[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7891-7892]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, along with my dad, Clair, who started our 
family homebuilding business 45 years ago, I wish to congratulate the 
National Association of Home Builders on reaching its 75th anniversary.
  For three-quarters of a century, NAHB has been fighting for the 
American dream, advocating for those who want to own a home for 
themselves and their families and advocating for homebuilders who 
provide jobs and make the homeowners' dreams a reality.
  Before coming to Congress, I worked for my dad in our family 
homebuilding business, and I have great respect for the work their 
members do in our communities. They truly are job creators, economic 
drivers, and dream makers.
  I have been happy to meet with some of their members when they have 
come to Capitol Hill. I can tell you that it is helpful to have face-
to-face meetings with their team to talk about the issues that matter 
to them the most. Though I have a background in homebuilding, many 
congressional and Presidential staff do not. It makes a difference to 
hear from folks on the ground in their business.
  When it comes to homebuilding and homeownership, we all share the 
same goal--let's keep home prices affordable.
  Their advocacy has enabled millions of American families, like mine, 
to make one of the most important purchases of their lives: a home.
  As you know, when people achieve the American dream of homeownership, 
they are on the path to wealth creation and upward mobility, not to 
mention the sense of pride that comes with having a place to call their 
own.
  That sense of pride overflows to the way people invest in their 
communities, and we all benefit from a more

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engaged neighbor. As they know better than anyone and Sir Winston 
Churchill once said, ``We shape our dwellings, and afterwards our 
dwellings shape us.''
  When the times are good or times are tough and through the general 
cyclical nature of the industry, NAHB has remained a steady advocate 
for the importance of affordable and quality housing, both for 
homeowners and renters. Thanks in part to them, builders and consumers 
are back up on their feet.
  I am grateful for their commitment to serving our Nation by building 
safe and beautiful homes, and I am grateful for the 75 years of 
advocacy from NAHB.
  Congratulations again on achieving this major milestone.

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