TRIA Signs Letter In Support Of The Dignity Act

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

TRIA Letter Supporting the DIGNITY Act
On July 21, TRIA sent the attached letter to the lead sponsors of the DIGNITY Act (H.R. 4393) which would boost border and interior immigration enforcement while offering a 7-year temporary legal status for undocumented immigrants that have been here 5 years; pass a criminal background check; pay $7,000 in restitution over 7 years; and they would receive no benefits or entitlements and there would be no path to citizenship.    
 
Meeting with DOL Officials
On July 14, TRIA joined 12 construction groups to meet with Dept. Sec. of Labor Keith Sonderling and other DOL staff including OSHA.  Discussions covered the need for training/apprenticeship programs and a guest worker visa for construction.  Attendees applauded DOL for rolling back 63 regulations, but many objected to keeping Biden’s EO for Project Labor Agreements.  TRIA also expressed concerns about OSHA’s proposed heat standard.
 
New OSHA Penalty Structure
From the Coalition for Workplace Safety:  On July 14, OSHA announced it has updated its guidance on penalty and debt collection procedures in its Field Operations Manual.  The updates are intended to “minimize the burden on small businesses and increase prompt hazard abatement.”  Under the new policies, employers with up to 25 employees can access a penalty reduction of 70%.  Previously, this was only reserved for businesses with 10 or fewer employees.  Additionally, OSHA is providing a 15% penalty reduction for employers who immediately take steps to address or correct a hazard.  Lastly, the changes include a 20% penalty reduction for employers who have never been inspected by either the federal OSHA or an OSHA state plan as well as employers who have been inspected in the past 5 years and had no serious, willful, or failure-to-abate violations.  These new policies are effective immediately, but do not apply to penalties issued before July 14, 2025. 
 
House Hearing on OSHA Compliance Assistant
On July 15, I attended the House Workforce Protections Subcmte. hearing on the future of OSHA compliance assistance.  Trump’s OSHA will redirect a larger part of its budget to compliance assistance, and I spoke Chairman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) and his aide, Brad Mannion (a TRIA friend from NAHB), after the hearing.            
 
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1)
Was signed July 4 and key provisions for TRIA members are:

• The IRC Sec. 199A 20% deduction for pass-through businesses is made permanent.
• The 168(k) 100% bonus depreciation is restored for 20-year depreciable items from 2025-29.
• The 179 expensing cap for 39-year depreciable items like commercial roofs rises to $2.5 million if made in or after 2025.
• The 174 immediate expensing for research and development (R&D) is restored.       
• The estate tax exemption goes to $15 million for individuals/$30 million for married couples and is permanent in 2026.
• The 529 college savings program can be used for short-term training/credentialing programs.
• Pell Grants can be used for short-term training/credentialing programs beginning July 2026.
• A 100% deduction for qualified production property between Jan. 19, 2025 - Jan. 1, 2029, and placed in service before Jan. 1, 2031.
  
  • This applies to costs of new manufacturing facilities and improvements to existing facilities that satisfy certain conditions.
• Terminates the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) on Dec. 31, 2025.
• Terminates the Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D-solar) on Dec. 31, 2025.
• Terminates the New Energy Efficient Home Credit (45L) on June 30, 2026.
• Terminates the Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction (179D) for property beginning construction after June 30, 2026.    

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