Capitol Conference attendees advocate for balanced housing policy: the passage of the Bankruptcy Code reform was among the highlights of the Capitol Conference. NAA welcomed a record number of attendees, who made 203 visits to Capitol Hill, an all-time high.Breaking a 10-year struggle, U.S. Bankruptcy Code Bankruptcy Code may refer to:
The passage of the bankruptcy reform bill is one of the single greatest legislative accomplishments brought forth in part by the efforts of the National Apartment Association/National Multi Housing Council (NAA/NMHC) Joint Legislative Program. The determined communication by NAA NAA Nomina Anatomica Avium. members and NAA/NMHC staff helped make it happen just days after the Capitol Conference was held. Ten years ago, NAA/NMHC launched a campaign to remove a loophole in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code that allowed renters to abuse the system. Specifically, the code's automatic stay provision allowed renters facing eviction The removal of a tenant from possession of premises in which he or she resides or has a property interest done by a landlord either by reentry upon the premises or through a court action. to live rent free in their apartments until the stay was lifted by the courts, which could often take six months or more. This was especially devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. to independent rental owners who depend on the rental income Noun 1. rental income - income received from rental properties income - the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time to manage their property and pay bills. While legislators were debating bankruptcy reform, more than 400 NAA members discussed other strategies and suggestions for issues during their record 203 visits to legislators' offices on Capitol Hill on March 9, the climactic event of the four-day conference. During those visits, NAA members met face-to-face with their members of Congress and members' Hill staffs to further make their case about the importance of developing a more balanced housing policy. Among the many other topics discussed were the Do-Not-Fax Rule, funding for affordable housing, meth meth n. Methamphetamine hydrochloride. lab cleanup, tax reform and other topics of local, state and national scope. Before venturing to Capitol Hill, conference attendees reviewed the top industry issues during a briefing delivered by the NAA/NMHC Joint Legislative Program staff, led by Jim Arbury, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs. "The prepping that we got before going to the Hill was excellent," said Jeff Goldstein, President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , MetroVentures Residential, Cincinnati. "I'm not big into the political or lobbying scene, but the points made were very interesting and helpful." As a part of the Capitol Conference, attendees also heard from industry experts on effective ways to lobby state legislatures, how apartment owners and staff should address the media and how amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act Fair Labor Standards Act or Wages and Hours Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1938 to establish minimum living standards for workers engaged directly or indirectly in interstate commerce, including those involved in production of goods bound (FLSA FLSA Fair Labor Standards Act FLSA Fedora Legacy Security Advisory ) established by the U.S. Department of Labor affects overtime compensation. Other sessions included a recap of recent court cases and settlements that affect the rental housing industry and a presentation that offered advice on how to build successful grassroots fund raising. "The attorney [who addressed recent court cases] was excellent," said Mike Bodin, Regional Manager, Equity Residential Properties, Houston. "It was great to get her insight into the cases that involve paying onsite staff during their on-call period. This is something that is a potential problem for our industry. And, the political lobbyist who spoke delivered points well about how important it is to stay engaged with Congress." Attendees were entertained by the political comedy troupe The Capitol Steps and spent an evening at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial The Women in Military Service for America Memorial is located at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and honors all women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. at Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery, 420 acres (170 hectares), N Va., across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.; est. 1864. More than 60,000 American war dead, as well as notables including Presidents