Tile Roofing Industry Alliance Lobbyist, Craig Brightup, has provided the latest government relations update and activities on the following from May 2026:

Tariffs – IEEPA Refunds
IEEPA tariff refunds are being fulfilled by Customs and Border Protection and as of May 27, CBP had cleared $20.6B in refunds.  However, on May 29 the Trump Administration said it will appeal a federal court order to refund all the IEEPA tariffs paid and not just unliquidated tariff entries.
 
Tariffs – Sec. 122
President Trump shifted IEEPA tariffs to tariffs under Sec. 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, but on May 7 a federal court ruled 122 wasn’t meant to address trade deficits.  Also, the 122 tariffs expire July 24 even if the Administration wins on appeal.  As such, the U.S. Trade Representative is racing to finish Sec. 301 investigations into 16 economies’ excess manufacturing capacity to replace the defunct IEEPA and current 122 tariffs.
 
21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
On May 20, the House passed an amended version of the Senate’s 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by a vote of 396-13.  The underlying bill addresses housing affordability by lessening federal regulations and incentivizing state and local governments to ease land-use regulations.  The House version kept Senate language limiting institutional investors but dropped divestiture requirements for built-to-rent homes and added language partially deregulating community bank lending for home building.  The White House backs the House version.
 
More Homes on the Market Act
TRIA’s DC fly-in team discussed housing bills with the National Association of Home Builders including the More Homes on the Market Act, H.R. 1340/S. 3332, which would double the capital gains exemption for selling a primary residence.  The legislation now has 121 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and 11 in the Senate.  However, More Homes probably won’t be attached to the 21st Century package but could be passed as a stand-alone bill.
 
Regulatory Actions

• TRIA is on the attached letter to Treasury/DOJ urging Supreme Court review of the Corporate Transparency Act which is currently suspended for domestic businesses.
• On May 14, DOL repealed the Biden Administration’s overtime rule, reverting back to Trump 1.0’s OT rule.
• On April 22, DOL moved to restore the Trump 1.0 joint-employer rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

 
Congressional and Other Meetings
In May, Mr. Brightup attended events for Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) and Rep. Mark Begich (R-AK).  He also participated in U.S. Chamber Labor Relations Committee meetings and an OSHA Roundtable hosted by the SBA.

For more information on the TRIA Alliance and our Government Relations efforts, please visit our website at www.tileroofing.org.

Tile Roofing Industry Alliance Lobbyist, Craig Brightup, has provided the latest government relations update and activities on the following from May 2026:

Tariffs
IEEPA tariff refunds are now being fulfilled through Customs and Border Protection’s portal system.  As of May 13, over 8 million imports were in line for over $35 billion in refunds.  On Feb. 24, President Trump shifted the defunct IEEPA tariffs to 10% tariffs under Sec. 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.  However, on May 7, the Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled Sec. 122 wasn’t meant to address trade deficits.  The Trump Administration appealed to the Federal Circuit which halted the injunction during the legal process.  With Sec. 122 tariffs limited to 150 days, these expire July 24.  The CIT ruling against the Sec. 122 tariffs and their short lifespan puts more pressure on the U.S. Trade Representative to complete Sec. 301 investigations into 16 economies’ structural excess capacity and production in certain manufacturing sectors to replace the IEEPA tariffs.
 
21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
On May 20, the House passed an amended version of the Senate’s 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by a vote of 396-13.  The underlying bill addresses housing affordability by lessening government regulations on housing and incentivizing state/local governments to ease land-use regulations.  The House version retained Senate language limiting institutional investors but dropped divestiture requirements for homes built-to-rent.  The House also added language partially deregulating community banks to boost local lending for home building.  The White House backs the House version and wants the Senate to quickly pass it.         
 
