Capitol Hill Fly-in: Issues to Discuss with Legislators and Their Staff

Transcription

1 Capitol Hill Fly-in: Issues to Discuss with Legislators and Their Staff

2 Welcome! Ted Thurn Director, Government Affairs IREM Megan Booth Director, Federal Housing and Commercial Policy, Federal Policy and Industry Relations NAR

3 Today s Topics Orientation and Materials NFIP Emotional Support Animals ADA Lawsuit Reform

4 IREM Capitol Hill Fly-In If you have not already done so, please schedule your legislative meetings now!! Please send us your meeting schedule!

5 Capitol Hill Fly-In Schedule of events Tuesday, March 5th 3pm 5:30pm EST Orientation at NAR s DC Office 6pm 7pm Cocktail Reception at NAR office 7pm Dinner (Group reservations at several nearby locations are being made) Wednesday, March 6th 8am 9am EST Breakfast and last minute preparations at NAR Office Travel to the Capitol for your meetings Depart Once you have completed all of your meetings!

6 Orientation at NAR s DC Office Time 3:00 PM 3:15 PM 3:40 PM 4:15 PM 4:40 PM 5:05 PM 5:20 PM Agenda Items & Presenter Welcome, Introduction & Overview Don Wilkerson, CPM, IREM President George Griffin III, CPM, IREM Senior Vice-President Bill Malkasian, Chief Advocacy Officer, NAR How to Meet with Legislators & their Staff Lobbyist/Former Hill Staff Panel National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Austin Perez, Senior Policy Representative, NAR ADA Lawsuit Reform Erin Stackley, Senior Policy Representative for Commercial Issues Emotional Support Animals Fred Underwood, Director, Diversity and Community Outreach Programs, NAR Capitol Hill Logistics Megan Booth, Director, Federal Housing, Valuation, Commercial Real Estate Policy & Programs, NAR Wrap-Up Don Wilkerson

7 Materials Provided for Meetings

8 Prepare for Your Meeting

9 2018 Mid-Term Election Results Democrats Control the House Republicans Made Gains in and still control the Senate We will have a divided government for the next two years ONLY 623 DAYS UNTIL THE 2020 ELECTION!!

10 National Flood Insurance Program

11 National Flood Insurance Program IREM supports reform of the NFIP to ensure its ongoing sustainability and encouragement of costeffective private flood insurance options IREM further supports long-term reauthorization of NFIP beyond May 31, 2019, so that it remains a viable option for property owners.

12 National Flood Insurance Program What to Tell Your Representatives and Senators Lapses in the availability of insurance create chaos in real estate markets. Reforms (such as updated and modernized flood maps and incentives for private insurance markets) are important, but the existing program needs to be extended in the meantime. On November 14, 2017, the House of Representatives passed HR 2874, House Resolution 2874 (H.R. 2874) 21st Century Flood Reform Act, to reauthorize and make further improvements to the NFIP. H.R would provide for a five-year reauthorization of NFIP; enable property owners to move to the private market while maintaining continuous coverage; and would remove the federal mandatory purchase requirement for commercial and multifamily rental properties.

13 Companion Animals Federal Housing Act: persons with disabilities are entitled to have an assistance animal in order to have an equal opportunity to enjoy their apt and amenities. Companion Animals are a type of service or assistance animal If the need for an assistance animal is not obvious, landlords may verify the need by requesting documentation

14 Companion Animals IREM s Position IREM supports and invites guidance from the government on the issue of companion animals, sometimes referred to as emotional support animals, with respect to the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Unlike service animals, which are regulated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), companion animals receive no specialized training and are typically for individuals with mental disabilities or those in need of emotional support.

15 Companion Animals What to Tell Your Representatives and Senators The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is in the process of developing guidelines on companion animals. Although HUD has shared a guidance proposal to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the OMB has not yet issued the guidance. Ask your legislators to contact HUD & OMB to have them issue guidance on this important issue.

16 ADA Lawsuit Reform

17 Q&A

18 Questions? them to Thank you!