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Your NARI Government Affairs Committee Leadership
Bruce Case, CLC
Chairman
Patrick Kennedy
Vice-Chairman
Art Donnelly, MCR, CKBR
Officer Liasion
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Update on crystalline silica
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began public hearings last week on the proposed rulemaking on occupational exposure to crystalline silica. The hearings are scheduled to take place through April 4.
NARI is part of an industry coalition called CISC, Construction Industry Safety Coalition. The coalition testified on Monday at the public hearings. NARI, along with the coalition, previously submitted comments urging OSHA to withdraw the rule.
This Q&A, courtesy of Professional Safety, the trade publication of the American Society of Safety Engineers, explains the rule and its implications in more detail.
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Stay updated on NARI's Government Affairs activities
Stay informed on NARI's Government Affairs activity by visiting the NARI website, reviewing the bills NARI is following and staying informed via NARI's monthly e-newsletter, NARI on the Hill, which you're reading now.
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March 27, 2014
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NARI introduces new lobbyists
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Remodeling requires a unique blend of technical expertise, business acumen, and people skills. This makes finding and retaining key team members, like a lead carpenter that can "do it all," a tall task.
A similar dynamic exists in the lobbying arena. Representing the interests of NARI members requires a unique blend of technical expertise, political acumen, and people skills. We were fortunate to find this blend of talent in Chris Spear of the firm Nelson Mullins-NARI's lobbyist over the last year. Chris is leaving Nelson Mullins to be a full-time lobbyist for the American Trucking Association. We wish Chris all the best, and we are grateful for his efforts on behalf of NARI.
To represent NARI's interests moving forward, we have chosen Dickstein Shapiro-a firm that employs a "team of experts" approach. With 30 team members in their lobbying practice, four former Congressmen and a blend of Republican and Democratic perspectives, we feel that Dickstein Shapiro's "team of experts" approach blends the unique disciplines required to best represent NARI.
Our main contacts at Dickstein Shapiro will be Randi Fredholm Hutchinson and former Senator Tim Hutchinson. Their bios are below.
Your Government Affairs Committee looks forward to garnering meaningful impact for NARI members through Dickstein Shapiro's accomplished team of experts, a focused approach that concentrates our efforts on the top two or three issues, and through the engagement of NARI membership.
Bruce Case, CLC
NARI Government Affairs Chairman |
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Randi Fredholm Hutchinson
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 In 1984, Randi served as a staff assistant on the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. On this committee she provided assistance on the Water Resources Development Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Superfund legislation. During 1985, she was a staff assistant to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy. In 1986, she worked in the Majority Office of the New Jersey General Assembly.
From the fall of 1986 to 1993, she served as Legislative Director to U.S. Representative John Paul Hammerschmidt, the Ranking Member on the Public Works and Transportation Committee. She was responsible for overseeing and coordinating the legislative agenda in the congressman's personal office, working closely with the Transportation Committee staff.
From 1993 to 1997, she was Legislative Director to U.S. Representative Tim Hutchinson. While directing the congressman's staff and overall legislative program, Randi had specific legislative responsibilities in the areas of transportation, infrastructure, environment, and welfare reform. Legislation she was involved in included the 1996 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, several of the Water Resources Development Act bills, and the 1996 Welfare Reform Act. Upon the congressman's election to the U.S. Senate, she moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, to work in the state office. From 1997 to 1998, Randi continued as a senior advisor to the senator, including serving as State Director. She had responsibility over the senator's state offices and continued her work on infrastructure and environmental projects. |
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Senator Tim Hutchinson
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 Senator Hutchinson's career spans nearly two decades in elective office. He began as an Arkansas state representative in 1985. In 1992, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Four years later, he became the first Republican ever popularly elected to the U.S. Senate from the State of Arkansas.
While in the House, Senator Hutchinson served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Education and Labor Committee, and the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He was the original sponsor of child tax credit legislation, a key figure in reauthorizing the 1996 welfare reform law, and he chaired the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, which has jurisdiction over one of the largest hospital and healthcare delivery systems in the nation.
In the Senate, Senator Hutchinson continued his leadership on educational issues. While serving on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, he helped shape the Leave No Child Behind legislation and took a leading role in the passage of Education Savings Accounts.
Senator Hutchinson also has played an active role on health care issues. He served on the Patient's Bill of Rights Conference Committee, was the Chief Senate Sponsor of legislation creating Association Health Plans, and, with Senator Barbara Mikulski, co-sponsored legislation addressing the nation's nursing shortage. In addition, his interest in the cutting-edge issue of biotechnology led him to form the Senate Biotechnology Caucus.
Senator Hutchinson also sponsored numerous bills addressing labor law modernization and Occupational Safety & Health Administration reform.
Another interest of his has been homeland security issues. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Senator Hutchinson traveled to many of the world's hot spots, including South Korea, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Israel. He frequently appeared on television programs like "Larry King Live," "The O'Reilly Factor," and "Crossfire" to discuss national security issues. As chairman of the Personnel Subcommittee, he sponsored legislation that now provides lifetime health care for military retirees. He also was the co-chairman of the C-130 Caucus.
Having served four years on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the House and two years on the Environment and Public Works Committee in the Senate, Senator Hutchinson helped write the last two national transportation bills. |
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