More Homes on the Market Act
TRIA’s DC fly-in team discussed housing bills when meeting with the National Association of Home Builders including the More Homes on the Market Act, H.R. 1340/S. 3332, which would double the capital gains exemption for selling a primary residence.  Attached is a National Association of Realtors position paper on the bill which now has 120 bipartisan House cosponsors and seven in the Senate.  But despite its growing momentum, More Homes won’t be attached to the 21st Century package but could be put in a “Reconciliation 3.0” bill.
 
Regulatory Actions

• TRIA is on the attached letter urging Supreme Court review of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) which is currently suspended for domestic businesses.
• On May 14, DOL formally repealed the Biden Administration’s overtime rule, reverting back to the OT rule put in place during Trump 1.0.
• On April 22, DOL published a rulemaking to restore the Trump 1.0 rule clarifying when two or more entities are “joint employers” under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

For more information on the TRIA Alliance and our Government Relations efforts, please visit our website at www.tileroofing.org.

Tile Roofing Industry Alliance Lobbyist, Craig Brightup, has provided the latest government relations update and activities on the following from April 2026:

TRIA DC Fly-In
Attached is a wrap-up report for TRIA’s very productive April 13-16 DC Fly-In held in conjunction with NRCA’s Roofing Day in DC.
 
Other Congressional Meetings
In addition to TRIA’s DC Fly-In, on April 29, Craig attended a breakfast with Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) and a lunch with Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA).         
 
DOL Secretary Resigns
On April 20, Sec. of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned amidst an investigation by DOL’s Inspector General into allegations of misconduct.
 
OBBBA or WFTCA     
TRIA is listed on the attached Main Street Employers letter dated April 6 thanking Congress at tax time for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act aka Working Families Tax Cut Act.
 
DOL Independent Contractor Rulemaking
TRIA joined 34 other organizations on the attached April 28 coalition comments to DOL in support of its proposed Independent Contractor Rule.


For more information on the TRIA Alliance and our Government Relations efforts, please visit our website at www.tileroofing.org.

New technical bulletin addresses one of the most common — and complex — challenges in roof maintenance

Seattle, WA — April 7, 2026 — The Tile Roofing Industry Alliance (TRIA) today released Technical Bulletin 2026-04, a comprehensive reference guide covering roofing tiles discontinued in North America over the past two to three decades. The bulletin is available now at www.tileroofing.org.

The guide was developed in direct response to the high volume of inquiries TRIA receives from roofing contractors, professionals, and homeowners attempting to identify legacy tiles and determine the best path forward when replacement tiles are no longer in production.

Bulletin 2026-04 covers discontinued profiles from active manufacturers including Ludowici Roof Tile, Eagle Roofing Products, U.S. Tile, Redland Clay Tile, and Westlake Royal Building Products, as well as tiles from more than 30 manufacturers that have ceased North American operations entirely.

​The bulletin addresses the technical significance of discontinued profiles, including interlock incompatibility with current systems, wind resistance and code compliance implications, and the limitations of color and texture matching. A practical repair-or- replace decision flowchart is included for field use. TRIA member manufacturers continue to offer a robust and growing portfolio of current
tile profiles. For specification support or product availability, visit www.tileroofing.org  or contact TRIA at info@tileroofing.org.

Tile Roofing Industry Alliance Lobbyist, Craig Brightup, has provided the latest government relations update and activities on the following from March 2026:


Tariff Refunds
Now that the Supreme Court has struck down President Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs, the issue of refunds is back in the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT).  On March 4, the CIT ordered Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to liquidate or reliquidate all entries on which IEEPA tariffs were paid but this time without the tariffs, thus requiring refunds of those payments.  On March 27, the CIT amended its March 4 order to clarify that CBP must reliquidate and refund even entries reaching final liquidation because with IEEPA tariffs starting in early 2025, many imports were at or beyond final liquidation.  This CIT clarification removes a roadblock to obtain refunds for importers who didn’t file protests on liquidated IEEPA entries and also removes the need to file lawsuits with the CIT.  The Administration has until May 4 to appeal the CIT orders.
 
