[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7826-H7829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FEDERAL BUILDINGS PERSONNEL TRAINING ACT OF 2010

  Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 3250) to provide for the training of Federal building 
personnel, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3250

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Buildings Personnel 
     Training Act of 2010''.

     SEC. 2. TRAINING OF FEDERAL BUILDING PERSONNEL.

       (a) Identification of Core Competencies.--Not later than 18 
     months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually 
     thereafter, the Administrator of General Services, in 
     consultation with representatives of relevant professional 
     societies, industry associations, and apprenticeship training 
     providers, and after providing notice and an opportunity for 
     comment, shall identify the core competencies necessary for 
     Federal personnel performing building operations and 
     maintenance, energy management, safety, and design functions 
     to comply with requirements under Federal law. The core 
     competencies identified shall include competencies relating 
     to building operations and maintenance, energy management, 
     sustainability, water efficiency, safety (including 
     electrical safety), and building performance measures.
       (b) Designation of Relevant Courses, Certifications, 
     Degrees, Licenses, and Registrations.--The Administrator, in 
     consultation with representatives of relevant professional 
     societies, industry associations, and apprenticeship training 
     providers, shall identify a course, certification, degree, 
     license, or registration to demonstrate each core competency, 
     and for ongoing training with respect to each core 
     competency, identified for a category of personnel specified 
     in subsection (a).
       (c) Identified Competencies.--An individual shall 
     demonstrate each core competency identified by the 
     Administrator under subsection (a) for the category of 
     personnel that includes such individual. An individual shall 
     demonstrate each core competency through the means identified 
     under subsection (b) not later than one year after the date 
     on which such core competency is identified under subsection 
     (a) or, if the date of hire of such individual occurs after 
     the date of such identification, not later than one year 
     after such date of hire. In the case of an individual hired 
     for an employment period not to exceed one year, such 
     individual shall demonstrate each core competency at the 
     start of the employment period.
       (d) Continuing Education.--The Administrator, in 
     consultation with representatives of relevant professional 
     societies, industry associations, and apprenticeship training 
     providers, shall develop or identify comprehensive continuing 
     education courses to ensure the operation of Federal 
     buildings in accordance with industry best practices and 
     standards.
       (e) Curriculum With Respect to Facility Management and 
     Operation of High-Performance Buildings.--Not later than 18 
     months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually 
     thereafter, the Administrator, acting through the head of the 
     Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings, and the 
     Secretary of Energy, acting through the head of the Office of 
     Commercial High-Performance Green Buildings, in consultation 
     with the heads of other appropriate Federal departments and 
     agencies and representatives of relevant professional 
     societies, industry associations, and apprenticeship training 
     providers, shall develop a recommended curriculum relating to 
     facility management and the operation of high-performance 
     buildings.
       (f) Applicability of This Section to Functions Performed 
     Under Contract.--Training requirements under this section 
     shall apply to non-Federal personnel performing building 
     operations and maintenance, energy management, safety, and 
     design functions under a contract with a Federal department 
     or agency. A contractor shall provide training to, and 
     certify the demonstration of core competencies for, non-
     Federal personnel in a manner that is approved by the 
     Administrator.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Carnahan) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-
Balart) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 3250.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 3250. This bill 
has bipartisan sponsorships in the Senate by Senators Carper and 
Collins. It is the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act. The 
legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent, and it is identical 
to H.R. 5112, introduced by me and my Republican colleague, 
Representative Judy Biggert of Illinois. The bill also passed out of 
the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on a voice vote.
  At a time when many people are tired of partisan gridlock here in 
Washington, I believe this legislation is a good example of what we can 
do when we work across the aisle to accomplish commonsense legislation 
that will safeguard taxpayer investments, will provide certainty to 
small business and, most importantly, will save taxpayers money.

