The TRIA team tackles D.C.

By the Tile Roofing Industry Alliance. 

Highlights from the Tile Roofing Industry Alliance’s annual advocacy Fly-In to Washington, D.C.  

As the primary voice for the concrete and clay tile roofing industry, one of the Tile Roofing Industry Alliance’s (TRIA) most important roles is to highlight the concerns of their members on a national level. One of the ways they do this is through their annual Washington, D.C. Fly-In. This Fly-In is an opportunity for tile industry professionals to get face-to-face meetings with government officials to talk about policies that impact the industry.  

This year, the Fly-In was hosted April 13-16, 2026, in conjunction with the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)’s Roofing Day in D.C. event. Overall, the Fly-In was a great success in boosting the TRIA’s visibility on Capitol Hill, enhancing their mission to be a voice for the industry and bringing the concerns of the tile roofing industry to policymakers. Keep reading to learn more about what the TRIA team did during this year’s Fly-In. 

Meetings began the morning of April 14 with Senator Jon Husted (Republican-Ohio) where the TRIA team discussed the More Homes on the Market Act (H.R. 1340/S. 3332) to double the capital gains exemption for selling a residence. This was followed by a visit to the office of Senator Bernie Moreno (Republican-Ohio) who arranged for a private tour of the U.S. Capitol, starting with a trip on the Senators’ subway to the Capitol Building. 

Afternoon meetings started with House Education and Workforce Committee majority staff Brad Mannion and Kane Riddell in the law library to discuss DOL, NLRB and OSHA issues. From there, the TRIA team met with Representative Ryan Mackenzie (Republican -Pennsylvania), chairman of the subcommittee on workforce protections, at the Capitol Hill Club to urge action on OSHA’s Multi-Employer Citation Doctrine and also the support the More Homes on the Market Act.     

TRIA’s April 14 meeting schedule concluded with Representative Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and expressed interest in the More Homes on the Market Act. The TRIA team’s dinner that night was at The Monocle which is adjacent to the Senate buildings and featured a lively discussion led off by special guest Jon Baselice, who formerly headed immigration policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

On Wednesday, April 15, the TRIA team joined all Roofing Day attendees for presentations at the hotel followed by meetings on Capitol Hill to lobby for immigration reform, career and technical education programs and bills to spur affordable housing.

Eagle Roofing Product’s John Campbell chaired NRCA’s Roofing Day Committee and TRIA President Rick Olson introduced the morning’s congressional speaker, Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat-Illinois).

TRIA’s DC Fly-In concluded on April 16 with a meeting at the National Association of Home Builders and its policy staff: Porter Graham (labor, safety and health), Mackenzie Payne (legal), Sam Gilboard (workforce, immigration) and JP Delmore (tax policy).  Mutual issues discussed were OSHA’s Heat Rule and Multi-Enforcement Citation Doctrine, workforce development legislation, the DIGNITY Act and other immigration proposals and affordable housing legislation. Also discussed was the highly effective Construction Industry Safety Coalition which NAHB coordinates and TRIA founded. 

The TRIA would like to extend a huge thanks to those who participated in the 2026 D.C. Fly-In. To learn more about TRIA and how they advocate for the industry, please email President Rick Olson, Rolson@tileroofing.org, and/or visit www.tileroofing.org.