U.S. House approves Concrete Masonry Products Promotion Act

Words: Clare RammingerOn the opening day of the lame duck session of the 114 th Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved HR 985, the Concrete Masonry Products, Research, Education and Promotion Act of 2015 by a vote of 355 to 38.

The legislation provides authorization for the concrete masonry industry to pursue the creation of an industry-wide commodity check-off program. Such programs have successfully enabled other industries to pool resources to support market development efforts related to the commodity products that they produce.

“The attributes of concrete masonry are well suited to constructing modern, high-performing buildings. A concrete masonry check-off program will simply enable our industry to better organize to promote those values to the marketplace,” said NCMA Chairman of the Board Patrick Sauter of Kings Material LLC. “This is an important step in achieving the necessary authorization for the program before we can present the program for final approval by the concrete masonry manufacturing companies operating in America.”

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) sponsored the bill and were successful in compiling an impressive co-sponsor list of 247 House representatives that was balanced with nearly equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. The co-sponsor list was indicative of active grassroots effort on behalf of the concrete masonry industry, which has small manufacturing plants in every state in the country and in most congressional districts.

For more information, contact Clare Ramminger, Check-off Program Coordinator.
About: Legislative
Designing Masonry Openings Without Compromising Aesthetics
July 2026

One of masonry's greatest strengths is its ability to create visually striking architecture. From arches and deep reveals to decorative brick detailing, masonry provides texture, depth, and character that continue to inspire architects today. As buildin

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More
Restoring the Breath of the Building: The Life-Saving Science Behind Historic Masonry Repairs
July 2026

When I first set out to become a historic preservation and restoration mason, I imagined that most of my trade would involve repairing the effects of old age. Instead, 99 percent of my work is attempting to stabilize and reverse damage caused by recent an

Technical Talks
Read More
Laying the Foundation for the Future: Workforce Development at the Arizona Masonry Council
July 2026

For generations, masonry has been built on a simple but powerful principle: knowledge passed from one set of hands to the next. In Arizona, the Arizona Masonry Council (AMC) is working to ensure that tradition continues by investing in one of the industr

Dawn Rogers
Industry News
Read More
Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More