On May 15, Kim Ward Bacso, Broker and owner of River Valley Realty led a contingent of Realtors® to visit the Washington, D.C. offices of NJ’s 7th Congressional District and Representative Tom Malinowski.
Kim has been designated a Federal Political Coordinator by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). The Realtor® community depends on FPCs to be their voice of real estate, and to educate policymakers on the issues critical to the industry.
Kim recently completed a four day advocacy visit to Washington, D.C. to review the legislative priorities of NAR during this congressional term, culminating with leading a meeting with The Congressman and his staff to review these priorities.
NAR supported the passing of HR5, a bill which addresses sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected class. Kim reiterated that, “This bill fits in with the Realtor® Code of Ethics, which has a commitment to equal professional services.” On May 17, Congressman Malinowski voted in favor of HR-5, which passed.
Another issue discussed was the National Flood Insurance Program and the importance of long-term re-authorization. To date, this program has had short-term renewals, and Kim explained how the long-term stability of this program is imperative clients in Lambertville, part of The Congressman’s district.
The meeting also included a discussion on Qualified Opportunity Zones, and Infrastructure and Transportation. Kim and the other agents attending this meeting made an effort to make clear the correlations of how these issues impact the homeowners in the district in tangible, real-life ways. Kim said, “My goal in this meeting was to make the connections between D.C. and our clients. For example, a highway project is more than a huge appropriation’s bill . . . it means that a parent saving 20 minutes on their commute can attend a soccer game.”
In addition to being a Federal Political Coordinator, Kim served as a NAR Director for the Hunterdon Somerset Association of Realtors® from 2015-2019, and in 2018 became a Trustee of the NJ Realtor’s® Political Action Committee, Kim adds, “As a Realtor® with 24 years’ experience, it’s exciting for me on a professional level to have these opportunities to represent my fellow Realtors®. And, as a hands-on, in-the-office-everyday, small-business-owner, this national training gives me a fuller perspective of the industry I love.”
River Valley Realty is an independently-owned, full-service company with offices in New Hope, Lambertville and Flemington. Owner Kim Ward Bacso can be reached at 908-616-2767 or Kim@RiverValleyRealtyNJ.com