The Window & Door Manufacturers Association held its annual Spring Meeting and Legislative Conference March 29-31, in Wahington, D.C. The conference featured members of the U.S. Congress, WDMA leaders, and representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Migrant Policy Institute, and the National Association of Home Builders.
Conference happenings
The first day of the conference started with a Legislative Action Fund luncheon that was headlined by Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, who provided insider analysis of trends and events that are shaping the political environment. WDMA members then met for the 2023 annual membership meeting where they heard from WDMA Chair Steve Tourek, Chair-Elect Emily Videtto, and WDMA CEO Mike O’Brien. WDMA leadership reported on the state of the association and noted the key priorities for WDMA in the coming year.
The WDMA annual meeting was followed by two policy sessions featuring experts from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Migrant Policy Institute, and the National Association of Home Builders. U.S. Chamber’s Marc Freedman and the Migrant Policy Institute’s Julia Gelatt examined the outlook and intersection of labor, workforce, and immigration policy in the 118th Congress, while NAHB Executive Vice President and Chief Lobbyist Jim Tobin examined the outlook for housing policy in the 118th Congress and provided insider perspectives on the key issues that may come up and how the housing industry can work together to advance key initiatives.
The second day began with keynote speeches from U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE) and U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND). Congressman Smith and Senator Hoeven, members of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee, discussed key tax, trade, and spending issues under consideration in the 118th Congress. The Washington Briefing Breakfast was followed with an in-person issue briefing by WDMA’s advocacy team, who touched on key policy issues impacting the window, door, and skylight industry, including trade, infrastructure, tax, energy, and ongoing regulatory issues. WDMA members then embarked on a full day of Capitol Hill meetings with U.S. Representatives, U.S. Senators, and senior congressional staff. The conference concluded with a Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill.
