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Independent Contractors' Employers Face Scrutiny Incentivized by federal grants from the Department of Labor, states are focus- ing on misclassifcation of independent contractors by employers. Agreeing that such an incentive is fundamen- tally inappropriate for a government agency, NAHB along with trade asso- ciation partners recently sent a letter to Congress urging the elimination of this program in the next Congressional funding cycle. NAHB ofers a state- by-state guide to help employers understand the laws which determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee. Available at nahb.org/en/research/legal-issues/in- dependent-contractors-state-by-state. Reform Legislation in Congress Advocates Fair Play in Energy Codes Energy codes are updated every three years, and with new energy efcient products and technologies introduced every day, the role of the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) in the development of model building energy codes is more important than ever. With fairness in mind, recent NAHB-supported legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to prohibit the DOE from advocating on behalf of certain products and technologies during the code development process and requir- ing any code or proposal supported by the DOE to have a simple payback of 10 years or less. This bill is being incorporated into a larger, comprehen- sive energy bill expected to be on the House foor this summer, and NAHB is working with the U.S. Senate to bring proposed legislation more in-line with the House bill. Nissa Hiatt is the communications man- ager for NAHB Remodelers, the remod- eling arm of the National Association of Home Builders representing the more than 55,000 members who are involved in the remodeling industry. Learn more at nahb.org/remodelers. DISTRIBUTOR NEWS Versatex Increases Plant and Sales Force In response to increased demand for trim products, Versatex Building Products LLC is expanding its sales force and plant capacity, based in Aliquippa, Pa. The 45,000-sq.-ft. addi- tion, scheduled to be completed later this year, will be large enough to house enough extrusion capacity to meet the needs of the growing housing market and double the company's current out- put. Newly hired market development specialists will be across populated areas of the eastern U.S. to support the stocking dealer network. Johns Manville Receives Accolades Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company, has been named "Supplier of the Year" for 2015 by Insulate America, Inc. JM has received this honor three years in a row, having previously accepted the award in 2013 and 2014. Insulate America's "Supplier of the Year" award recognizes companies for the overall value they provide to the organization through technical exper- tise, customer support in the feld and lead referrals. Gerber Expands U.S. Operations Gerber has expanded its domestic assembly and light manufacturing facilities in Laredo, Texas. Gerber has had an operational presence in the U.S. since 1932 and specifcally in Laredo since 2003. The Laredo team can now enjoy nearly 40 percent addition- al space. The operation focuses on assembling faucets, accessories and bath drains in addition to light man- ufacturing jobs such as cutting and threading its brass tubing. The new facility will allow the team to handle even more product SKUs of brass as- sembly starting the frst part of August. With the enhanced location, Gerber will be able to improve lead times and responsiveness. QualifiedRemodeler.com | ForResidentialPros.com QR July 2015 13 IN BRIEF FROM c O ncRete RePAIR tO One-OF- A-KI n D MASOnRY WORK, tHeRe'S A SAKR ete ® SOLUtIOn FOR ALL YOUR cOncRete PROJectS. Faster than ordinary concrete, SAKRete ® Fast-Setting concrete Mix lets you set posts and poles in 30 minutes without mixing or bracing – simply pour it in the hole and add water. the originator of pre-mixed bagged concrete and the frst company to provide concrete specifed for strength, not proportion, SAKRETE ® has offered innovative solutions longer than any other brand. Let us help you fnd the right product for your project. Visit us at sakrete.com or call 866-725-7383. SAKRETE ® is a registered trademark of Oldcastle Company. YOU'VE GOT A PROJECT. For more info circle 46