Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese will moderate a discussion at the White House with a diverse group of stakeholders representing the entire home building supply chain as part of the White House’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia L. Fudge, Director of the Domestic Policy Council Ambassador Susan Rice, and Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Cecilia Rouse will also join the supply chain convening. The convening represents the most inclusive gathering from every level of the supply chain including home building associations and companies, affordable housing advocates, lumber companies, the adhesive and sealant industry, realtors, loggers, labor unions, and contractors.

The supply chain convening comes as the Biden Administration continues to push for historic investments to create and preserve more than 2 million sustainable homes as part of the Build Back Better Agenda.

“Gatherings of an entire supply chain like this are rare – but they are so important for learning about the short-term challenges we’re facing and how we can address these issues together,” said Raimondo. “The current dynamics affecting the home building supply chain is facing have real implications for working families in every community across the country. The Biden Administration is firmly committed to tackling our affordable housing shortage while collaborating with a diverse group of stakeholders on shared solutions to address these supply chain issues in both the short and long-term.”

“We can’t resolve our long-term housing issues without addressing today’s supply bottlenecks, and vice versa,” said Deese. “This convening is a step in the right direction for tackling both.”

“While the pandemic has exacerbated housing shortages, the truth is that a lack of sufficient affordable housing is not new,” said Rouse. “For decades, housing supply has not kept pace with population growth. And for decades, we’ve seen it affect prosperity and inequality.”

“Right now in America, it is harder to find an affordable home than at any point since the Great Recession,” said Fudge. “As prices climb, HUD—and the people we serve—depend on the work of the housing industry to supply affordable homes where families have access to jobs, education, and opportunity. That’s why I’m enthusiastic about the President’s call for a historic investment to create and preserve more than 2 million affordable and sustainable homes. This convening is the latest example of our administration understanding the urgency of the situation facing the American people.”

Ahead of the convening, stakeholders from every level of the supply chain offered appreciation for the Biden Administration’s efforts on addressing the challenges facing the home building supply chain.

Chuck Fowke, 2021 Chairman, National Association of Home Builders:

“We’re thankful that the White House has listened to our urgent pleas to hold this material supply chain meeting. By convening this gathering to seek solutions to end production bottlenecks that have harmed housing affordability, the White House has sent a strong message that housing is a top national priority.”

David Dworkin, National Housing Conference:

“We appreciate how responsive the Biden administration has been in addressing the crisis in the home building supply chain. Less than two months ago, a coalition of affordable housing builders, developers and community leaders wrote to President Biden asking for help on this critically important issue. Since then we have been in regular contact with the administration, leading to today’s meeting. In a short time, the Biden administration has developed a track record of working with industry and advocacy organizations across the political spectrum. It is clear that that we are working with an administration that understands the value and importance of bringing a diverse group of stakeholders together to address the nation’s most challenging issues.”

Sean McGarvey, President of North America’s Building Trades Unions:

“As builders of housing, and in particular with billions of dollars of our pension money invested in low and moderate income housing, we are keenly aware of the pressing issues facing the residential construction market. We appreciate the Biden Administration’s efforts to address them. Whether it be single or multi-family housing, these issue impacting them cannot be solved without a skilled workforce that is ensured good wages and safe working conditions. We look forward to continuing our investment in this vital part of the construction industry and partnering with the Biden Administration to create more work opportunities that achieve middle class family-sustaining careers for all construction workers.”

American Wood Council:

“We greatly appreciate the Administration’s leadership in hosting this meeting today and fostering meaningful dialogue on how best to tackle supply chain constraints. The wood products industry faced workforce challenges and transportation bottlenecks long before the pandemic and it is our strong belief that addressing these constraints will have the most meaningful impact on the supply chain. We look forward to continuing to work with the Administration on these issues.”

Jonathan Paine, President & CEO of National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association:

“It is an honor to speak with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge, and other members of the White House Administration on behalf of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association. I applaud the administration’s commitment to working with industry stakeholders like NLBMDA to find a solution to address the ongoing lumber market volatility and supply chain disruptions.”

Dr. Akilah Watkins-Butler, Community for Progress:

“Fortunately, the Biden administration has explicitly committed to advance racial equity and racial justice across all facets of American life, and in no aspect is this more urgent than housing, where the racial gulf is already so wide. I thank the Biden administration for prioritizing this issue through today's convening.”

Devin Stockfish, CEO of Weyerhaeuser:

“It is encouraging to see the White House address this issue with the seriousness it deserves. We applaud the Biden Administration for holding this meeting and understanding the stakes of our current supply chain dynamics.”

Paul Noe, Vice President of Public Policy of the American Forest & Paper Association:

“The American Forest & Paper Association appreciates the Biden Administration’s timely focus on homebuilding supply chain challenges and solutions. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted why well-functioning supply chains are so critical to meet the needs of all Americans. We are particularly pleased to work with the Administration to address the reliability, affordability and fairness of our transportation system, as well as other supply chain challenges. We also are pleased that the White House and Congress crafted a bipartisan framework on infrastructure upgrades, which are essential for our industry and our country.” 

Adhesive and Sealant Council:

“The Adhesive and Sealant Council greatly appreciates the Biden Administration’s sincere efforts to understand the significant challenges currently faced by both the home building and adhesive industries as essential partners supporting America’s infrastructure and economic recovery. Our industry stands ready to support the Administration in finding meaningful solutions together.”