NAR applauds commitment to qualified opportunity zones program in State of the Union

WASHINGTON — Vince Malta, president of the National Association of Realtors, responded to the recent State of the Union address after President Donald Trump reiterated his support for the opportunity zones program and for bipartisan infrastructure reform. NAR also stressed its ongoing defense of the Department of Labor’s association-health-plans rule following the president’s pledge to expand new health care options for American families.

“NAR has worked closely with the administration and Congress to ensure successful implementation of qualified opportunity zones — and today, that program is spurring valuable real estate development in countless underserved communities,” said Malta, broker at Malta & Co. in San Francisco. “Realtors were pleased to hear the president reiterate this commitment, and we look forward to working with the administration in support of these and other bipartisan priorities, including infrastructure modernization.

“In addition, as legal fights surrounding the DOL’s association-health-plans rule continue, NAR maintains our commitment to defending all potential coverage options for independent contractors, small-business owners and the 1.4 million Realtors nationwide.

“Ultimately, there is no factor more important to American prosperity, health and stability than its housing market. While we push for numerous policy solutions in 2020, fostering a climate in which the U.S. housing market can continue to strengthen and thereby help further expand the economy will remain NAR’s top priority.”