Why It Matters
The Brick Industry Association’s decision to hire Vogel Group LLC and lobbyist Stephen A. Borg signals a strategic pivot toward international trade and tariff policy after ending a 12-year partnership with LobbyIt.com focused on domestic manufacturing issues.
The timing is consequential as Congress debates American manufacturing policy, with legislation like the Foreign Pollution Fee Act of 2025 offering potential protections for domestic brick manufacturers through pollution-based import fees. However, the industry faces competition from builders concerned about material costs and larger competitors like CEMEX and Holcim already heavily engaged on trade issues.
Borg brings directly relevant experience from representing the Mason Contractors Association of America on trade issues and his former role as Chief of Staff to Rep. Tim Johnson (R-IL). Combined with Vogel Group’s specialized trade practice, the Association is now positioned to engage on tariff disputes and manufacturing competitiveness standards central to the 119th Congress.
By the Numbers
The Association’s lobbying history spans two decades. Its most significant partnership was with LobbyIt.com from 2013-2024, generating 48 filings totaling $920,000 on domestic manufacturing and transportation issues.
Previous engagements included in-house lobbying (2008-2012) on labor regulations and EPA rules, Crowell & Moring LLP (2006-2010) on labor and mine safety, and Reed Smith LLP (2003-2008) on EPA emissions policy.
Stephen A. Borg brings over 11 years of House experience as former Chief of Staff to Rep. Tim Johnson (R-IL-15), plus decade-long representation of construction industry clients on workforce and trade issues.
The Agenda
The Brick Industry Association is lobbying on manufacturing policy and international trade policy beginning in 2025, marking a strategic shift from its previous broad domestic focus to specialized trade challenges.
The timing aligns with active congressional debate over domestic manufacturing competitiveness. The Foreign Pollution Fee Act of 2025 presents a key opportunity, imposing fees on imported products based on pollution intensity—potentially benefiting domestic brick manufacturers operating under stricter environmental standards.
Congress is holding multiple hearings on manufacturing resilience, including the Senate Finance Committee’s "The President’s 2025 Trade Policy Agenda" and House Oversight’s "Made in the USA: Igniting the Industrial Renaissance of the United States."
Broader Context
Congressional hearings reveal sharp divisions on manufacturing policy. Rep. Adam Smith warns that broad construction material tariffs act as a tax on consumers, while Rep. Chris Deluzio advocates for targeted tariffs against unfair trade practices combined with federal investment.
The domestic industry faces real pressures. Rep. Ro Khanna highlighted a General Shale brick plant closure due to decreased demand, underscoring production vulnerabilities and creating arguments for supportive federal policies.
The broader building materials sector is heavily mobilized. CEMEX and Holcim maintain substantial lobbying operations on overlapping trade and tariff issues, with Holcim spending $50,000 in Q3 2025 explicitly targeting trade policies affecting building materials.
The Bottom Line
The Association’s strategic shift toward specialized trade advocacy reflects mounting competitive pressures from imports and evolving environmental regulations. While the timing aligns with favorable congressional debates and emerging legislation, success will depend on distinguishing brick industry interests amid tensions between trade protection goals and housing affordability concerns, plus competition from larger, well-resourced building materials companies already dominating the trade policy space.
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