By Mark Valentini, Vice President of Legislative Affairs
With the dust finally settled on the 2024 presidential elections, PHCC’s team in Washington has a legislative strategy in place and ready to execute going into the 119th Congress next year.
We expect many new opportunities, as well as a few challenges, for our policy priorities:
Energy Policy
PHCC has made clear prior to November 5 that a Republican administration and Congress would bode well for our positions on energy policy, particularly as it relates to the use of natural gas and gas appliances in the built environment. We expect Congress to introduce energy legislation, and PHCC will work with the House and Senate to ensure our priorities are enshrined in any legislation that promotes a robust and diverse national energy portfolio and allows consumer choice when it comes to powering their homes and essential appliances for health and welfare.
Tax Policy
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 included a number of provisions that contractors reported were beneficial to their bottom line. This included a reduction of the corporate tax rate to 21%, increased estate tax thresholds that allows a less burdensome transition of business assets to the next generation, and a pass-through deduction of qualified business income under Section 199A of the tax code. The latter two provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025, and PHCC will urge Congress to extend or make permanent those provisions so that contractors have more to invest in their businesses and workforce.
Workforce Policy
PHCC’s position on workforce education and training has always focused on equipping jobseekers in the building trades with a holistic skillset that has been effectively provided through registered apprenticeship programs for more than 80 years. Conservative lawmakers have taken a more credentials-issued approach that may work well in other industries, but if applied to our industry, risks putting jobseekers on the market who lack essential skills needed by plumbing and HVAC contractors. PHCC will work with Congress and the Department of Labor to ensure the integrity of registered apprenticeship programs so that they continue to produce high-quality workers for our industry who will have secure jobs for life, jobs that require human hands that can’t be replaced with automation, and a clear pathway to the middle class and a high quality of life.
Contractors Must Be Heard
An essential PHCC member benefit is our annual Legislative Conference. Every year, dozens of PHCC contractors travel to Washington, D.C., to lobby their legislators on these critical issues. While PHCC leverages its full-time staff to maintain these critical relationships on Capitol Hill, a contractor’s presence validates and reinforces our message. Please be sure to mark May 20-21, 2025, on your calendars to come to D.C. for our annual Legislative Conference. Registration will open early in 2025, so stay tuned!
