Government Relations
Legislation to Support Building Safety Re-introduced
A federal grant program to assist communities across the country as they adopt and administer construction safety codes that protect property and the public has been re-introduced in the U.S. Congress with bipartisan support. The House passed a similar measure in the last legislative session, but the measure derailed as Congress turned its attention to battling the economic crisis.
The Code Council has been working across the country to enhance the public awareness of the role of America’s building and fire code officials. These dedicated professionals are at work daily but are not always as visible or publicly recognized and appreciated as other public safety officials. We need your help. Please write to your Representatives and Senators requesting their support for the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act.
“The aim of the program is to provide desperately needed resources to many vulnerable communities that do not have the trained personnel or tools to translate safety codes into compliance,” said International Code Council CEO Richard P. Weiland. “In too many communities, there simply aren’t enough resources for building safety. This legislation will provide the needed resources.”
New legislation (S 970) to establish a competitive grant program in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help local governments with enforcement of residential, building, fire, energy, plumbing and related codes was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT). A companion bill (HR 2246) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Dennis Moore (D-KS), Judy Biggert (R-IL) and Dina Titus (D-NV).
“The measure’s sponsors could not have offered a more fitting tribute to code officials during Building Safety Week 2009,” said Adolf Zubia, the Council’s Board President and Las Cruces, New Mexico, Fire Chief. “The grant will support the vital role code enforcement plays to protect the public through implementation of building and fire safety.”
The Community Building Code Administration Grant Act authorizes $20 million annually from 2010 to 2014 for the grant program. For every $1 the federal government spends on enforcement of federal standards on mitigation and flood elevations, taxpayers save nearly $4 in disaster assistance costs. A study by the World Watch Institute said that every dollar spent on disaster mitigation and preparedness saves $7 in disaster-related economic loss. Other economic benefits of building to the latest codes can include energy savings, reduced maintenance costs, lower insurance premiums and fewer safety concerns.
“We salute the Senators and Representatives who introduced the measure in the Senate and House that will benefit public safety, and governments and property owners who bear the costs to recover from disasters,” Weiland said.
In addition to the International Code Council, other supporters of the grant include the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the International Fire Code Council, the Alliance to Save Energy and the National Institute of Building Sciences.
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Senior Vice President, Government Relations
Vice President of Federal and External Relations
The ICC Government Relations Department acts as a nonpartisan body working with the Federal, state and local governments to educate and inform decision makers on relevant public safety matters. Code Council members should be sure to comply with all applicable Federal, state and local laws, rules and agency regulations when participating in the activities of the Code Council's Government Relations Department.
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