DHS Shutdown and Reconciliation 
Before leaving town for Easter recess, the Senate passed a bill to fund all DHS functions except ICE and CBP through Sept. 30, but House Republicans revolted and passed a bill funding DHS in its entirety.  This impasse appears to have been resolved with House Speaker Johnson agreeing to take up the Senate-passed bill and the White House supporting a separate reconciliation bill to further fund ICE and CBP and achieve other goals.
 
TRIA DC Fly-In
With TRIA’s Fly-In two weeks away, the schedule now includes meetings with Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH) who’s on the Energy & Commerce Committee, Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) who’s Chairman of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, and a meeting with relevant staff at the National Association of Home Builders.
 
Congressional and Other Meetings
In March, Craig Brightup participated in a dinner with Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH), a breakfast with Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), a reception with Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), and a meeting with Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA).  He also attended a Committee To Unleash Prosperity briefing with White House economic advisors Stephen Moore and Arthur Laffer, and an SBA Office of Advocacy OSHA Roundtable.


​For more information on the TRIA Alliance and our Government Relations efforts, please visit our website at www.tileroofing.org.

,Tile Roofing Industry Alliance Lobbyist, Craig Brightup, has provided the latest government relations update and activities on the following from March 2026:


Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Update Mortgage Rules Including Roofs  
The Federal Housing Finance Agency regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Federal Home Loan Banks which are government-sponsored enterprises providing over $8.5 trillion for U.S. mortgage markets.  Recently revised Fannie Mae/Freddie Mack mortgage rules for homeowners insurance now allow Actual Cash Value for roofs rather than the previous full Replacement Cost Value coverage per their joint press release: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Remove Certain Homeowners Insurance Requirements That Will Reduce Costs | FHFA.
 
IEEPA Tariff Refunds
On Feb. 20, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a 6-3 decision that President Trump’s tariffs using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are not legal.  President Trump then supplanted the IEEPA tariffs with 10% tariffs under Sec. 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which are limited to 150 days unless extended by Congress (which won’t happen).  The Administration is using the 150-day window to hustle up replacement tariffs under Sec. 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and Sec. 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.  It also must deal with IEEPA tariff refunds, and a judge on the Court of International Trade has given Customs and Border Protection until April 20 to devise a system for over 300,000 entities that have paid IEEPA tariffs.
 
Regulatory Reform

• NLRB Joint-Employer Rule: the National Labor Relations Board withdrew Biden’s joint-employer rule and reinstated a Trump 1.0 rule on when a company is a joint employer under the National Labor Relations Act.
• DOL Joint-Employer Rule: the Wage and Hour Division is expected to publish a new rule on joint-employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Family and Medical Leave Act.  
• DOL Independent Contractor Rule: the Dept. of Labor released a proposed rulemaking to rescind Biden’s independent contractor regulations and replace them with Trump 1.0 regulations.
• OSHA Heat Rule:  15 Republican Senators sent a letter to the Sec. of Labor urging that the Biden Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Rule be “ditched.” 
• EPA GHG Endangerment Finding: the Environmental Protection Agency revoked a 2009 endangerment finding that determined carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threaten public health.

 
DHS Shutdown
With eleven of twelve appropriations bills for FY26 enacted through Sept. 30, Senate Democrats balked at funding the Dept. of Homeland Security over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issues.  Thus, a DHS shutdown has been in effect since Feb. 13 impacting the Coast Guard, FEMA, Secret Service, and TSA.  Ironically, ICE isn’t impacted due to funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and some ICE agents could be detailed to airports to fill in for missing TSA personnel.


For more information on the TRIA Alliance and our Government Relations efforts, please visit our website at www.tileroofing.org.

