[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 80 (Thursday, May 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         IN RECOGNITION OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS

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                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 31, 2012

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the vital 
contributions that independent, not-for-profit standards development 
organizations (SDOs) make to our nation's economy and Americans' 
quality of life.
  The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), headquartered in my 
district in Quincy, Massachusetts, is a leading SDO. I am familiar with 
the work of the NFPA and other, similar non-profit SDOs through my 
service on the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Safety, where 
model fire codes and sprinkler standards developed and updated by SDOs 
were integral to the Joint Committee's statewide effort to promote fire 
safety.
  SDOs and the voluntary consensus standards that they develop are 
crucial to preserving the quality of life that we, as Americans' enjoy. 
From the safety of industrial machinery to standard interfaces for 
audio equipment, SDOs such as, the NFPA, the American Society of 
Mechanical Engineers, and ASTM International, have been safeguarding 
our health, safety and prosperity for over a century. Additionally, 
standardization is essential to the health of our economy. Uniform 
methods, specifications, and interfaces improve efficiency and reduce 
uncertainties in the marketplace.
  The Federal government has repeatedly affirmed the benefits of SDOs. 
In his first term, President Ronald Reagan directed all Federal 
agencies to turn to private-sector voluntary consensus standards 
whenever appropriate, rather than developing separate government 
standards. In 1995, Congress codified this policy with the passage of 
the National Technology Transfer Advancement Act. This legislation 
recognizes the expertise of private-sector specialists, and their 
ability to react to emerging challenges more nimbly than their 
government counterparts. It also recognizes the value of a stakeholder-
driven process oriented towards achieving consensus.
  NFPA recently demonstrated this responsiveness in the wake of the 
tragic explosion that occurred during the final stages of construction 
at Kleen Energy Plant. Six workers died and nearly 50 others were 
injured in the explosion. An investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety 
Board (CSB) revealed that the explosion was caused by the use of 
natural gas to remove construction debris from the plant's piping. 
After its investigation and subsequent safety recommendations, the CSB 
turned to the NFPA to develop a new safety standard to prevent such 
explosions in the future. After seeking input from numerous interested 
parties, the NFPA Standards Council voted in October 2010 to establish 
a consensus technical committee to develop new standards for gas 
process safety. Just 18 months after the accident, the NFPA committee 
issued a new industry standard to prevent future fires and explosions 
during gas pipe cleaning and purging. I applaud the NFPA for its prompt 
response to this tragedy. This is just one example of the benefits that 
standard development organizations provide.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the 
important work that not-for-profit standards development organizations 
contribute to developing health, safety and environmental standards 
that serve the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and beyond.

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