Here to Help

President Ronald Reagan famously said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”

But the truth is, at some level we all need the government to work — and work well. We need roads, we need schools, we need the garbage picked up. Communities need public transportation and energy form utilities. Citizens need policemen, firemen and EMS crews to be ready to respond if a crisis arises. In short, we need critical infrastructure, and we need it to function — and we need it to function in an emergency.

Roofs play a critical role in protecting public buildings. This issue, which spotlights government and municipal projects, highlights several ways the roofing industry and government interact. Case studies in these pages document ways roofing contractors protect the investment in air force bases, schools, waste disposal facilities, train stations, fire stations, and recreational areas.

This issue also spotlights policies that can save taxpayers money, help communities build more resilient buildings, and bolster the roofing industry as well, including the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA), a national government purchasing cooperative that streamlines the RFP process for publicly funded work, and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which will support projects as part of FEMA’s national mitigation strategy and the Disaster Recovery and Reform Act.

If you don’t like the way government is working for the industry and for you as a citizen, there are many things you can do, starting with voting in every election. You can also make your voice heard by contacting your local, state and federal representatives. The NRCA is encouraging all roofing industry professionals to come together in Washington, D.C., to participate in the third annual Roofing Day in D.C., which will be held April 21-22, 2020. The event is designed to bring together roofing contractors, distributors, manufacturers and other industry professionals to elevate the image of the industry and share its message with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

“Help us demonstrate the depth of talent and diversity in our great industry,” said Reid Ribble, NRCA’s CEO. “As 2020 is an election year, it is especially important for roofing professionals to participate in Roofing Day in D.C. 2020.”

For more information about Roofing Day in D.C. 2020, contact NRCA’s Washington, D.C., office at (800) 338-5765 or visit www.nrca.net/advocacy/roofingday.

The nine most reassuring words in the English language just might be: “I’m a roofing professional, and I’m here to help.”