Alicia Huey, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), released a statement about President Biden's use of the Defense Production Ac in which she expressed disappointment over the act's influence to boost the production of electric heaters. In her statement, Huey emphasized that the Act's purpose is to ensure the supply of materials and services for the protection of the American people, not to advance a specific political agenda.

 
Huey highlighted a pressing issue in the housing sector, noting a severe shortage of distribution transformers that has hindered housing development, exacerbated affordability challenges, and impeded recovery efforts in areas affected by natural disasters.

"For the past few years, there has been an extreme shortage of distribution transformers that have prevented the construction of badly needed housing developments, exacerbated the nation's housing affordability crisis and frustrated recovery efforts in communities hit by natural disasters," said Alicia Huey.

NAHB has consistently advocated for the administration to utilize the Defense Production Act to address the growing supply chain crisis related to distribution transformers. These transformers are crucial components of the electrical grid that supply power to homes and businesses.

Huey also emphasized that jumpstarting the production of these transformers should be a national priority, aligning with the original intent of the Defense Production Act. She urged President Biden to reconsider the focus on electric heaters and allocate funding under the Act to address the critical shortage of transformers, which is impacting the nation's housing sector.

https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2023/11/statement-from-nahb-chairman-alicia-huey-on-bidens-use-of-the-defense-production-act