                              {time}  1650

  Madam Speaker, when we invest in our Federal facilities, we also need 
to invest in the people operating and maintaining them. The American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act included a substantial investment of $5.5 
billion apportioned to the GSA to upgrade its facilities. In order to 
safeguard this substantial investment, I want to ensure that GSA and 
other Federal agencies have the tools necessary to properly maintain 
and operate these buildings at their highest performance levels.
  Late last year, a Government Accountability Office report found that 
a lack of proper expertise and training was a major challenge for the 
Federal Government in reaching its energy reduction goals. This 
legislation will fill the training gap. Most importantly, by filling 
the training gap, the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act will 
save taxpayer dollars on operations and maintenance costs.
  The Federal Government currently consumes about 2 percent of the 
Nation's total energy, or about $17.5 billion in annual energy costs. 
The potential for cost savings here is huge. In fact, a recent study by 
the International Facility Management Association showed that for every 
dollar spent on facility management training, organizations reported 
receiving an average of $3.95 in return. If we are to be responsible 
stewards of taxpayer dollars, in addition to investing in energy-
efficient buildings, we must invest in the people maintaining those 
buildings so we can recoup the largest energy and cost savings 
possible.
  This legislation will help ensure that our Federal buildings are run 
in a way that maximizes their performance, assuring that they retain 
value throughout their lifecycles and that the taxpayer investments in 
these properties are both protected and leveraged to reap the cost 
savings involved with efficient operations and management.
  I want to personally thank the Republican cosponsor, my colleagues, 
Representative Pete Sessions and Representative Judy Biggert, for their 
support throughout this process. Representative Biggert and I cochair 
the High-Performance Buildings Caucus and we have continually advocated 
for the Federal Government to lead by example in high-performance 
building practices.
  I also want to give special thanks to Chairman Oberstar--for his long 
and distinguished leadership on this issue--and to Ranking Member Mica 
for their support to bring this bill to the floor.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to insert into the Record a support 
letter from over 50 of the country's leading building professionals, 
manufacturers, and small businesses. They are pleased to support this 
legislation and are poised to provide the necessary training to achieve 
both public and private sector goals.


[[Page H7827]]


                                         High-Performance Building


                               Congressional Caucus Coalition,

                                                 December 1, 2010.
     Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Minority Leader John Boehner,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Re: Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010
       Dear Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Boehner: As the 
     leading organizations involved in the design, construction, 
     operation and maintenance of buildings, we applaud Congress's 
     continued efforts to improve our nation's buildings. We are 
     particularly pleased to support H.R. 5112/S. 3250, ``Federal 
     Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010.'' In the final days 
     of the 111th Congress, we encourage passage of this important 
     legislation--it has already passed the Senate by voice vote.
       As you know, Congress and the President have established 
     stringent goals for Federal agencies to achieve reductions in 
     energy and water use and greenhouse gas emissions. Agencies 
     also have additional needs related to other high-performance 
     building attributes, including safety and security. Achieving 
     these goals requires personnel engaged in the design, 
     construction, operation and maintenance of federal buildings 
     to have the appropriate skills and training. This bill will 
     provide federal agencies with these necessary tools with no 
     significant impact on the deficit.
       Federal agencies have long been looked to as an example of 
     what can be done within the built environment. As the 
     Nation's largest holder of real estate, the Federal 
     Government has the opportunity and resources to influence the 
     development and implementation of building design, 
     construction, operations and maintenance tools, technologies 
     and practices. Federal buildings should serve as public 
     showcases and leading examples of energy efficiency and 
     indoor environmental quality (IEQ) through their design, 
     construction, equipment, and operations and maintenance.
       As both public and private sector buildings become 
     increasingly complex to meet our nation's energy and 
     environmental goals, personnel with the necessary 
     competencies will be critical to achieving these goals. The 
     undersigned organizations representing the breadth of the 
     building community including building professionals, 
     manufacturers, and small businesses, are pleased to support 
     this legislation and are poised to provide the necessary 
     training to achieve both public and private sector goals.
       We look forward to continued work with you in realizing the 
     full potential of high-performance buildings.
           Sincerely,
         National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS); American 
           Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning 
           Engineers (ASHRAE); International Facility Management 
           Association (IFMA); National Electrical Manufacturers 
           Association (NEMA); U.S. Green Building Council 
           (USGBC); International Association of Plumbing and 
           Mechanical Officials (IAPMO); Federation of American 
           Scientists (FAS); National Fire Protection Association 
           (NFPA); International Code Council (ICC); 
           Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association 
           (PIMA); American Institute of Architects (AIA); Spray 
           Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA); United Association--
           Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and HVAC Service 
           Techs; Green Mechanical Council; The Stella Group, 
           Ltd.; Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE); 
           Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA); 
           National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE); 
           BuildingInsight, LLC; American Council of Engineering 
           Companies (ACEC); Green Building Initiative (GBI); 
           Ecobuild America/AEC Science & Technology, LLC; 
           American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA); Air-
           conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute 
           (AHRI); National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC); 
           Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing (CEIR); 
           The Radiant Panel Association; Carbon Monoxide Safety 
           Association (COSA); Educational Standards Corporation 
           Institute (ESCO Institute); HVAC Excellence; Air 
           Conditioning and Refrigeration Association (AC&R); 
           Federal Performance Contracting Coalition; Sustainable 
           Buildings Industry Council (SBIC); National Insulation 
           Association (NIA); InfoComm International; Building 
           Intelligence Group; Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning 
           Contractors National Association, Inc. (SMACNA); 
           Architecture 2030; LonMark International; Environmental 
           and Energy Study Institute (EESI); American Society of 
           Civil Engineers (ASCE); BASF; EIFS Industry Members 
           Association (EIMA); Plumbing-Heating-Cooling 
           Contractors--National Association (PHCC); Johnson 
           Controls; APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities; 
           International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD); 
           The Vinyl Institute; Illuminating Engineering Society 
           (IES); DuPont; Brick Industry Association; Association 
           of Energy Engineers (AEE); Siemens.

