Um, yeah. With Trump ready to assume the role of President for his second term, albeit not consecutively, other than the renaming the Gulf of America, how much can we “read the room” as to changes in policies, rhetoric or general feeling moving forward to things that relate to the PHVAC industry? We recently caught Read more
water heating
Um, yeah. With Trump ready to assume the role of President for his second term, albeit not consecutively, other than the renaming the Gulf of America, how much can we “read the room” as to changes in policies, rhetoric or general feeling moving forward to things that relate to the PHVAC industry? We recently caught with Mark Velentini, VP of Legislative Affairs at the PHCC-National Association, and Charles White, VP Regulatory Affairs at the PHCC-National Association—affectionately known as the “Chuck & Mark Show” by the PHCC—as they have their finger on the pulse of DC.
MH: We can kind of gauge what sort of policies/governance may come out of Trump’s term based on his first term, but how do you think the second time around will affect the plumbing industry in general?
Mark Valentini
VALENTINI: A Republican Congress and administration will bode well on energy policy as PHCC members confront bans and restrictions on natural gas connections and appliances across the country. This will also bode well for tax policy as certain provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 are set to expire which have been beneficial for many contractors, especially when considering Congress revisiting the corporate tax rate and potentially lowering it to 15% down from 21%.
MH: Does a more deregulated government mean more uphill battles for water/energy efficiency?
Charles White
WHITE: I think the previous Trump Administration showed us uphill battles when agencies were directed to create exempt categories like small cycle dishwashers and such. It is likely that the second Trump Administration will take these actions to the next level by moving to rewrite the underlying legislation. Having said that, the efficiency efforts will then move to the progressive states rather than being federal actions, we will probably not see much regression to less efficient standards and the high population states like California and New York will likely drive the industry to higher efficiency products.
MH: Do you think there may be changes to things like the Inflation Reduction Act or Infrastructure Bill or is that pretty much hands off at this point?
VALENTINI: It is rather early to tell, IIJA has been around for some time now and may be hard to change. The IRA has so many parts, that makes it hard to consider in one piece. Tax credits like Section 25c could be pretty safe but the HOMES and HEARS Acts may not be as safe since they represent almost $9 billion.
WHITE: Most of HOMES and HEARS programs have yet to roll out which could make them a prime target but since they have a low- and moderate-income focus, there may be an optics issue to remove those acts. The issues are complicated, but PHCC has been cautiously supportive of the IRA since much of that program flows to plumbing and HVAC contractors.
MH: What is the climate from your constituency? In other words, what are you hearing about this new election cycle—positivity, negativity or a wait and see approach?
VALENTINI: Positivity but also wait and see. PHCC must be vigilant on workforce policy as the new government may reconsider industry-recognized apprenticeships which risk watering-down training by compartmentalizing it into credentialing—contractors need skilled workers with a holistic skillset, not workers who are certified in a handful of specific tasks.
MH: How do interest rates come into play here?
VALENTINI: Lower interest rates bode well for real estate, which in turn bodes well for new construction, service, and remodeling work.
MH: From what I recall, Trump’s 1st term was pro-trades? Do you have any indication this will continue?
WHITE: While President Trump’s first term had support from the trade’s rank and file, the Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Rule received more negative public comments than perhaps any other rule. Those negative comments came overwhelmingly from those same rank and file workers. Polling data throughout the election shows that the President-elect enjoyed substantial support from skilled blue-collar workers, but his future actions must support their jobs in the workforce.
MH: Does anything change on the union front?
VALENTINI: That’s a sensitive question. I would venture to say that Teamsters and other labor groups that withheld endorsements are reading the room when it comes to their rank-and-file.
MH: Please give examples of any changes/addendums/eliminations to specific policies moving forward, if applicable. (i.e. Clean Water Act)
VALENTINI: We can expect to see legislation on tax reform and energy in the new Congress. Tight margins particularly in the House will require all Republicans to be on board to pass anything.
WHITE: It is possible that the new administration will review regulations that are currently in litigation, like the residential gas furnace rule, and perhaps decide to pull back those rules for revisions. This could also affect decisions on whether to appeal adverse court rulings such as the recent ruling against the DOL Overtime Rule.
https://vimeo.com/1043475838 Can you believe we made it to 2025? This week we’ll talk AHR, because don’t look now, we’re a month out from the biggest industry event of the year. We’ll also talk hoarders or a messy work areas in a customer’s home. And, of course, new podcasts, which drop every Tuesday. Weekly Links Read more
Can you believe we made it to 2025? This week we’ll talk AHR, because don’t look now, we’re a month out from the biggest industry event of the year. We’ll also talk hoarders or a messy work areas in a customer’s home. And, of course, new podcasts, which drop every Tuesday.
Weekly Links:
Solar-powered Evaporative Cooling
Solar-powered Evaporative Cooling Tower, Another Weapon in the Arsenal to Reduce Energy Costs
Heat Pump Water Heaters
When Hoarders Strike?
https://www.instagram.com/p/DENJ69YR7_U/
Podcasts
https://vimeo.com/1038401163 Welcome back to our weekly update. Another Friday the 13th? Oooph. I hope everyone gets through the day without any black cats, walking under ladders, you know the drill. What are you superstitious about? We hope you have a great day, nonetheless. On this update, we’ll talk heat pump water heaters, the effects of Read more
Welcome back to our weekly update. Another Friday the 13th? Oooph. I hope everyone gets through the day without any black cats, walking under ladders, you know the drill. What are you superstitious about? We hope you have a great day, nonetheless. On this update, we’ll talk heat pump water heaters, the effects of potential tariffs from the new president, and our new podcasts.
