speak directly with members of Congress about the policies that shape our ability to provide safe, affordable and
attainable housing.
This year, more than 1,100 housing advocates participated in more than 300 meetings on Capitol Hill, delivering a unified message: America needs more housing, and home builders need practical solutions that allow us to build more efficiently while keeping homeownership within reach for more families.
Housing affordability remains one of the greatest challenges facing our nation. Rising construction costs, labor shortages, regulatory burdens and lengthy permitting processes drive up the cost of every new home. While these issues are felt nationwide, they also directly impact our communities, where demand for housing continues to grow.
During our meetings with congressional leaders, NAHB members focused on four legislative priorities. We advocated for comprehensive housing legislation that would remove barriers to new residential development. Proposed reforms aimed at streamlining zoning regulations, improving land-use policies and modernizing environmental reviews would help reduce unnecessary delays and increase the supply of housing across the country.
We also encouraged our congressional delegation to support provisions that preserve the production of single-family rental homes and expand financing opportunities for multifamily developments — both critical components of today’s housing market.
Workforce development was another key priority. The construction industry continues to experience a significant shortage of skilled workers, with more than 200,000 positions currently unfilled nationwide. Meeting future housing demand will require an estimated 2.2 million additional workers over the next three years. NAHB urged Congress to support legislation that expands career and technical education opportunities for young adults while also advancing sensible immigration reforms.
GSABA members discussed the growing impact of permitting delays. Lengthy approval processes at every level of government add months — or even years — to housing projects while increasing costs that are ultimately passed on to homebuyers. We encouraged lawmakers to pursue reforms that provide greater certainty, improve efficiency and maintain responsible environmental protections without unnecessarily delaying much-needed housing.
We also advocated for protecting consumer choice when it comes to home energy options. Policies that prohibit the installation of natural gas in new homes can increase construction costs and limit homeowners’ ability to choose the energy sources that best meet their needs and budgets.
Every regulation, permit, workforce initiative and legislative decision has a direct impact on the price of a home and the ability of families to achieve the American dream of homeownership.
Advocacy has always been one of the greatest strengths of GSABA. I want to thank the members of our delegation who took the time to travel to Washington and represent our industry with professionalism and passion.
As we move forward, GSABA will continue working alongside the Texas Association of Builders (TAB), NAHB and our elected officials to advocate for common-sense policies that support housing affordability, economic growth and the future of homebuilding in Texas. That future depends on strong partnership with our REALTOR® colleagues, whose work connecting families to homes complements everything we do to build them.
Thank you for your continued support of our advocacy efforts on the local, state and national level. Together — as builders and REALTORS® — we make a difference.
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