The NAA/NMHC Joint Legislative Program: a unified voice for the apartment sector.

In a unique relationship, the National Apartment Association (NAA) and the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) have joined forces for more than a decade to form a Joint Legislative Program. This partnership creates a clear, consistent voice for the apartment industry on Capitol Hill.

The NAA/NMHC Joint Legislative Program assures that apartment firms are able to engage government officials in constructive, ongoing dialogues and participate in policy decisions affecting their ability to provide housing to millions of Americans.

Additionally, the Joint Legislative Program, in concert with the 11 other national real estate organizations, is actively involved with the Congressional Real Estate Caucus (CREC) on Capitol Hill.

The Joint Legislative Program will remain in the vanguard of bringing key issues before legislators and regulators in the ongoing debate over the federal government's role in supporting apartment living.

The National Apartment Association

The National Apartment Association, based in Alexandria, Va., is the leading advocate for quality rental housing. NAA is a federation of 169 state and local affiliated associations representing more than 32,000 members responsible for more than 5.2 million apartment homes nationwide. It is the largest broad-based organization dedicated solely to rental housing. NAA members include apartment owners, management executives, developers, builders, investors, property managers, leasing consultants, maintenance personnel, suppliers and related business professionals throughout the United States and Canada. NAA strives to provide a wealth of information through advocacy, research, technology, education and strategic partnerships. NAA provides six national designation programs; publishes UNITS magazine and other industry publications; holds an annual Education Conference and Exposition; and promotes industry professionalism. For information, call 703/518-6141, e-mail [e-mail] or visit www.naahq.org.

National Multi Housing Council

Based in Washington, D.C., NMHC is a national association that advocates on behalf of the apartment industry and the nearly 15 million American households who live in an apartment community of five or more units. NMHC's members are the principal officers of the larger and more prominent apartment firms and include owners, developers, managers and financiers. The council's legislative and regulatory agenda targets housing policy issues, multifamily finance, environmental affairs, tax policy, fair housing, building codes, technology, human resources and rent control. In addition, NMHC conducts apartment-related research, encourages the exchange of strategic business information and promotes the desirability of apartment living.

Congressional Real Estate Caucus

The Congressional Real Estate Caucus (CREC) was formed in May of 1998 at the Real Estate Summit on Capitol Hill organized by the NAA/NMHC Joint Legislative Staff. Representatives Mark Foley (R-FL) and Richard Neal (D-MA) serve as co-chairs. The caucus is endorsed by 12 national real estate groups representing 2 million members and companies that own, build, manage and finance real estate. CREC serves as a forum for members of Congress and real estate professionals to discuss federal policy and its impact on the nation's real estate industry.

CREC seeks to ensure implementation of federal policies that further real estate's contributions to the national, state and local economies. Real estate accounts for a quarter of every tax dollar, constitutes half the nation's domestic investment and is responsible for 12 percent of the nation's gross domestic product and an estimated 8.9 million jobs. Thus, protecting and promoting a healthy real estate sector can only serve to strengthen our nation's economy.