Leading manufacturer partners with charitable organizations in Pennsylvania and Michigan this Thanksgiving, committing $25,000 in donations Ambler, Pa. — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, is providing much needed support for three charitable organizations this Thanksgiving season, including Jaws Youth Playbook, Mel Trotter Ministries and Philabundance. The company’s Read more
Leading manufacturer partners with charitable organizations in Pennsylvania and Michigan this Thanksgiving, committing $25,000 in donations
Ambler, Pa. — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, is providing much needed support for three charitable organizations this Thanksgiving season, including Jaws Youth Playbook, Mel Trotter Ministries and Philabundance. The company’s charitable contributions include both monetary support and employees volunteering their time.
“At Bradford White, we manufacture water heating products that provide families with access to essential hot water for their health, safety and comfort,” said Rebecca Owens, senior communications manager at Bradford White Corporation. “That said, we recognize that too many families and individuals have even greater concerns this holiday season, like having enough to eat. Through our support, our hope is that we lessen the worry over food for our communities and honor the true meaning of Thanksgiving.”
Leading manufacturer Bradford White Corporation sponsors Ron Jaworski’s (pictured, right) Jaws Youth Playbook Turkey Drive along with other charities in Pennsylvania and Michigan to support the fight against hunger this Thanksgiving.
Once again, the company is partnering with former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski and his foundation Jaws Youth Playbook. Their $5,000 donation supports a Thanksgiving Turkey Drive where full meals will be distributed to families in need across Philadelphia.
Bradford White is also excited to sponsor this year’s Camp Out for Hunger, and provide a $10,000 donation to Philabundance, the beneficiary of the event. Each year, local Philadelphia radio hosts Preston & Steve “camp out” at the Wells Fargo Center complex for a week, broadcasting live and encouraging donations of food or funds to Philabundance.
Plus, this year employees at Bradford White’s headquarters in Ambler, PA, will be hosting a food drive and donating the collected items to Camp Out for Hunger in support of Philabundance, whose mission is to drive hunger from communities today and to end hunger for good.
Bradford White’s contribution to Mel Trotter Ministries in Middleville, MI, includes both time and treasure for the Thanksgiving Community Meal at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, MI. Their $10,000 donation allows many unhoused individuals and families to eat a full meal around a community table on Thanksgiving. In addition, 25 Middleville employees and their families plan to volunteer at the event.
“We love being a part of the communities where we live and work and believe that no one in them should have to go hungry,” Owens said. “We’re so thankful that organizations like these exist, and being able to partner with them and brighten Thanksgiving for our neighbors in need is a meaningful way to kick off the holiday season.”
For more information about Bradford White Corporation, visit https://www.bradfordwhitecorporation.com.
Trusted manufacturer renews support with $17,000 grant to expand nonprofit’s educational outreach in raising awareness of skilled trades opportunities. Ambler, Pa. — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, has partnered with Explore The Trades for the second year in a row as they continue to bridge the technical Read more
Trusted manufacturer renews support with $17,000 grant to expand nonprofit’s educational outreach in raising awareness of skilled trades opportunities.
Ambler, Pa. — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, has partnered with Explore The Trades for the second year in a row as they continue to bridge the technical talent gap by raising awareness of career opportunities in the skilled trades and support the next generation of industry professionals.
Explore The Trades, founded in 2005, is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the trades with students in kindergarten through 12th grade throughout the United States and Canada. Through educational resources, the organization’s mission is to give educators, students and parents a foundational understanding of the plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical trades.
Philadelphia’s Mayfair Elementary School has been able to provide materials to students interested in the skilled trades thanks to the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grant program.
Through a grant from its Industry Forward® charitable giving program, Bradford White Corporation is donating $17,000 to Explore The Trades to support the organization’s expansion of its poster kit program, which has delivered more than 3,500 kits to North American classrooms since July 2021. The expansion includes a Spanish translation of the posters kits as well as an infographic series aimed at ages 5-11.
“We’ve already reached more than 700,000 students through our poster kit program — and we’re thankful for that — but widespread awareness of the trades is slow-going,” said Kate Cinnamo, executive director at Explore The Trades. “This expansion will give us the opportunity to connect with Spanish-speaking and English as a second language learners, which is so important with the K-12 Hispanic student population in the United States growing to nearly 30%. Bradford White’s support helps us reach this new audience, as well as introduce young learners to the trades in a simple, friendly way.”
Through Industry Forward®, Bradford White partners with nonprofit organizations and technical schools to educate individuals and families on the importance of the skilled trades and the role that industry professionals provide in the health, safety, sanitation, and infrastructure of their communities through strategic grant funding that supports workforce development training and education programs and industry career opportunities, events, and partnerships.
“We’re grateful for the top-of-mind awareness Explore The Trades is bringing to skilled labor, and we’re proud to be able to help them expand their reach,” said Rebecca Owens, senior communications manager for Bradford White. “Introducing the career and financial opportunities that exist within the skilled trades to today’s youth is a vital component when it comes to staffing these essential positions in the future. We applaud organizations like Explore The Trades for ensuring that introduction is happening.”
For more information about Bradford White Corporation, visit https://www.bradfordwhitecorporation.com.
For more information about Explore The Trades, visit https://explorethetrades.org/.