NAHB: Housing Should Be High on the Agenda as Governors Meet

As the nation's governors gather in town this weekend for the National Governors Association Winter Meeting to discuss priority issues affecting states, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is urging that housing remains at the forefront.

"Strong state economies and the national economy are dependent upon a healthy sector," said NAHB Chairman Tom Woods, a home builder from Blue Springs, Mo.

Constructing 1,000 new single-family homes generates:

►2,970 full-time jobs
►$162 million in wages
►$118 million in business income
►$111 million in taxes and revenue for state, local and federal governments

Moreover, employment from new construction and remodeling has a wide ripple effect. About half the jobs created by building new homes are in construction. They include framers, electricians, plumbers and carpenters. Other jobs are spread over other sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, retail, wholesale and business services.

As the governors address some of the nation's most pressing challenges, NAHB is also urging them to stand up and fight for states' rights and against federal overreach, most notably as they pertain to a proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would drastically expand federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction.

"Expanding federal authority over water and land use would greatly increase the number of construction sites required to obtain a federal clean water act permit," said Woods. "This would delay or stop construction projects nationwide and slow economic growth."

NAHB CEO Jerry Howard will meet with governors this weekend to discuss the important role that the residential construction sector plays in building strong local and state economies and seek their support for policies that support the goal of homeownership and provide rental opportunities for America's hard-working families.