  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  December 1, 2010 on Page H7827 the following appeared: Mr. 
LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida
  
  The online version should be corrected to read: Mr. MARIO DIAZ-
BALART of Florida


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

  Madam Speaker, this bill would require, as we have just heard, the 
General Services Administration to consult with various professional 
associations in order to establish training and certification 
requirements for Federal and private personnel who maintain Federal 
buildings. Now, the purpose of this bill is a very good one. With all 
of the taxpayer money and dollars that have been invested in the high-
performance green buildings, we obviously need to ensure that those 
maintaining them are, frankly, properly trained; otherwise, that money 
is, frankly, just thrown away. So I want to thank Representative 
Carnahan as well as--and he has mentioned also--Representative Biggert 
and Representative Sessions for their leadership and work on this 
really, really important issue.
  There are a few caveats that I just want to put out there, and we 
have had this conversation and there is no disagreement here. It is 
going to be very important, Madam Speaker, after passage of this 
legislation, that we ensure that GSA implements this appropriately. In 
particular, it would be important that GSA doesn't develop such broad 
training requirements that it becomes, frankly, too costly and 
burdensome for small businesses to be able to do that. In addition, it 
is going to be really important, Madam Speaker, for GSA to ensure that 
conflicts, potential conflicts, conflicts of interest are not created 
and that appropriate Federal laws and rules governing advice from 
private entities are strictly followed. As this bill is implemented, 
our committee will be conducting close oversight to ensure the 
requirements in this bill are carried out in a reasonable manner.
  I am not going to object to the passage of this legislation. As I 
mentioned, I want to thank the sponsors for their hard work.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the chairwoman of 
the Federal Buildings Subcommittee of Transportation, Delegate Eleanor 
Holmes Norton.
  Ms. NORTON. I thank the gentleman for yielding, but I need to thank 
him for much more, for not only sponsoring this bill, but for 
shepherding this bill. It was not always smooth sailing, but it was 
mostly smooth sailing because its underlying purpose is so clear and 
necessary. I appreciate that it has been a bipartisan bill both here 
and in the Senate. I certainly appreciate its bipartisan sponsorship by 
Representative Biggert and you, Mr. Carnahan. I know that this bill 
will be gratifying to Mr. Oberstar, who has presided over much of the 
building of the Federal inventory during his extraordinary service here 
in the House.
  May I thank my good friend, the ranking member, Mr. Diaz-Balart, with 
whom I've worked so closely and so well since I became chair, for his 
work not only on this bill but on the many bills and the many hearings 
we have held together.
  Madam Speaker, what we have to consider is that the Federal building 
inventory amounts to $43 billion of investment of the taxpayers of the 
United States over many decades. It is clearly irreplaceable. Some of 
it is familiar to us all--the buildings here in Washington, such as the 
Justice Department, or your own office building when you go home to 
invite in your constituents and to do your constituent service, the 
courthouses where you are. But there has been little investment in this 
inventory, even inventory close to home.
  We had a hearing in our subcommittee that showed scores of violations 
in the buildings of the Capitol complex, which I am pleased to say are 
now being quickly remedied, but some of them would have endangered the 
lives of the millions of people who visit the Capitol every year, not 
to mention the many thousands who live here. So this is a particularly 
gratifying piece of legislation.
  Every year, our committee approves hundreds of millions of dollars in 
projects of construction and repair and modernization, nothing, 
however, like what we have done recently. Because of the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress took the opportunity to invest 
in the updating of

