Building momentum on The Hill

Words: Stephen Borghttps://masoncontractors.azurewebsites.net/Public/News/20120613060000-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Congressman Dan Lipinski is presented the MCAA Freedom and Prosperity Award" />
Congressman Dan Lipinski is presented the MCAA Freedom and Prosperity Award
We had another great and productive annual Masonry Industry Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., May 8-10, 2012. Nearly 25 members of the Mason Contractors Association of America hit Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and their staffs, and to meet with Federal Agencies, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Over this three-day period, we met with the offices of more than 100 Members of Congress, where we expressed concerns related to the job-destroying burdens of the estate tax and alternative minimum tax, and the overbearing, unneeded regulations coming out of Federal Agencies, such as OSHA. We also pushed for the enactment of a “Check-Off” program that would benefit the concrete masonry industry through research and development, education, and promotion of concrete masonry products.

Great discussions were held, and Members of Congress heard from their constituents on the current state of the construction industry, ways in which government policies are making it nearly impossible to expand and hire new employees. We also explained how cost effective, safe and green masonry products are to produce and use.

During this time, we also presented our 2012 MCAA Freedom and Prosperity Award to Representative Dan Lipinski from Illinois, Representative Howard “Buck” McKeon from California, Senator Mike Johanns from Nebraska, and Senator Scott Brown from Massachusetts. These four Members of Congress have played a vital role in ensuring that the construction industry gets building again, and that the government uses life-cycle costing in its construction projects. We look forward to continuing to work with them in the years to come, and to working with the many new Members of Congress we were able to reach during this week.

All in all, it was a productive and worthwhile event. However, our work does not stop here. This is just the beginning of your job of telling your story to our elected officials. Each of our elected officials is charged with representing you in government and, without hearing from you, they are not able to adequately represent you and your businesses. As many of our first-time conference attendees learned, Members of Congress want and need to hear about your businesses, your stories, and your communities. And, we need to make sure that they are continually hearing those stories.

The Keelen Group looks forward to continuing these discussions as Congress continues to do its work through the remainder of 2012 and into the November elections. We would encourage anyone who is being impacted, both positively and negatively, by the Federal Government, to keep their eyes open for information related to the 2013 Masonry Industry Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. Join us in ensuring that Congress hears your voice, gets out of the way, and allows the masonry industry to build our economy.
About: FeaturedLegislative
 0
2024 Architectural Awards: Excellence In Masonry Winners

The Masonry Advisory Council held the 2024 Excellence in Masonry Awards on Saturday, October 26th at 167 Green St., Chicago, Illinois. Honoring 80 projects from over the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Area. The Awards program celebrates outstanding ar

By: Ashley Kelly
Read More
NSI and ISFA Announce Silica Exposure Literature Review

NSI and ISFA are proud to present a literature review that summarizes the growing library of studies related to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure. Completed by Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the study covers 34 publications and d

By: Amy Oakley
Read More
La Maison Franchère: How Masonry Turns Functional Buildings Into Timeless Beauty

La Maison Franchère, or the Franchers’ House, stands as a notable relic of stone architecture in Saint-Mathies, a small Quebec town on the edge of the Richelieu River. Unlike the neighboring homes, this towering, two-and-a-half-story mansion immediately c

By: Vera Autushka
Read More
MASONRY STRONG Podcast Episode 5 Recap: Zach Everett

Welcome back to another insightful episode of the Masonry Strong podcast! Today, we have a very special guest, Zach Everett, sharing his journey and experiences in the world of safety within the masonry industry. From humble beginnings to becoming a vital

By: Justin Stengel
About: Featured
Read More