Advocating for the Industry: TRIA’s October 2025 Government Relations Highlights

Tile Roofing Industry Alliance Lobbyist, Craig Brightup, has provided the latest government relations update and activities on the following from October 2025:


​Government Shutdown
The “Schumer Shutdown” is now in its 15th day.  House Republicans passed a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through Nov. 21, but Senate Democrats won’t provide the votes to reach 60 for final passage.  Democrats say they must force Republicans to extend Biden-era Affordable Care Act subsidies, but a deal was likely during a CR and Democrats actually want an additional $1.5 trillion for lots of programs.  Senate Minority Leader Schumer may also want the shutdown to last through the anti-Trump “No Kings” marches on Sept. 18.
 
Status of Relevant Programs During Shutdown 
Approximately 75% of Dept. of Labor (DOL) staff are being furloughed and DOL’s Office of Administrative Law Judges isn’t authorized to work during the shutdown.  OSHA is pausing routine workplace safety visits and nearly all employees at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) have been furloughed.   However, the federal E-Verify system has resumed operation after going offline at the start of the shutdown.
 
Senate Activities Continue
The House is out, but the Senate is holding CR votes and conducting other business.  On Oct. 7, the Senate confirmed DOL nominees Dave Keeling for OSHA, Jonathan Berry for Solicitor, and Andrew Rogers for the Wage and Hour Division.  And on Oct. 9, the HELP committee approved Rosario Palmieri to be DOL Asst. Sec. for Policy,  James Murphy to be a member of the NLRB, and Crystal Carey to be NLRB’s General Counsel.  Carey’s approval was particularly important because of Sen. Josh Hawley’s (R-MO) concerns she might be too “anti-union.”
 
TRIA Supports FIREWALL Act
Attached is TRIA’s letter to Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) supporting their FIREWALL Act (the Facilitating Increased Resilience, Environmental Weatherization and Lowered Liability Act), which would lower financial barriers for people who want to protect their properties from extreme weather events and could help remedy the country’s growing homeowners’ insurance crisis.


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