Participate today, change tomorrow

On April 8-9, the roofing industry will gather in Washington, D.C., for Roofing Day in D.C. 2025, the premier industry advocacy event of the year. This annual event provides an opportunity for lawmakers to hear the industry’s voice regarding key government policy issues. As power shifts in Congress and the White House, roofing industry professionals are invited and urged to participate to demonstrate the breadth and diversity of the industry.

With hundreds of participants attending in the past, Roofing Day in D.C. has become one of the largest advocacy events in Washington, D.C. Roofing Day in D.C. is the fulfillment of former NRCA CEO Reid Ribble’s vision of how the industry can expand its influence and enhance its image with federal policymakers. The event brings together all segments of the industry to advocate collectively regarding matters critical to its continued success. Roofing Day in D.C. is a collaboration among NRCA members; industry stakeholders; and national, regional, state and local associations and designed to expand the professionalization and prosperity of the industry.

Training and education

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

On April 8, a welcome program will be held at the Grand Hyatt Washington and feature a mock congressional meeting, a briefing addressing key advocacy issues from policy experts, meetings with team leaders to tailor messages to individual members of Congress, and a networking reception with unique opportunities for field workers and first-time attendees.

On April 9, participants will enjoy a morning program beginning with a congressional keynote speaker and additional speakers to inspire an afternoon of successful advocacy. In the afternoon, participants will have three to four meetings with senators, representatives and congressional staff to convey the roofing industry’s message.

To make participation as easy as possible, all meetings will be scheduled by NRCA and Advocacy Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm that specializes in managing large advocacy events NRCA has long partnered with Advocacy Associates. Its state-of-the-art online platform ensures attendees have up-to-the-minute scheduling changes and all the information they need to advocate for the industry including research about key legislation and policy papers.

Available through individualized links, participants will again have access to an online platform that hosts schedules of congressional meetings, position papers, talking points, links to video meetings, automated thank-you note templates and other features.

Your participation is vital to helping make your business and the industry more successful and prosperous.

Key issues

Participants can prepare for the event by viewing position papers for key policy issues that will be the focus of meetings with members of Congress on NRCA’s website, nrca.net/roofingday. Selected with input from members of the Roofing Day Advisory Committee, these issues unify all segments of the industry. The 2025 advocacy issues will focus on federal legislation to address workforce challenges and pro-growth tax reform.

Specifically, solutions to address workforce challenges are increased funding for Perkins Career and Technical Education State Grants, reform of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to allow more employers to easily access these vital training resources, and immigration reform that meets the workforce needs of the roofing industry.

To support legislation that promotes pro-growth tax policy, industry professionals will advocate for the bipartisan Main Street Tax Certainty Act and American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act. The Main Street Tax Certainty Act 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, severely disadvantaging many employers. The American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act restores the ability for business owners to immediately deduct research and development expenses, which currently must be amortized over five years for domestic companies.

View the advocacy issues from Roofing Day in D.C. 2024.

Past Roofing Day in D.C. events were successful because of participants, and progress and success have been achieved regarding most of the issues attendees presented to Congress. But this engagement must be year-round and frequent.

Since Roofing Day in D.C. began in 2018, Congress has increased funding for Perkins Career and Technical Education State Grants each year totaling roughly $200 million, bringing the total to around $1.4 billion. This funding is critical to helping employers meet their workforce development needs.

Previous participants helped secure passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that included a strong buildings component into law. Roofing Day in D.C. attendees also supported passage into law the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act to ensure workforce development programs work well for the roofing industry. Important provisions of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, legislation to promote energy efficiency in commercial, industrial and residential buildings, were passed, as well.

Roofing Day in D.C. advocates also succeeded in nearly doubling the number of members co-sponsoring the Main Street Tax Certainty Act.

View the photo gallery from Roofing Day in D.C. 2024.

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. Although advocacy is the primary goal, NRCA encourages companies to take advantage of the team-building aspect this event can provide and stand ready to assist with area tours and hospitality.

Strength in numbers

NRCA strongly encourages all industry professionals to participate in Roofing Day in D.C. 2025. All participating companies also are encouraged to include one or more field workers; elected officials benefit greatly from hearing from the industry’s dedicated workforce. Registration fees are $95 per person for company representatives and $35 for field workers, students and spouses. Additional information about Roofing Day in D.C. 2025 and registration information, including a tentative itinerary and hotel links, are available at nrca.net/roofingday.

As a roofing industry professional, you need to be a part of this transformational event. Your participation is vital to helping make your business and the industry more successful and prosperous. Lawmakers need to hear directly from constituents regarding issues of importance, and this is your opportunity to make your voice heard.

On behalf of NRCA’s leadership, we look forward to seeing you April 8-9!

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