Media
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House Democrats to Introduce Infrastructure Proposal
A proposal to improve the nation’s infrastructure and surface transportation will be unveiled by House Democratic leaders next week – as the House Ways and Means Committee considers how to pay for it during a Jan. 29 hearing on “Paving the Way for Funding and Financing Infrastructure Investments.”Full story: House Democrats to Introduce Infrastructure Proposal -
U.S. Labor Department Adopts “Joint Employer” Rule, Returns to “Direct and Immediate Control” Standard
The Labor Department on Jan. 12 released its final “joint employer” rule, returning to a standard where businesses can only be held responsible for workplace violations and collective bargaining obligations regarding workers over which they have “direct and immediate” control.Full story: U.S. Labor Department Adopts “Joint Employer” Rule, Returns to “Direct and Immediate Control” Standard -
Treasury Issues Final Regulations Affecting National Security Concerns Over Foreign Investment, Including Real Estate Transactions
The Treasury Department on Jan. 13 issued two final regulations that increase the U.S. executive branch's ability to address national security concerns arising from certain foreign investments, including real estate transactions.Full story: Treasury Issues Final Regulations Affecting National Security Concerns Over Foreign Investment, Including Real Estate Transactions -
Roundtable Submits Comments to HUD on Barriers to Affordable Housing Development; NMHC Releases 2020 Outlook on States’ Rent Control Efforts
The Real Estate Roundtable submitted today a suite of policy suggestions to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to improve access to affordable housing. The comments respond to HUD’s Request for Information seeking public feedback on laws, regulations, land use requirements and administrative practices posing barriers to housing affordability and availability.Full story: Roundtable Submits Comments to HUD on Barriers to Affordable Housing Development; NMHC Releases 2020 Outlook on States’ Rent Control Efforts -
Industry and Federal Agencies Share Threat Information Amid Recent International Tensions and Homeland Security Concerns
During recent military actions between the United States and Iran, the real estate industry engaged in intensive information-sharing efforts with government agencies on a variety of homeland security concerns.Full story: Industry and Federal Agencies Share Threat Information Amid Recent International Tensions and Homeland Security Concerns -
Trump Administration Proposes Changes to Environmental Reviews to Speed Federal Infrastructure Projects
The Trump Administration – in a continuing effort to streamline government approvals of major infrastructure projects such as highways, airports, tunnels and pipelines – yesterday proposed the most significant changes in over four decades to federal-level environmental review requirements.Full story: Trump Administration Proposes Changes to Environmental Reviews to Speed Federal Infrastructure Projects -
House Democrats Outline Climate Legislation, Address Buildings and Energy Efficiency
House Democrats on Jan. 8 released a legislative framework on climate policy that addresses buildings and energy efficiency among its sector-specific proposals. The goal for the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for Our Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act is to achieve overall net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) for the United States by 2050.Full story: House Democrats Outline Climate Legislation, Address Buildings and Energy Efficiency -
Seven-Year TRIA Reauthorization Passed as Part of $1.4 Trillion Spending Bill
A seven-year reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) was approved this week by the House and Senate as part of a year-end funding bill (H.R. 1865). The provision reauthorizes TRIA through 2027, a year ahead of its slated sunset date of Dec. 31, 2020. (TRIA provisions on pages 1233–1236 of the year-end funding legislation).Full story: Seven-Year TRIA Reauthorization Passed as Part of $1.4 Trillion Spending Bill -
Final Opportunity Zones Regulations Remove Uncertainty, Should Mobilize Real Estate Investment in Low-Income Communities
The Treasury Department yesterday released final regulations implementing Opportunity Zones (OZ) tax incentives. The details of the 544 pages of regulations are still under review, but the highly anticipated rules appear to embrace key Roundtable recommendations aimed at spurring capital formation and economic development in low-income communities. (Roundtable comment letter, July 1, 2019)Full story: Final Opportunity Zones Regulations Remove Uncertainty, Should Mobilize Real Estate Investment in Low-Income Communities -
Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer Recognized Among “The Hill’s Top Lobbyists 2019”