William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy, Gen. John J. at a NAA Better Government Fund event. Some attendees lunched on Capitol Hill at the exclusive Capitol View Conference Center with sweeping views of the nation's Capitol. NAA would like to thank the sponsors of the four-day event: Apartment Guide Printernet, AZUMA Leasing, For Rent Magazine, Mac-Gray, Network Multifamily and RENTNET. Government Affairs Roundtable The 10th Annual Government Affairs Roundtable featured renowned national media coaches Nan Tolbert and Jeff Strei, who provided a lively comprehensive review of how to respond to the media. The presentation involved participation of NAA members, who were interviewed by the coaches about hypothetical situations involving evictions, fires and emergency responses and fair housing. The interviews were filmed and then critiqued by the presenters and the audience. "Their presentation gave me some of the best information I've ever received at NAA," said Debi Wehmeier, CAM, CAPS, CPM, Senior Vice President, Greystar Multi Family, Austin, Texas. "Reaching the media and getting our word out is something that will make a difference for me professionally and personally." BODF Talks About Moisture The Builders, Owners and Developers Forum welcomed NAA/NMHC's Vice President of Building Codes Ron Nickson, who addressed moisture control during his presentation, "Designing Out Front for the media. Moisture Control." Nickson demonstrated new computer modeling software that could predict moisture problems resulting from condensation in building envelope A building envelope is the separation between the interior and the exterior environments of a building. It serves as the outer shell to protect the indoor environment as well as to facilitate its climate control. assemblies. NAA's consulting economist Robert J. Sheehan also made a presentation, sharing details from the 2002 U.S. Economic Census on construction trends and statistics. NAA PAC Fund-Raising Totals Fund raising for the NAA PAC and Better Government Fund (BGF BGF Black Guerrilla Family (Afro-American prison gang symbol/tattoo) BGF Boursier du Gouvernement Français (French) BGF Black Guerilla Family (gang) BGF Best Guy Friend ) during the Capitol Conference exceeded expectations. With more than $38,000 raised for NAA PAC and the BGF at the event, NAA is ahead of last year's pace. Through March 10, the NAA PAC has raised $33,897 and has pledges for an additional $18,533. The BGF has raised $22,640 and has pledges for an additional $23,000. The Ideal Hill Visit Making the Most of 17 Minutes The Houston Apartment Association (HAA HAA Harvard Alumni Association HAA Houston Apartment Association HAA High Altitude Airship HAA Haloacetic Acid HAA HIV/AIDS Administration (District of Columbia) HAA Heavy Anti-Aircraft HAA Height Above Airport ) was among many NAA affiliates that were fully satisfied with their Capitol Hill visits. On its trip, a group of seven HAA members met with the legislative assistant to Rep. Kevin Brady Kevin Patrick Brady (born April 11, 1955) is a Republican politician from the state of Texas. Brady was born in Vermillion, South Dakota, one of five children of William and Nancy Brady. His father, a lawyer, was killed in 1967 in a courtroom shooting in Rapid City, S.D. (R-Texas-8th) and spent 17 minutes discussing key issues of national importance and others more specific to Houston apartment owners. Andy Teas, HAA's Vice President of Government Affairs, began the discussion, reiterating both HAA's and NAA's support of bankruptcy reform. Brady's legislative assistant, Tammy Fisher, assured the group that Brady was on its side. HAA then discussed the imbalance of the homeownership policy, citing how studies show that too many people are buying homes they cannot afford, resulting in a record high rate of foreclosures nationwide. HAA's members also expressed their disagreement with the zero downpayment policy for homebuyers. "With the younger, more transient population and a more mobile workforce overall, there are a lot of people who would be better served by renting," Teas said. HAA member Mike Bodin shared the story of how easy it is for some people to be approved for a substantial home loan. "I have residents who are having difficulty paying their rent on time," Bodin said, "and now they are coming to me and moving out because they say they have purchased a home." The group also spoke about the proposed reduction in funds for affordable housing vouchers. Fisher said she would bring that issue to Brady's attention. HAA continued the discussion by outlining its concerns involving possible changes to the real estate tax code, proposals for a national sales tax sales tax, levy on the sale of goods or services, generally