WMFHA Members & Staff Converge on Washington D.C.

WMFHA members joined the National Apartment Association for their annual Capitol Conference and Lobby Day inWashington D.C.

NAA affiliate members from across the country met to discuss national government affairs issues affecting the housing industry. On the last day of the conference, WMFHA made appointments to visit with 11 of our 12 Members of Congress and Senate on the nation’s Capitol Hill.

Per the urging from NAA and NMHC, we focused on three top issues: Section 8 reform, ADA reform and re-authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program.

Our industry supports Section 8 reform that addresses problems that currently plague the program and strenghtens the public-private partnerships necessary to address housing affordability in Washington State. In addition, we urged reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program to provide cost-effective flood insurance for multifamily properties across the country. Finally we expressed the need to see reforms to the Americans with Disabiltiies Act to provide a property owner with 120 days to cure an alleged ADA deficiency prior to the initiation of a lawsuit.

In addition, our group conveyed the importance of sound public policies targeted at the housing industry, an industry that provides considerable economic benefit to cities and communities in our state. Never before have so many people in our state chosen to live in rental housing and apartments. Construction and ongoing management support thousands of jobs and over $20 billion in economic contribution in our state.

The most important message we wanted to convey to our national elected officials, however, is that WMFHA desires to be a partner and a resource for our Members of Congress. We have vast knowledge and insight into this important industry, and building a productive relationship with our elected officials is important to our members.

We thank those members and staff who joined us for this valuable experience: Greg Cerbana, Kris Buker, Brett Stevens, Katelyn Stinde Manzella, Joe Puckett, Brett Waller, and Jim Wiard. We look forward to continuing to advance our government affairs influence as your voice for our industry.