FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
The 2026 MCAA Annual Online Auction is Now Open ↗

Wilhelms testifies before Energy and Commerce Committee

Words: Pamela AndersonMark Wilhelms, Vice President of Architectural Sales for Midwest Block and Brick, testified on behalf of the National Concrete Masonry Association before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce in Washington D.C.

The June 4, 2013 hearing was entitled, "Our Nation of Builders: Home Economics" and was meant to educate House members that the housing market is fundamental to the health of the national economy and impacts such industries as manufacturing, construction, contracting and home services.

Wilhelms explained that check off legislative authorization is needed for the residential market to help itself.

The "Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education and Promotion Act of 2013" (HR-1563), would give the concrete masonry industry the required federal permission to assess itself to research, educate and promote concrete masonry technologies for the good of the American public. The commodity nature of the concrete masonry industry makes this commodity check off approach the most effective means of achieving objectives.

This program would require no financial investment from the federal government and would be funded by and managed by nominated and appointed representatives from the industry with minimal government involvement; oversight only by a reimbursed Department of Commerce.

The proposed legislation does not create the program; rather, provides the opportunity for the industry to implement (and if necessary subsequently terminate) through referendum.

If you would like to view the hearing or read more about Wilhelms' testimony, click here.
About: Legislative
 0
Turning Visualization into Opportunity: How Digital Design Tools Are Supporting Today’s Masonry Contractors
April 2026

Today’s homeowners are taking a proactive approach to planning and design. Before reaching out to a contractor, many clients spend hours researching products, comparing materials, and building inspiration boards online. By the time they request a quote,

Sarah Lograsso
MAP Partner
Read More
Smarter Time Tracking on the Jobsite: Introducing Geofence Notifications and Logging in CrewTracks
April 2026

For masonry contractors, time tracking is more than just a payroll task; it’s a key part of managing crews, understanding job costs, and keeping projects running smoothly. Yet many companies still struggle with one common challenge: making sure employees

Erin Koets
MAP Partner
Read More
Outreach Outlook: Building Momentum Across the Southern Region
April 2026

As April arrives, the pace of our outreach and workforce efforts across the Southern Region reaches a new level of intensity. This is the time of year when our programs, partners, and state collaborators all accelerate at once. SkillsUSA competitions are

Conner Birdsong
Outreach Outlook
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Elbphilharmonie
April 2026

Most people know the Elbphilharmonie for its glass façade and dramatic roofline. From a distance, that’s what defines the skyline in Hamburg’s HafenCity district. But for masonry contractors and suppliers, the real story starts at the base.

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More