The US administration must protect consumers against price gouging as communities affected by Hurricane Harvey begin to rebuild
The US administration must protect consumers against price gouging as communities affected by Hurricane Harvey begin to rebuild.
That's according to Granger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of homebuilders, who says there is a need for fairly-priced building materials for those affected in Texas and Louisiana.
“A reliable supply of reasonably priced construction materials will be essential to getting people back into their homes in the areas affected by Hurricane Harvey and to maintaining housing affordability nationwide,” he said. “That’s why the National Association of Home Builders today is urging U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to closely monitor the effects of the catastrophe on the cost of essential building materials, particularly lumber, and to act swiftly and decisively to prevent exploitative pricing.”
Mr MacDonald praised the government’s decision to delay duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports but added that the US construction industry needs a permanent solution to the issues surrounding wood supplies.
“That why we’re calling on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to work collaboratively to open more public lands for domestic timber production. This is the most straightforward way to diminish reliance on imported lumber and to meet demand as Texas and Louisiana look to rebuild,” he concluded.
That's according to Granger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of homebuilders, who says there is a need for fairly-priced building materials for those affected in Texas and Louisiana.
“A reliable supply of reasonably priced construction materials will be essential to getting people back into their homes in the areas affected by Hurricane Harvey and to maintaining housing affordability nationwide,” he said. “That’s why the National Association of Home Builders today is urging U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to closely monitor the effects of the catastrophe on the cost of essential building materials, particularly lumber, and to act swiftly and decisively to prevent exploitative pricing.”
Mr MacDonald praised the government’s decision to delay duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports but added that the US construction industry needs a permanent solution to the issues surrounding wood supplies.
“That why we’re calling on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to work collaboratively to open more public lands for domestic timber production. This is the most straightforward way to diminish reliance on imported lumber and to meet demand as Texas and Louisiana look to rebuild,” he concluded.
