Business View Magazine | September 2020

25 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 THE AMER I CAN WOOD COUNC I L construction industry and lead the economy out of the COVID-19-driven recession. Policy initiatives specifically being advocated by AWC include: Addressing the Construction Permitting Bottleneck and Providing Reasonable Safe Harbor Liability Protection. “According to ICC, two-thirds of building and fire prevention departments reported working remotely at the height of the pandemic, but six in ten do not possess the capability to remotely carry out certain critical aspects of their work. This hinders departments’ ability to provide essential functions such as inspections and permitting. According to the survey, virtual capability needs have also led to significant delays, creating challenges for ongoing and future construction to help drive economic recovery. AWC joined 53 other organizations in a letter to Congress and the Administration encouraging additional federal resources to help building code departments develop urging them to allow manufacturers in their state to keep operating during the crisis. AWC had a specific success assisting a wood industry supplier in Michigan stay open by providing information to the Governor’s office citing the federal guidance. “Moving forward, AWC is working in a number of different other areas to address issues related to the pandemic. In May, AWC’s President & CEO Robert Glowinski briefed the 75-plus members of the House Working Forest Caucus virtually, highlighting AWC’s top legislative priorities going forward to respond to COVID-19’s economic impact: support policies that boost housing, rental markets, and homeownership, including measures that can help keep people in their homes; maintain existing housing; and those that don’t exacerbate housing and rental problems. AWC also signed on to NAHB policy recommendations sent to the White House and Congress, intended to both help the residential