Legislative

It appears the innovative Audited Stress Rating (ASR) program proposed by Timber Products has hit the end of the line.

On Saturday, March 31, 2012, SBCA sent a letter to the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC), requesting further information on lumber design value testing currently being conducted on North American softwood lumber species.

A look at how Republican-controlled State Legislatures are attempting to preempt local governments on issues like buildings codes, zoning, and others.

Congressman Gallegly (R-CA) states that making E-Verify mandatory would remove the primary factor that entices people to come and stay here illegally - the ability to take an American job. 

Two amendments that would have prohibited local jurisdictions from opting out of a state requirement to have sprinkler systems in single-family and two-family houses were defeated.

On Friday, ALSC ruled to approve SPIB’s proposed design value reductions for SP 2x4 No. 2 Dense and SP 2x4 No. 2 Non-Dense.

A proposal submitted by Timber Products Inspection that would use visual grading to assure lumber design values was rejected by ALSC.

Homebuilders outline a new comprehensive framework for housing finance system reform that would transition Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to a new mortgage securitization system for single-family and multifamily conventional mortgages.

The American Trucking Associations has filed a petition asking a federal court to review the new hours of service rules announced by the FMCSA that reduce the maximum number of hours a truck driver can be on the road from 82 hours per week to 70 hours.

It is time that Americans revisit the issue and ponder very carefully the morality of entering the United States illegally.