Tile Roofing Industry Alliance Lobbyist, Craig Brightup, has provided the latest government relations update and activities on the following from February 2026:

DHS Shutdown
Eleven of the twelve appropriations bills for FY26 have been enacted through Sept. 30, but Senate Democrats balked at funding the Dept. of Homeland Security over issues concerning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  Consequently, a DHS shutdown has been in effect since Feb. 13 which impacts the Coast Guard, FEMA, TSA, Secret Service, and cybersecurity teams.  Ironically, ICE and Border Patrol are not impacted by the shutdown due to $75B in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
 
TRIA DC Fly-In
Plans are underway for TRIA’s Fly-In taking place April 13-16 in conjunction with Roofing Day in DC.  The TRIA Team numbers 12 and meetings on Capitol Hill and at the National Association of Home Builders are being finalized.
 
Tariffs
On Feb. 20, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a 6-3 decision that President Trump’s tariffs using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are not legal.  In response, President Trump supplanted the IEEPA tariffs with 10% - 15% tariffs under Sec. 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 which are limited to 150 days unless extended by Congress (which won’t happen).  Thus, Sec. 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and Sec. 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 will be used more extensively, and possibly Sec. 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930:    
 

• The Trade Act of 1974, Sec. 122, empowers the President to impose tariffs of up to 15% to address balance-of-payment issues, but only for 150 days unless extended by Congress. 
• The Trade Act of 1974, Sec. 301, and Trade Expansion Act of 1962, Sec. 232, have been used in President Trump’s first and second terms for tariffs but the U.S. Trade Representative must investigate before Sec. 301 tariffs can be imposed, and the Dept. of Commerce must do the same for Sec. 232 tariffs (steel, aluminum, copper), and the process for both can take many months to complete.
• The Tariff Act of 1930, Sec. 338, gives the President discretion for tariffs up to 50% when a foreign country has taken actions that disadvantage U.S. commerce, but the statute has been mostly unused and never been subject to legal challenge.

 
Finally, with the SCOTUS decision silent on the issue of IEEPA tariff refunds, there have already been high-profile company lawsuits filed with the U.S. Court of International Trade.  However, payment of such refunds could take a very long time. 
 
NLRB Joint-Employer Rule
On Feb. 26, the National Labor Relations Board withdrew a Biden-era joint-employer rule and reinstated a 2020 rule from the first Trump Administration that establishes when a company is deemed a joint employer under federal labor law.
 
DOL Independent Contractor Rule
On Feb. 25, the Dept. of Labor released a proposed rulemaking to rescind the Biden Administration’s independent contractor regulation and replace it with the regulation issued at the end of the first Trump Administration.
 
EPA Rescinds GHG Endangerment Finding
On Feb. 12, the Environmental Protection Agency revoked a 2009 endangerment finding that determined carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare, forming the legal basis for nearly all climate regulations under the Clean Air Act for motor vehicles, power plants, and other sources.  However, this EPA action only applies to auto emissions and fuel economy standards for now.


For more information on the TRIA Alliance and our Government Relations efforts, please visit our website at www.tileroofing.org.

The Tile Roofing Industry Alliance (TRIA) continues to advocate for practical, bipartisan policies that strengthen border security while addressing the serious workforce challenges facing the roofing and construction industries.

In July 2025, TRIA formally signed a letter of support for the DIGNITY Act (H.R. 4393), the Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream Act, introduced by Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar and Veronica Escobar. As the bill is expected to gain traction this year, TRIA Director John Campbell will be highlighting this legislation during meetings at NRCA Roofing Day in Washington, D.C., in April as part of TRIA’s ongoing government relations efforts.


A Balanced Approach to Immigration Reform

TRIA supports the DIGNITY Act because it reflects a balanced, realistic approach to immigration policy, one that prioritizes border security and enforcement while also recognizing the economic importance of a legal, stable workforce.

The bill builds on TRIA’s long standing position to:

• Secure U.S. borders as close to 100% as possible
• Expand legal worker programs and explore new guest worker pathways for construction

For an industry that depends on skilled labor, this approach is essential to sustaining growth, safety, and quality workmanship.


