Making our voice heard

On April 8-9, the roofing industry gathered in Washington, D.C., for Roofing Day in D.C. 2025, the premier industry advocacy event of the year that allows lawmakers to hear the industry’s collective voice regarding key government policy issues.

Roofing Day in D.C. continues to be one of the largest advocacy events in Washington, D.C. This year, 260 registered participants from 38 states engaged with more than 180 congressional offices to advocate on behalf of solutions to workforce challenges and pro-growth tax legislation.

The event is a collaboration among NRCA members, industry stakeholders, and numerous regional, state and local associations.

Training and education

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

On Tuesday, April 8, at the Grand Hyatt Washington, NRCA staff provided advocacy training and briefed participants regarding key policy issues with guidance about how to tailor messages to individual members of Congress. Participants met to plan for congressional meetings, research their representatives and develop the best pitch for the industry’s collective message.

On Wednesday, April 9, participants heard from two congressional keynote speakers. The first speaker, Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.), leads two legislative initiatives that are key Roofing Day in D.C. priorities. He is the lead sponsor of the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, which makes the 199A qualified business income deduction for pass-through entities permanent. He also leads the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act, a bill to create a market-based visa system that would address the roofing industry’s unique workforce needs.

Roofing Day in D.C. continues to be one of the largest advocacy events in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) spoke about the values of common sense workforce policies such as bipartisan immigration reform and robust workforce development programs.

Participants also heard analyses and statuses of key advocacy issues from senior congressional staff including representatives from the offices of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.); Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), head of the House Career and Technical Education Caucus; and an immigration expert from Rep. Maria Salazar’s (R-Fla.) team.

One of the highlights of the event was the annual awards for the states, companies and associations that had the most attendees. This year’s winners included Antis Roofing and Waterproofing Inc., Irvine, Calif.; Carlisle Construction Materials, Carlisle, Pa.; Green Ladder Roofing Inc., Pasadena, Calif.; SPRI; and the state of Texas. The winners were provided with more than 160 pieces of congressional swag.

View a photo gallery and advocacy issues discussed at Roofing Day in D.C. 2025.

Participants then met with Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, senators, representatives and congressional staff 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. Participants then gathered at the Grand Hyatt Washington for refreshing drinks, great food and amazing stories.

Many optional opportunities also were provided to attendees this year. Participants were assisted by NRCA staff with securing White House and Capitol Dome tours in addition to curating restaurant recommendations and historical tours. Julie Butler, preservation director for the Durable Restoration Co., Columbus, Ohio, led a historical architectural tour of Capitol Hill for about two dozen attendees.

Key issues

This year, Roofing Day in D.C. focused on two main advocacy pillars: solutions to workforce challenges and supporting pro-growth tax legislation.

Solutions to address workforce challenges included increased funding for Perkins Career and Technical Education State Grants, reform of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to enable more employers to access training resources, and immigration reform to meet workforce needs.

NRCA advocated for a new market-orientated visa category under the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act and a permanent solution for qualified individuals currently working under Temporary Protected Status or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

To support legislation promoting pro-growth tax policy, the industry advocated for the bipartisan Main Street Tax Certainty Act and American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act. The Main Street Tax Certainty Act (H.R. 703, S. 213) makes permanent the 199A qualified business income deduction for pass-through entities. This deduction is set to expire at the end of 2025 if Congress does not act, disadvantaging many roofing industry employers. The American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act restores the ability for businesses to immediately deduct their research and development expenses that currently must be amortized over five years for domestic companies. Advocates also ensured Congress knew the importance of maintaining the 179D commercial buildings energy-efficiency tax deduction and 45L new energy-efficient home tax credit.

Past successes

Thanks to past participants and sponsors of Roofing Day in D.C. events, much progress and success has been realized regarding most issues presented to Congress, but continued engagement is key.

Since Roofing Day in D.C. began in 2018, Congress has increased funding for Perkins Career and Technical Education State Grants to nearly $1.5 billion. This funding is critical to helping employers meet workforce development needs.

Participants also helped secure passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included a strong buildings component, into law. The House of Representatives passed A Stronger Workforce for America Act, which included reforms to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a long-standing Roofing Day in D.C. top issue.

In addition, since 2018, Roofing Day in D.C. attendees have supported enactment of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act to ensure workforce development programs work well for the roofing industry and helped pass important provisions of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, legislation to promote energy efficiency in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Progress also continues on workforce visas through the Essential Workers for an Expanding Economy Act, immigration reform that has been a long-standing priority for the roofing industry. On the tax reform side, Roofing Day in D.C. advocacy has been successful with adding 230 members as co-sponsors of the Main Street Tax Certainty Act.

See you next year!

The primary goal of Roofing Day in D.C. is to establish long-term relationships with lawmakers in Congress that ultimately will help achieve important policy goals for the roofing industry’s future.

On behalf of NRCA’s leadership and staff, we look forward to seeing you at Roofing Day in D.C. 2026 April 14-15 in Washington, D.C.

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