The Washington, DC policy news publication The Hill on Dec. 12 released its annual Top Lobbyists list, with includes The Real Estate Roundtable’s President and CEO, Jeffrey DeBoer. The list recognizes several Washington industry representatives for their 2019 advocacy efforts and recognizes “the people who wielded their clout and knowledge most effectively on behalf of their clients,” according to the publication.Full story: Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer Recognized Among “The Hill’s Top Lobbyists 2019” -
Bipartisan Senate Letter Urges Treasury to Withdraw IRS Notice Hindering Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Estate
This week, 11 Senators sent a bipartisan letter urging Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to withdrawal section 2 of IRS Notice 2007-55, which applies U.S. capital gains tax to certain types of inbound real estate investment transactions that were previously treated as nontaxable under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA). (Roundtable background on FIRPTA)Full story: Bipartisan Senate Letter Urges Treasury to Withdraw IRS Notice Hindering Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Estate -
Congress Reaches Spending Deal to Avert Shutdown; Roundtable and Business Coalition Urge Year-End TRIA Reauthorization
A bipartisan spending deal to fund the government before a Dec. 20 deadline has been agreed to in principle, with details and a vote expected next week, according to top congressional lawmakers.Full story: Congress Reaches Spending Deal to Avert Shutdown; Roundtable and Business Coalition Urge Year-End TRIA Reauthorization -
Year-End Tax Package Uncertain; House Ways & Means Votes to Suspend Cap on State and Local Tax Deduction
Prospects for a year-end tax bill are uncertain as congressional leadership and the Trump Administration expect to reveal details of a nearly $1.4 trillion FY2020 spending deal next week. Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee on Dec. 11 approved a temporary suspension of the $10,000 deduction cap on state and local taxes (SALT) enacted in the 2017 tax reform bill.Full story: Year-End Tax Package Uncertain; House Ways & Means Votes to Suspend Cap on State and Local Tax Deduction -
White House Reviewing Final OZ Tax Regulations; Senate Legislation Introduced on Reporting Requirements
The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is reviewing a set of highly anticipated final rules for the Opportunity Zones program created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, according to a Dec. 6 OMB notice. The rules will address requirements of qualified opportunity funds that invest in opportunity zones (OZs).Full story: White House Reviewing Final OZ Tax Regulations; Senate Legislation Introduced on Reporting Requirements -
IRS Delays and Modifies Several New Partnership Tax Reporting Requirements
Responding to concerns raised by The Real Estate Roundtable and others, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on Dec. 9 issued Notice 2019-66 modifying and postponing several proposed changes to partnership tax reporting requirements.Full story: IRS Delays and Modifies Several New Partnership Tax Reporting Requirements -
The Roundtable Recognized as Leading Industry “Influencer” by Real Estate Forum Magazine
The Real Estate Roundtable is featured as one of the industry’s “Influencers in Marketing and Communications” in the November / December issue of Real Estate Forum magazine published this week.Full story: The Roundtable Recognized as Leading Industry “Influencer” by Real Estate Forum Magazine -
HUD Requests Stakeholder Comments on Barriers to Affordable Housing
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Nov. 22 published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on Federal, State, local, and Tribal laws, regulations, land use requirements, and administrative practices that may pose barriers to affordable housing development.Full story: HUD Requests Stakeholder Comments on Barriers to Affordable Housing -
Tax Measures and TRIA Among Year-End Policy Rush
Congress faces a Dec. 20 deadline to fund the government or risk a shutdown as the impeachment process continues in the House, with a likely trial in the Senate beginning in January.Full story: Tax Measures and TRIA Among Year-End Policy Rush -
NEWS: CRE Execs Report Solid Q4 Market Fundamentals Ease Concerns Over Economic Uncertainty and Geopolitics
Commercial real estate executives report solid fundamentals are countering concerns about economic uncertainty and geopolitics, maintaining an optimistic outlook for market conditions in 2020, according to The Real Estate Roundtable’s 2019 Q4 Economic Sentiment Index released today.Full story: NEWS: CRE Execs Report Solid Q4 Market Fundamentals Ease Concerns Over Economic Uncertainty and Geopolitics -
Roundtable Submits Comments to House Climate Crisis Committee; House Democrats Unveil Green Energy Tax Draft
The Roundtable submitted energy and climate policy recommendations to the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on Thursday, while members of the House Ways and Means Committee unveiled a draft legislative package of more than 20 energy tax incentives – including incentives to promote commercial and residential building energy efficiency.Full story: Roundtable Submits Comments to House Climate Crisis Committee; House Democrats Unveil Green Energy Tax Draft