calculated as a percentage of the selling price, and sometimes called a purchase tax. It is usually collected in the form of an extra charge by the retailer, who remits the tax to the government. and the simplification of the tax code. Brady is particularly involved in this issue, as he serves on the Ways and Means WAYS AND MEANS. In legislative assemblies there is usually appointed a committee whose duties are to inquire into, and propose to the house, the ways and means to be adopted to raise funds for the use of the government. This body is called the committee of ways and means. Committee. "Simplification," Fisher said, "is where Brady thinks Congress is headed." She also told the HAA contingent to inform her when specific tax reform measures are considered so that Brady is aware of HAA's stance on the issues. Finally, the group discussed the problem of meth lab clean-up and how it costs apartment owners thousands of dollars to clean what is essentially a hazardous materials issue. HAA recommended that guidelines be put in place on how to deal with this issue. Conference Attendees Visit Capitol Hill Hill Visit Summary Total Visits: 203 Total States Visited: 20 Total Senate Visits: 52 Total Representative Visits: 151 Affiliates with most visits: Texas apartment associations: 38 Florida apartment associations: 31 Alabama Alabama Apartment Association Sen. Jeff Sessions Jefferson Beauregard "Jeff" Sessions III (born December 24, 1946) is the junior United States Senator from Alabama. He is a member of the Republican Party. Early life Sessions was born in Selma, Alabama to Abbie Powe and Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, Jr. (R) Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R) Rep. Jo Bonner Josiah Robins (Jo) Bonner, Jr. (b. November 19 1959), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing Alabama's At-large congressional district. (R-1st) Rep. Terry Everett Robert Terry Everett (b. February 15 1937) is an American politician, who has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing Alabama's At-large congressional district. (R-2nd) Rep. Michael D. Rogers (R-3rd) Rep. Robert B. Aderholt (R-4th) Rep. Robert E. "Bud" Cramer Jr. (D-5th) Rep. Spencer Bachus Spencer Thomas Bachus III (b. December 28 1947), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing Alabama's At-large congressional district. (R-6th) Rep. Arthur Davis
Arthur "Art" Davis (June 14 1905 – May 9 2000) was an animator and a director for Warner Brothers' Termite Terrace cartoon studio. (D-7th) Arizona Arizona Multihousing association Sen. John McCain For McCain's grandfather and father, see John S. McCain, Sr. and John S. McCain, Jr., respectively John Sidney McCain III (born August 29, 1936 in Panama Canal Zone) is an American politician, war veteran, and currently the Republican Senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. (R) Sen. Jon Kyl
Rep. Rick Renzi Richard George "Rick" Renzi (born June 11 1958) is an American politician and has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing Arizona's At-large congressional district. (R-1st) Rep. Trent Franks Trent Franks (born June 19 1957), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing Arizona's At-large congressional district (map). (R-2nd) Rep. John Shadegg John Barden Shadegg (born October 22 1949), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995, representing Arizona's At-large congressional district (map). Shadegg is now in his sixth term. (R-3rd) Rep. Ed Pastor (D-4th) Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-5th) Rep. Jeff Flake Jeffry "Jeff" Flake (born December 31, 1962), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing Arizona's At-large congressional district. (R-6th) Rep. Raul Grijalva Raúl M. Grijalva (born February 19 1948) is an American politician from Arizona. He is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003 and represents Arizona's At-large congressional district. (D-7th) Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-8th) California San Diego County Apartment Association Rep. Darrell Issa (R-49th) Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-50th) Rep. Bob Filner (D-51st) Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-52nd) Rep. Susan A. Davis (D-53rd) Colorado Apartment Association of Colorado Springs Sen. Wayne Allard (R) Rep. Mark Udall (D-2nd) Rep. John Salazar (D-3rd) Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-4th) Rep. Joel Hefley (R-5th) Apartment Association of Metro Denver Sen. Ken Salazar (D) Rep. Diane Degette (D-1st) Rep. Thomas Tancredo (R-6th) Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-7th) Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman (D) Sen. Joe