Assembling for advocacy

On April 14-15, the roofing industry gathered in Washington, D.C., for Roofing Day in D.C. 2026, the premier industry advocacy event of the year that allows lawmakers to hear the industry’s collective voice regarding key government policy issues. This year, 199 registered participants from 33 states engaged with 158 congressional offices to advocate on behalf of solutions for workforce shortages and affordable housing legislation.

The event is an annual collaboration among NRCA members; industry stakeholders; and national, regional, state and local associations.

Training, education and networking

Roofing Day in D.C. provides participants with specialized advocacy training, in-depth issue briefings, and educational and networking experiences.

On Tuesday, April 14, attendees were provided advocacy training regarding key policy issues and how to tailor messages to individual members of Congress. Participants met to plan for the next day’s congressional meetings, research their representatives and develop the best pitch for the industry’s collective message.

On Wednesday, April 15, participants heard from two congressional keynote speakers. The first speaker, former Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), reiterated the value of advocacy fly-ins such as Roofing Day in D.C. and the difference they make with policymakers in Washington. Attendees found his viewpoints greatly encouraging as they prepared to visit Capitol Hill later that day.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), whose congressional district includes NRCA’s headquarters in Itasca, Ill., was the other keynote speaker. He spoke about the values of workforce policies such as bipartisan immigration reform and robust career and technical education programs.

Participants also heard from subject matter experts from the Association for Career and Technical Education and Advance CTE regarding how roofing industry employers can further expand workforce development opportunities in all 50 states. In addition, panelists from Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm Porterfield, Fettig & Sears and the Real Estate Roundtable went into greater detail about affordable housing policy and how the legislation featured during Roofing Day in D.C. fits into the landscape.

Thanks to past participants and sponsors of Roofing Day in D.C. events, progress and success has been realized regarding many issues presented to Congress.

One of the highlights of the event was the annual awards for the states, contractors and companies that had the most attendees. This year’s winners included Amrize, Chicago, for largest attendance from a manufacturer; Flynn BEC LP, Salt Lake City, for largest attendance from a contractor; and Texas for largest attendance from a state. The winners were provided with unique congressional swag as prizes.

Participants then headed to Capitol Hill for meetings with members of Congress and their staffs to convey the roofing industry’s message. To enhance attendees’ experiences, all meetings were scheduled by NRCA and its partner Advocacy Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm specializing in managing large advocacy events. After an afternoon of productive meetings, participants gathered back at the hotel for cocktails, great food, and an opportunity to debrief and share their stories from the day.

Key issues

This year, Roofing Day in D.C. focused on two advocacy pillars: solutions to workforce shortages and supporting affordable housing legislation.

Solutions included increased funding for Perkins Career and Technical Education State Grants and immigration reform to meet workforce needs. Attendees advocated for a new market-oriented visa category under H.R. 5494, the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act, that would enable employers to address workforce shortages with legal temporary workers in accordance with economic demand. The focus on immigration reform also featured H.R. 4393, the Dignity Act, which would provide a permanent solution for qualified long-term undocumented individuals as well as those working legally under Temporary Protected Status or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. These bipartisan bills are critical to stabilizing and expanding the roofing industry’s future workforce.

To support legislation promoting affordable housing policies, the industry advocated for the bipartisan Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act (H.R. 2410) and the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (H.R. 2854/S. 1686). The Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act would provide a federal tax credit to facilitate the conversion of older, underutilized offices and other commercial buildings into residential housing. The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act would provide a federal tax credit that covers the cost between building or renovating a home in qualifying urban and rural areas and the price at which the home can be sold. Advocating for these tax incentives enabled attendees to highlight the role the roofing industry plays in facilitating more affordable housing for all Americans.

Past successes

Thanks to past participants and sponsors of Roofing Day in D.C. events, progress and success has been realized regarding many issues presented to Congress.

During the inaugural Roofing Day in D.C. in 2018, attendees advocated for the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, landmark legislation to ensure workforce development programs work better for the roofing industry. The legislation reauthorized funding levels for Perkins Career and Technical Education State Grants and was approved by Congress soon after Roofing Day in D.C. 2018.

Since 2018, Roofing Day in D.C. attendees have advocated for increased funding for Perkins Career and Technical Education State Grants, and Congress has approved an increase of nearly $300 million through the annual appropriations process. This funding is critical to helping the roofing industry meet workforce development needs.

Most recently, Roofing Day in D.C. 2025 attendees highlighted the need to pass pro-growth tax policy. And in July 2025, via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), Congress enacted the most comprehensive tax reform bill in nearly a decade. It included several provisions the roofing industry had long advocated for, including the bipartisan Main Street Tax Certainty Act, which made permanent the Section 199A Qualified Business Income Deduction for passthrough entities, and the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act, which restored the ability for businesses to immediately deduct their research and development expenses. These and other key provisions of importance to the roofing industry are now set permanently in the tax code and will benefit employers for years to come.

See you next year!

The primary goal of Roofing Day in D.C. is to provide opportunities for attendees to establish and strengthen long-term relationships with lawmakers in Congress that ultimately will help achieve key policy goals for the roofing industry’s future. Continued engagement is key!

NRCA and its partners look forward to seeing you at Roofing Day in D.C. 2027 April 6-7 in Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill.