Reflecting on 2020
NMHC is the voice of the apartment industry in Washington, D.C. As Congress and the administration continue to craft COVID-19 relief legislation, NMHC is making the case for critically needed emergency relief for the rental industry, housing professionals and our residents. Here’s a look at some of our most impactful legislative and regulatory wins of 2020 and what we’ll keep pushing for as our country navigates the pandemic.
2020 NMHC Advocacy Snapshot
Even as much of our world turned virtual, the NMHC Government Affairs staff continued to work with members of Congress and administration officials every day on behalf of the industry:
Attending and monitoring virtual congressional committee meetings.
Submitting regulatory and legislative comments on behalf of the industry.
Educating members of Congress and administration officials about the industry.
Monitoring legislative and regulatory proposals being considered that could impact the industry.
Working with members of Congress to draft or redraft proposals so that they work for the industry.
Submitted over 50 comment letters.
Held 12 virtual roundtable discussions for members with key legislators
NMHC members with Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL).
Member Call to Action
Before the passage of several pieces of relief legislation, NMHC members sent thousands of messages to members of Congress voicing our industry’s concerns. Thanks to those efforts the industry secured critical provisions and ensured our voice was heard whenever a stimulus package was on the table.
Thousands of NMHC members joined forces to advocate on behalf of the industry.
NMHC Leads Real Estate Coalitions
NMHC led an industry coalition of 13 major trade groups in delivering educational content on critical issues to the multifamily sector. Speaking with one voice during these divisive times is imperative and the group’s 16 comment letters and 2 advertisements provided Congress with a unified industry message.
NMHC spearheaded two real estate industry ads to help educate policymakers.
COVID-19 Relief Successes
NMHC was at the forefront of calling on policymakers and government agencies for emergency relief for the rental industry and our residents. Congress passed a number of packages, including the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act. These packages provided desperately needed support and helped maintained the stability of the industry. That’s why we’re proud to have successfully advocated for the following provisions in the packages and other relief initiatives:
Dedicated Rental Assistance
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
Recovery Rebate checks for Individuals and Families
A New Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program
Troubled Debt Restructurings and Insurer Clarification Extension
Employee Retention Tax Credit
Employer Payroll Tax Deferral
Extended Applicable Like-Kind Exchange Deadlines
Net Operating Loss Relief
Multifamily Mortgage Forbearance and A Servicer Liquidity Facility
Increased HUD Program Funding for Section 8, CDBG, HOME and Domestic Violence Survivors
Coronavirus Relief Fund
Essential and Critical Employee Designation for Property Management and Residential Construction Workers
Clarifying Guidance on the CDC Eviction Moratorium
COVID-19 Advocacy Going Forward:
As Congress and the administration continue to craft legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic, NMHC is in constant communication with lawmakers on several initiatives important to the multifamily industry and its residents – including the following:Securing additional funding to restore lost revenue for housing providers.
Opposing extensions of the CDC eviction moratorium and mitigating the risk of existing eviction moratoriums.
Enacting liability protections from COVID-19-related litigation for firms that work to follow applicable public health guidelines.
2020 Virtual Fall Meeting
Going virtual this year did not stop us from offering members a wide variety of programming, including high-profile keynotes, conversations with leading lawmakers, and peer-to-peer roundtables on industry issues.
NMHC Chair David Schwartz (of Waterton) interviews Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb during the 2020 Virtual Fall Meeting
NMHC’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative
NMHC’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative is a long-term commitment to promote diversity within the multifamily housing industry. The NMHC Government Affairs team is proud to work with lawmakers who share this same commitment.The 117th Congress will be one of the most diverse in history, with a record number of women, Black, Latinx, Native American and LGBTQ candidates elected.
NMHC’s Government Affairs team is ready to work with the most diverse Congress to date to promote equity in our communities and historically underinvested areas.
NMHC members meet with Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (D-CA) to discuss DEI and other housing issues.
Laurie Baker (of Camden) interviews House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) during the 2020 Virtual Fall Meeting.
Problem Solvers Caucus Chairs Tom Reed (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) during an NMHC member virtual roundtable.
NMHC PAC Builds Relationships with Key Members of Congress
Every day elected officials make decisions that affect the apartment industry and the jobs it supports. NMHC PAC is the premier fund aggressively pursuing the election and reelection of elected officials who work to improve, preserve and promote the multifamily industry.
3rd Largest Real Estate PAC
NMHC Government Affairs staff attended over 500 virtual meeting and events
300 + Congressional Races Supported
130 $5,000 Donors
NMHC PAC is bipartisan: 53% given to Democrats & 47% given to Republicans
Advocacy Resources, Webinars & Virtual Events:
Between COVID-19 relief legislation and a historic election, there was never a dull day in Washington this year. Our vast digital resources and programming allowed us to be there each step of the way to explain how decisions in Washington would affect the industry. This year we produced:12 webinars covering everything from relief package updates to elections and more.
30 COVID-19 Update Newsletters
20 Cybersecurity Alerts
A New Advocacy Snapshot Series
Outside the World of COVID-19: NMHC Scored Key Wins
The NLRB overturned an onerous joint employer rule that could hold apartment firms liable for the actions of their subcontractors, suppliers, vendors and temporary staff.
The latest update to the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) building codes included significant NMHC supported wins for multifamily.
Sec. 179D Tax Incentive Permanent Extension to spur high performance in commercial buildings. Newly constructed and rehabbed commercial buildings that meet the rigorous efficiency metrics will be eligible to claim a deduction the year the buildings are placed in service.
HUD completed a revision of the Disparate Impact Rule, which incorporated important provisions to align criteria with relevant Supreme Court doctrine and clarified requirements for housing providers.
A new EPA Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Rule to guide resilient development.
Permanent Minimum 4 Percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
Treasury & IRS Extended LIHTC Deadline providing relief from certain requirements under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and bonds for qualified residential rental projects.
Depreciation of Existing Buildings: NMHC secured a fix correcting an error in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) requiring multifamily buildings placed in service prior to 2018 be depreciated over 40 years as opposed to 30 years for taxpayers electing out limits on interest deductibility.
IRS issued final NMHC supported business interest deductibility regulations.
Final regulations for the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) reflecting industry concerns.
National Flood Insurance Program one-year extension through September 2021.
Sec. 45L Tax Credit Extension for builders of low rise multifamily to go above code mandates in the production of high efficiency residential units.