Lieberman (D) Florida Apartment Association of Greater Orlando Sen. Mel Martinez (R) Sen. Bill Nelson (D) Rep. Corrine Brown (D-3rd) Rep. John Mica (R-7th) Rep. Ric Keller (R-8th) Rep. Dave Weldon (R-15th) Rep. Tom Feeney (R-24th) Bay Area Apartment Association Sen. Mel Martinez (R) Sen. Bill Nelson (D) Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-5th) Rep. Mike Bilirakis (R-9th) Rep. Bill Young (R-10th) Rep. Jim Davis (D-11th) Rep. Adam Putnam (R-12th) Capitol City Apartment association Sen. Mel Martinez (R) Sen. Bill Nelson (D) Rep Jeff Miller (R-1st) Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-6th) First Coast Apartment Association Sen. Mel Martinez (R) Sen. Bill Nelson (D) Rep. Corrine Brown (D-3rd) Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-6th) Rep. John Mica (R-7th) SE Florida Apartment Association Sen. Mel Martinez (R) Sen. Bill Nelson (D) Rep. Mark Foley (R-16th) Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-17th) Rep. Robert Wexler (D-19th) Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-21st) Rep. E. Clay Shaw Jr. (R-22nd) Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-23rd) Georgia Georgia Apartment Association Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) Sen. Johnny Isakson (R) Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr. (D-2nd) Rep. Jim Marshall (D-3rd) Rep. John Lewis (D-5th) Rep. Tom Price (R-6th) Rep. John Linder (R-7th) Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-8th) Rep. Charles Norwood (R-9th) Rep. Nathan Deal (R-10th) Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-11th) Rep. John Barrow (D-12th) Rep. David Scott (D-13th) Indiana Apartment Association of Fort Wayne-NE Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh (D) Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R) Rep. Chris Chocola (R-2nd) Rep. Mark Souder (R-3rd) Rep. Steve Buyer (R-4th) Rep. Mike Pence (R-6th) Rep. John N. Hostettler (R-8th) Rep. Mike Sodrel (R-9th) Kentucky Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Apartment Association Rep. Geoff Davis (R-4th) Lexington Apartment Association Rep. Ben Chandler (D-6th) Louisville Apartment Association Sen. Jim Bunning (R) Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) Rep. Shelley Moore Capito Shelley Moore Capito (born Shelley Wellons Moore on November 26 1953) is an American politician. She has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing the West Virginia's 2nd congressional district (map). (R-2nd) Michigan Detroit Metropolitan Apartment Association Sen. Carl Levin (D) Rep. Candice Miller (R-10th) Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-11th) PMA PMA (papillary-marginal-attached), n a system of epidemiologic scoring of periodontal disease devised by Schour and Massler in which the symbols denote the areas involved in gingival inflammation. PMA Progressive muscular atrophy of Western Michigan Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-2nd) Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-3rd) Rep. Dave Camp (R-4th) Rep. Fred Upton (R-6th) Washtenaw Area Apartment Association Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-7th) Rep. John Dingell (D-15th) Missouri Apartment Association of Kansas City, Rep. Roy Blunt (R-7th) New Hampshire New Hampshire, one of the New England states of the NE United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts (S), Vermont, with the Connecticut R. forming the boundary (W), the Canadian province of Quebec (NW), and Maine and a short strip of the Atlantic Ocean (E). Apartment Association of New, Hampshire Sen. John Sununu (R) Sen. Judd Gregg (R) Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-1st) North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. Apartment Association of North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr (R) Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) Rep. Robin Hayes (R-8th) Rep. Sue Myrick (R-9th) Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-10th) Rep. Melvin Watt (D-12th) Triad Apartment Association Sen. Richard Burr (R) Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-5th) Rep. Howard Coble (R-6th) Rep. Robin Hayes (R-8th) Rep. Melvin Watt (D-12th) Rep. Brad Miller (D-13th) Triangle Apartment Association Sen. Richard Burr (R) Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-2nd) Rep. David Price (D-4th) Rep. Melvin Watt (D-12th) Rep. Brad Miller (D-13th) Ohio Columbus Apartment Association Rep. Michael Oxley (R-4th) Rep. David Hobson (R-7th) Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-12th) Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-15th) Rep. Bob Ney (R-18th) Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Apartment Association Rep. Steve Chabot (R-1st) Rep. Rob