Key Provisions of the DIGNITY Act
The DIGNITY Act includes several major components:


Border Security & Interior Enforcement

• Maintains operational control of the southern border
• Requires enhanced physical barriers and improved border technology
• Implements nationwide mandatory E-Verify
• Increases penalties for illegal border crossings
• Strengthens penalties for human trafficking and related crimes
• Requires DNA testing for family verification

Asylum System Reforms

• Ends catch-and-release
• Creates humanitarian campuses near the border for processing
• Requires asylum determinations within 60 days
• Increases penalties for asylum fraud

The Dignity Program

• Creates a 7-year temporary legal status for undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. since before 2021
• Requires criminal background checks
• Requires $7,000 in restitution paid over seven years
• No federal benefits or entitlements
• No path to citizenship
• Allows individuals who complete the program to continue living and working legally in the U.S.

Support for American Workers & the Economy

• Establishes a new $70 billion fund for training and upskilling American workers
• Funds apprenticeships, on the job training, and higher education
• ​Addresses labor shortages in critical industries, including construction
• Improves legal immigration pathways and reduces employment-based visa backlogs
• Pays down U.S. debt using program generated revenue

Importantly, the bill uses no taxpayer funding. All programs are paid for through fees and restitution payments.
​

Why This Matters to the Roofing Industry

Roofing contractors across the country continue to face labor shortages that impact project timelines, costs, and business growth. TRIA believes the DIGNITY Act offers a practical solution that strengthens enforcement while ensuring industries like roofing have access to a reliable, legal workforce.

With bipartisan support and growing momentum, TRIA looks forward to working with lawmakers to advance this legislation and promote policies that benefit both American workers and the roofing industry.


To learn more about TRIA’s advocacy efforts and government relations initiatives, visit www.tileroofing.org

Click here to read the fullH.R.4393 - DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025 proposal.

Tile Roofing Industry Alliance Lobbyist, Craig Brightup, has provided the latest government relations update and activities on the following from January 2026:

Government Shutdown
Parts of the federal government shut down Jan. 30 when Senate Democrats withdrew support for a House-passed package to fund Homeland Security, Labor, DOD, HHS, HUD, and Transportation.  The Jan. 30 deadline is from a Continuing Resolution after the last shutdown, and this time Democrats want new procedures for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Homeland Security bill.  A deal between Senate Democrats and President Trump allowed Senate passage of a five-bill package with Homeland Security pulled and extended two weeks for negotiations.  However, the House must pass the modified package but doesn’t return to DC until Feb. 2.

Roofing Day in DC/TRIA Fly-In
​Roofing Day takes place April 14-15 at the Yotel on the Senate-side of Capitol Hill. TRIA’s Fly-In will be held in conjunction with Roofing Day starting with a dinner April 13, followed by TRIA meetings with federal officials through most of April 14, and culminating with a meeting at the National Association of Home Builders on the morning of April 16.

Tariffs
President Trump’s threats of 25% tariffs on countries “doing business” with Iran and 10% - 25% tariffs on European countries opposing U.S. control of Greenland have not been formalized.  Also, the much-anticipated U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs (“reciprocal” and “fentanyl” IEEPA tariffs) did not come in January and will likely be issued in February.

DOL Sec. Chavez-DeRemer Under Investigation
Per the attached and continuing reports, the Dept. of Labor’s Inspector General is investigating alleged misconduct by Sec. Lori Chavez-DeRemer.  The investigation is such that Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) sent a letter to Chavez-DeRemer requesting she address the allegations.

Independent Contractor Rule
DOL sent a proposed independent contractor rule to OMB which business coalitions including TRIA have been pushing for to repeal/replace the Biden-era rule.

WIRT Lunch at TRIA Capitol Hill Office
On Jan. 15, the Washington Industrial Roundtable (WIRT) held a lunch at TRIA’s Capitol Hill Office with special guest Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH).      


For more information on the TRIA Alliance and our Government Relations efforts, please visit our website at www.tileroofing.org.