A Day in the Life of an NAHB Lobbyist

What’s a typical day for a lobbyist on NAHB’s advocacy team? For the most part, it’s fairly routine and consistent: in-person meetings on Capitol Hill or connecting with congressional staff through emails, phone calls, and texts, as well as internal strategy discussions.

What changes is the content of those interactions. Like a journalist who has a specific beat to cover, each member of the advocacy team focuses on one or just a few specific industry issues, such as labor, immigration, healthcare, the environment, building codes, and tax policy, to name a few. 

And depending on the mood and scheduled actions of Congress—what’s coming up for a vote, what needs more support, what initiatives should be opposed?—it could be immigration one day, domestic workforce training, Waters of the United States, or tax policy another. 

Regardless, the advocacy team is still in congressional offices or communicating over email or phone, talking about what is most important to the housing industry: affordability, supply, and workforce development.

How Does It Work, Exactly?

NAHB has many opportunities to meet with members of Congress, but counter to how movies and television portray political advocacy, most of the heavy lifting on specific policies is done in conjunction with congressional staff members. They are the subject matter experts in the offices of elected officials and can give a clear sign of what policies and legislation their boss supports (and doesn’t) and why.

As such, they are open to substantive, honest, and clear conversations that ultimately influence policy and decision-making.

Think Local, Too

NAHB’s legislative affairs staff also encourages its members to engage directly with their local elected officials when they’re back in their home district or during NAHB’s annual legislative conference in Washington, D.C.

Many NAHB members have developed personal relationships with their representatives, as those decision-makers grew up through the ranks of the local political process. It’s key to talk about the issues that are most important to them and the legislation that’s being debated that affects housing.

A Respected Voice

Even though sometimes it looks like Congress moves slowly—until the political moment arrives and it gets intense—NAHB’s advocacy team is constantly addressing House and Senate members and their staff to ensure that the needs and objectives of NAHB members are being heard and represented.

That effort and diligence is reflected well in the halls and offices of the Capitol building, where NAHB is a respected voice within the construction sector, among construction trade associations, and the in general business community.

For example, when a lobbyist outside of NAHB brings up a construction or housing issue, elected officials and staff members will usually ask what home builders think about it, a very clear sign of success and the value of NAHB’s advocacy team.

NAHB often leads coalitions of like-minded organizations seeking to shape legislative outcomes that support and protect the residential construction industry.