Portman (R-2nd) Rep. Bob Hey (R-18th) Oklahoma Apartment Association of Central Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole (R-4th) Tulsa Apartment Association Sen. Tom Coburn (R) Sen. James Inhofe (R) Rep. John Sullivan (R-1st) Rep. Dan Boren (D-2nd) Pennsylvania Apartment Association of Greater Philadelphia Sen. Rick Santorum (R) Sen. Arlen Specter (R) Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-8th) South Carolina South Carolina, state of the SE United States. It is bordered by North Carolina (N), the Atlantic Ocean (SE), and Georgia (SW). Facts and Figures Area, 31,055 sq mi (80,432 sq km). Pop. (2000) 4,012,012, a 15. South Carolina Apartment Association Sen. Jim DeMint (R) Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R) Rep. Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-1st) Rep. Joe Wilson (R-2nd) Rep. J. Gresham Barrett James Gresham Barrett (born February 14, 1961) is an American politician from the Republican Party and a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, representing the 3rd Congressional district (map) in the northwestern part of the state. Biography J. (R-3rd) Rep. Bob Inglis (R-4th) Rep. John M. Spratt Jr. (D-5th) Rep. James Clyburn (D-6th) Tennessee Tennessee Apartment Association Sen. Lamar Alexander (R) Sen. Bill Frist (R) Rep. William L. Jenkins William Lewis "Bill" Jenkins (born November 291936) is a politician from the state of Tennessee. He has represented the state's 1st Congressional district, centered around the Tri-Cities (map), from 1997 until his decision not to seek re-election in 2006. (R-1st) Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. (R-2nd) Rep. Zach Wamp (R-3rd) Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-4th) Rep. Jim Cooper (D-5th) Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6th) Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-7th) Rep. John S. Tanner John S. Tanner (b. September 22, 1944) is a politician from the state of Tennessee. He represents the state's Eighth Congressional District in the House of Representatives (map), based in northwest Tennessee. (D-8th) Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (D-9th) Texas Austin Apartment Association Rep. Michael T. McCaul (R-10th) Rep. Ron E. Paul (R-14th) Rep. Lamar S. Smith Lamar Seeligson Smith (born November 19 1947) is a politician from the state of Texas, currently representing the state's 21st congressional district (map) in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican. Biography Smith was born in San Antonio, Texas. (R-21st) Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-25th) Rep. John R. Carter (R-31st) Apartment Association of Greater Dallas Sen. John Cornyn (R) Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison Kathyrn Ann Bailey Hutchison, usually known as Kay Bailey Hutchison (born July 22 1943), is the senior United States Senator from Texas. She is a member of the Republican Party. (R) Rep. Sam Johnson (R-3rd) Rep. Ralph Hall (R-4th) Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-5th) Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-24th) Rep. Michael Burgess (R-26th) Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Eddie Bernice Johnson (born December 3, 1935) is a politician from the state of Texas, currently representing the state's 30th congressional district (map) in the U.S. House. Early life and education Johnson was born in Waco, Texas. (D-30th) Rep. Pete Sessions (R-32nd) Apartment Association of the Panhandle Rep. William "Mac" Thomberry (R-13th) Bryan College Station Apartment Association Sen. John Cornyn (R) Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) Rep. Michael T. McCaul (R-10th) Rep. Chet Edwards (D-11th) Rep. John R. Carter (R-31st) Houston Apartment Association Sen. John Cornyn (R) Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) Rep. Ted Poe (R-2nd) Rep. John A. Culberson (R-7th) Rep. Kevin Brady (R-8th) Rep. Al Green (D-9th) Rep. Michael T. McCaul (R-10th) Rep. Ron E. Paul (R-14th) Rep. Tom DeLay (R-22nd) Rep. Gene Green (D-29th) Rep. John R. Carter (R-31st) Lubbock. Apartment Association Rep. Mike Conaway (R-11th) Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-19th) San Antonio Apartment Association Rep. Charlie Gonzales (D-20th) Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-23rd) Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-28th) Texas Apartment Association Sen. John Cornyn (R) Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) Utah Utah Apartment Association Sen. Robert Bennett (R) Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R) Rep. Rob Bishop (R-lst) Rep. Jim Matheson (D-2nd) Rep. Chris Cannon (R-3rd) |
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