[[Page H7828]]

more than $5 billion in GSA inventory which had been untouched and was 
a growing backlog. And we didn't simply invest in it by saying fix the 
roofs. We said save the taxpayers money by upgrading to state-of-the-
art energy systems so that we save the taxpayers more money than we are 
investing today and we begin to catch up on the backlog of many decades 
of disinvestment in our own priceless inventory.
  So we are upgrading these federally owned facilities with more 
energy-efficient and sustainable building components for the first time 
in memory. This investment will be important; but if we allow these 
buildings to deteriorate as so much of our inventory has, we will pour 
the investment right down the drain. That means that you now will have 
contractors, subcontractors, yes, and many employees who are being 
asked to maintain inventory that has entirely new components of the 
kind they have never had to operate and maintain before, because these 
are energy-efficient, new state-of-the-art materials.

                              {time}  1700

  In order to maintain this extraordinary investment, this once-in-a-
lifetime investment for the Congress, we will want a workforce that is 
trained and operating to keep this inventory at peak performance so 
that we don't see it deteriorate before our eyes as we have seen so 
much of the Federal inventory.
  We now know that design and construction costs, for example, 
represent only about 5 or 10 percent of the costs of a facility.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. I yield 1 additional minute to the gentlewoman.
  Ms. NORTON. But operations and maintenance represents 60 to 85 
percent of the costs of a facility over its lifetime. Look what we're 
doing here today. We've saved the taxpayer money by investing in energy 
efficiency. Now we're going to save money for all of us, and especially 
the taxpayers, by investing in what it will take, curriculum and 
training, to keep these buildings at peak performance and thereby 
maximize our investment.
  I thank the gentleman for his hard work and for yielding.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Before I recognize the following 
distinguished Member, I do want to just mention, I don't know how many 
other opportunities as ranking member I'm going to have here on the 
floor, and I just want to mention what a privilege it has been to work 
with my chairwoman. She has been, frankly, wonderful to work with. We 
have enjoyed a great working relationship, and I think that working 
relationship has really grown into a bit of a personal friendship. And 
I want to thank her for always being exceedingly courteous to me.
  And I also need to mention Chairman Oberstar. I was able to speak to 
him at length a couple days ago, and I would be remiss if I didn't 
mention how much I've enjoyed working with him.
  With that, Madam Speaker, I'd like to recognize--she's already been 
mentioned a couple of times--the gentlelady from the State of Illinois, 
Representative Biggert, for such time as she may consume.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. I thank the gentleman for yielding the time.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking my colleagues, 
Senator Tom Carper and Susan Collins, and especially the cochair of the 
Congressional High-Performance Building Caucus, Representative Russ 
Carnahan, and also Representative Pete Sessions for all of their hard 
work in bringing this bipartisan legislation before us today.
  The Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010 will save 
taxpayers dollars, it's been mentioned many times, by putting Federal 
buildings on the cutting edge of energy efficiency and will help build 
expertise among America's workforce needed for tomorrow's green jobs.
  As my colleagues are aware, the Federal Government is the Nation's 
largest property manager, with more than 500,000 buildings and 
structures worldwide. So this bill presents an opportunity to lead by 
example and to demonstrate the immense savings and efficiency that can 
be achieved by making smart investments in human energy through the 
Federal workforce.
  This bill will help ensure that Federal buildings are operating at 
peak efficiency. It will equip Federal employees who maintain our 
buildings with the resources they need to utilize green building 
technologies, implement industry best practices, and cut energy costs 
for the public.
