Silica call to action

Words: Jeff BuczkiewiczThe Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is working to try to get language into a House bill that would support Senate bill language to require OSHA to do more research and prove the need for the new silica legislation. We ask that you contact your Congressman today and ask them to sign on to a letter being drafted by Congressman Huizenga which would encourage the House Appropriations committee to include the language.

The sample below is a guide; you should feel free to add your own story about silica and how it will impact your company, your community, and your employees. You can view the MCAA position paper for reference as well. Please ask for the staff person who handles labor and appropriations for the Member of Congress.

We appreciate your help in getting support for this letter. This may be our last opportunity to try to get this included.

Sample Phone Call

Hello, my name is ___________________ and I am calling as a member of the Mason Contractors Association of America who lives in ___________________ (city, state).

I am calling with an important request for the Congressman / Congresswoman to sign onto a letter circulated by Rep. Bill Huizenga to the House Appropriations Committee requesting language be included in the FY17 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill that would ensure the Department of Labor answers pertinent questions before they finalize or enforce any new regulations related to silica exposure limits.

By now I am sure you have heard from numerous industries, including my industry, on how destructive this new proposed rule will be. This regulation would decimate the masonry and construction industry to the tune of $5 billion per year and in many ways is not technologically feasible. This is likely the last chance we have to slow OSHA and the Department of Labor down and we need your boss to sign this letter.

For questions of Rep. Huizenga's office please reach out to Nate Bult.

Thank you!
If you need help identifying your Congressman, please visit our website or contact our office at 800-536-2225. If you reach your Congressman's office, please let Jeff Buczkiewicz know. You can send him an e-mail at jeffb@masoncontractors.org.
About: Legislative
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
What Mason Contractors Don't Know Is Costing Them Money
July 2026

Most mason contractors can tell you exactly what a job should cost before it starts. Bid labor hours, material takeoffs, and crew rates per square foot. The numbers are on paper, and they look right. What most can't tell you is whether those numbers held

Erin Koets
Build Smart
MAP Partner
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
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →