Rental housing professionals advocated before Congress for sustainable policy solutions.
In March, a record number of rental housing professionals from across the country convened in the nation’s capital for Advocate, NAA’s annual advocacy conference and Congressional fly-in. In total, more than 960 registrants – including more than 230 first-time attendees – traveled to Washington to promote responsible sustainable housing policies.
The weeklong event kicked off on Tuesday, March 12 with an afternoon of informative and interactive sessions on advocacy. First-timers had the opportunity to practice and hone their pitches for Capitol Hill, and all attendees heard the latest in housing politics from NAA’s government affairs team.
Amy Walter, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the “Cook Political Report with Amy Walter” and popular on-air political analyst, delivered a keynote address on the ever-evolving political landscape ahead of the 2024 election in November. Walter joked about the political atmosphere heading into the height of the election cycle and how many have compared
this election and the year 2024 to that of four years ago and the 2020 Presidential election. However, she did note distinct differences from four years ago: Joe Biden is the President, and the policies of former President Donald Trump are popular while both people are unpopular, which was not necessarily the positions seen in 2020. Walter also noted how important the roles of the courts have become in politics, and how vital it is for constituents to be in-volved. “The fact you are here at all means you are invested.”
On Wednesday, teams of industry professionals led by NAA’s 141 state and local affiliate partners took to Capitol Hill to meet with their representatives and stand strong for the importance of rental housing in their communities. In total, industry professionals held more than 240 meetings with Congress.
"I thought this year was one of the best years from the standpoint of available appointments and the full engagement of the representatives and their staff members," says Diana Pittro, Executive Vice President of Chicago-based RMK Management. "Most were in tune with housing issues, as well as our recommendation for dropping the CARES Act's federal notice to vacate requirement."
For industry advocates, protecting the nation’s rental housing infrastructure and easing housing affordability challenges long term were among the top priorities on Capitol Hill. Specifically, industry professionals asked their members of Congress to:
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End the federal CARES Act notice to vacate requirement (S.3755/H.R. 802, “The Respect State Housing Laws Act”)
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Lower local barriers to apartment development and increase housing supply (S.1688/H.R. 3507, “The Yes In My Back Yard Act”)
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Improve HUD’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and head off source of income protections (S. 32/HR. 4606, “The Choice in Affordable Housing Act”)
Hitting another milestone this Congress, NAA led efforts to introduce House and Senate companion bills for all three of the industry’s priority legislative issues. While these three asks were the focus of prior Advocate events, industry advocates stressed urgency and encouraged their Members of Congress to help get these priorities across the finish line before the end of the 118th Congress.
“We are facing monumental challenges, and with each year, the threat to our industry magnifies,” says Dawn Waye, Chief Operating Officer with Edison Equity Residential. “It is incumbent on us to stay informed, be involved and educate our legislators and other impactful positions of the cause and effect that is caused with bill propositions, laws and code requirements. We are the experts in our industry, and we have to take an active part in communication and building relationships with key people.”
As of this writing, industry advocates have indicated in post-meeting feedback that more than 20 Members of Congress agreed to take the actions requested during Hill meetings; four Members have already cosponsored one or more of the three priori-ty bills. NAA staff continues to support advocates as they follow up with Congressional offices who have not yet made a commitment on one of the pieces of legislation. Rounding out the event, attendees also heard from several notable speakers from across the federal government, including speakers from HUD, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the House Finance Services Committee.
Adrianne Todman, HUD’s Deputy Secretary and Acting Secretary, notably addressed NAA’s Board of Directors for the third year in a row, opening the floor for questions and leaving the door open for continued dialogue and conversation in the months to come. “I want to thank you,” Todman noted in her remarks. “Thank you for the role you play in housing Americans.” Todman also spoke of some operational efficiencies during her time on stage including virtual inspections and mentions of the Housing Choice Voucher Program and senior housing. “Your partnership matters to HUD. [We will] continue to find ways to improve and trend in the right direction.”
As always, NAA’s advocacy efforts continue year-round – and your participation is critical.
Zach Quimby is Manager, Public Affairs with NAA.