  Madam Speaker, thanks to America's scientists and engineers, we are 
making rapid strides in sustainable building technologies and designs. 
But the full rewards of this work, both to the environment and to 
taxpayers, cannot be realized unless our building managers have the 
training to utilize them.
  The Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010 will require the 
General Services Administration to identify core competencies necessary 
for Federal personnel to utilize high-performance building practices 
and technologies. The GSA will then work with private industry and 
institutions of higher learning to create comprehensive continuing 
education courses to ensure that the Federal employees know how to 
employ green technologies. This training will ensure that the Federal 
Government can meet its energy reduction goals and get a proper return 
on taxpayers' investment.
  Madam Speaker, American taxpayers are demanding a renewed focus on 
eliminating wasteful government spending, and this bipartisan bill 
presents an opportunity to do just that while conserving our domestic 
energy supply.
  The Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act will put us on the 
forefront of building technology and transform our Nation's building 
stock for years to come. Just as importantly, it makes an investment in 
the training of our workforce that will help American workers compete 
for the green jobs of tomorrow.
  Again, I would like to thank the gentleman from Missouri, my 
colleague and cochair of the High-Performance Building Caucus, for his 
hard work in bringing forward this bill. And I'd like to thank Chairman 
Norton for her support and Ranking Member Mica and particularly 
Chairman Oberstar. He will certainly be missed here on this House 
floor, and I know that we all wish him well.
  I would urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 3250, a 
bill to promote professionalism and competency among the ranks of 
individuals, both Federal employee and contractor, who operate and 
maintain building systems in Federal buildings. For a number of 
building operation functions and disciplines, the bill requires the 
Administrator of General Services, in consultation with other Federal 
agencies and building industry representatives, to identify core 
competencies and appropriate training and certifications, which will 
enable personnel working in these fields to demonstrate acquisition and 
mastery of the skills and knowledge that will help ensure that Federal 
buildings perform and are maintained in accordance with industry best 
practices.
  This Committee has been instrumental, through the American Recovery 
and Reinvestment Act, in providing the General Services Administration 
with $4.5 billion to upgrade Federally owned facilities with more 
energy efficient and sustainable building components and systems. S. 
3250 is an effort to safeguard this investment, as well as other 
Federal investment in energy-efficient building infrastructure, to 
ensure that this infrastructure is well maintained and operating at 
peak performance.
  Findings by the Government Accountability Office and the National 
Research Council indicate that, over a building's full life cycle, 
operations and maintenance expenses account for 60 to 85 percent of the 
total cost of a facility, compared to 10 percent for initial design and 
construction. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing 
the performance and care of building equipment and components which 
play a vital role in the energy efficiency of facilities. By 
establishing core competencies for building operations personnel, S. 
3250 enhances the likelihood that this optimization occurs. The bill 
has the support of the High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus 
Coalition, and over 40 building industry associations and professional 
societies. Moreover, this legislation helps support energy efficiency 
goals established for Federal buildings in the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
  On July 29, 2010, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
met in open session to consider the House version of this bill, H.R. 
5112, and ordered the bill reported favorably to the House by voice 
vote.

[[Page H7829]]

  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 3250.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Carnahan) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 3250.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________