House Introduces Timber Innovation Act

Last week, the House Agriculture Committee introduced HR 5628, the Timber Innovation Act (TIA). The bill is identical to the Senate version (S 2892) which was introduced earlier this year. The TIA bill will fund research and development programs to place cross laminated timber as the material of choice in buildings 10 stories and higher. It will also create federal grants to support state, local and private sector cooperation for education, outreach and research and development, including education and assistance for architects and builders to design and build tall buildings with mass timber. The TIA bill also authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct a Tall Wood Building Prize Competition annually for the next five years for promoting and developing tall wood building construction and also allows the USDA, in cooperation with state foresters and local officials, to implement programs for education and technical assistance for mass timber applications. Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA) is the lead sponsor of the bill; currently there are 13 cosponsors, including seven Democrats and six Republicans.

 

Last week, NRMCA hosted its third quarterly DC Days Fly In for association members to meet with  Members of Congress on Capitol Hill to educate them on the negative impacts of HR 5628 and S 2892. NRMCA’s message stresses that the federal government should not be choosing winners and losers in material specification for tall buildings or in any legislation. The federal government’s role is to promote fair competition in the marketplace. NRMCA is working on a targeted campaign in cooperation with other concrete and building trade organizations to ensure that both House and Senate bills do not become law. NRMCA will continue to update its members on the progress of this legislation.