NAHB Chairman’s Message: Let Builders Build

Solving the housing crisis requires more than just building more new homes; we also need to remove the obstacles that stand in the way of providing more attainable housing for Americans, says NAHB chairman Buddy Hughes
June 3, 2025
5 min read

The vision of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is “Building Homes, Enriching Communities and Changing Lives.” This means building homes that are both suitable and affordable for American families. But achieving this vision will require more than just building more homes; it will also require finding ways to remove obstacles to housing attainability.

 

Governmental overreach at the local, state, and federal levels is a significant hurdle to building more homes. Overly restrictive policies governing building materials, zoning, and energy use have created an imbalance of supply and demand. Uncertainty surrounding tariff policies and interest rates has also created doubt for potential homebuyers. Finally, concerns around funding for workforce training are making the future of home building even more uncertain. In response, NAHB members say to our nation’s leaders: Let Builders Build. 

NAHB is the advocate for the U.S. home building industry. Every June, thousands of NAHB members attend hundreds of meetings on Capitol Hill to educate lawmakers about the major issues facing the industry and to offer assistance in crafting pro-housing legislation.

This year, NAHB members attending the Legislative Conference will share their perspectives on three key areas that affect housing affordability:

Energy Codes 

NAHB is concerned about the growing trend of state and local restrictions on natural gas and natural gas appliances, which not only raise construction costs but could ultimately increase monthly utility bills, pushing homeownership further out of reach for many Americans.

That’s why we’re advocating for the Energy Choice Act, also known as “ban on the ban” legislation. This critical legislation protects homeowners’ right to choose the most affordable and reliable energy sources for their homes in their communities by prohibiting state and local governments from banning or limiting access to natural gas and other energy sources.

In addition to supporting the Energy Choice Act, we’re also focused on pushing back against the HUD/USDA rule to mandate the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for all HUD- and USDA-financed housing. This rule could add as much as $30,000 to the cost of a new home.


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HUD and USDA’s mission is to support vulnerable homebuyers and renters, yet these new standards may price many of them out of the market, forcing them to purchase older, less-efficient homes. The adoption of these codes could undermine the goal of providing affordable housing options for the nation’s most vulnerable families.

Workforce Development 

In any given month, there is a shortage of more than 200,000 construction workers. Without enough people to build homes, the cost to construct a home is increasing and is exacerbating the housing affordability crisis. NAHB fundamentally supports training in all skilled trades as a path to a lucrative career without the burden of student loan debt. This year, we are asking legislators to support the CONSTRUCTS Act, which would expand grant programs to fund residential construction education at community colleges and technical education schools. 

Tax Policy

If Congress fails to renew the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the nation faces more than $4 trillion in tax increases in 2026. As lawmakers determine the best way to build on the initial success of TCJA to improve the tax code for middle-class Americans and small businesses, NAHB is urging Congress to pass a tax package that modernizes homeownership tax incentives, provides more resources for affordable rental housing, and reduces tax burdens on America’s small businesses.

NAHB is a community of individuals just like you, promoting policies that make it easier for you to build homes and neighborhoods for American families. We’d love for you to join us in realizing our vision of Building Homes, Enriching Communities and Changing Lives. When we work together, we build better, more affordable homes for our customers. To learn more about NAHB membership, or to join us next year at our Legislative Conference, visit nahb.org


W2W4

Disaster preparedness resources: As we approach the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, this is a good time for businesses, homeowners, and communities to evaluate hurricane risks, update emergency plans, and ensure essential supplies are on hand. Acting now can help protect business operations, support employees, and minimize the impacts of these severe weather events. Explore preparedness resources at nahb.org/disaster.

National Housing Endowment: NAHB’s philanthropic arm, the National Housing Endowment, supports the home building industry through education, training, and research programs focusing on residential construction. The endowment is dedicated to helping the housing industry develop more effective approaches to home building, enhancing education and training for future generations of leaders in residential construction, and increasing the body of knowledge on housing issues. The endowment is helping to train future NAHB members and is directly addressing the labor shortage through the Skilled Labor Fund.

 

About the Author

Buddy Hughes

Buddy Hughes, a Lexington, N.C.-based home builder and developer with more than 45 years of experience in the home building industry, is the National Associaation of Home Builders' 2025 Chairman of the Board of Directors. In 1984, Hughes, a third-generation builder, opened Hughes Construction, a general contracting business that specializes in home building and light commercial construction. He currently serves as a life delegate of the NAHB Leadership Council and has been a member of the NAHB Board of Directors for more than 20 years.

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