[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 99 (Thursday, June 14, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3954-S3955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 548--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT HIGH 
   PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MILLIONS OF 
INDIVIDUALS, PRODUCE A MORE RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD FOR CURRENT 
    AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, REDUCE OPERATING COSTS, AND IMPROVE THE 
  PRODUCTIVITY, COMFORT, AND HEALTH OF OCCUPANTS, AND DESIGNATING THE 
 WEEK OF JUNE 11 THROUGH JUNE 15, 2018, AS ``HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING 
                                 WEEK''

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Gardner, Mrs. Capito, and Mr. Van 
Hollen) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 548

       Whereas the term ``high performance building'' is defined 
     in section 401 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 
     2007 (42 U.S.C. 17061) as ``a building that integrates and 
     optimizes on a life cycle basis all major high performance 
     attributes, including energy conservation, environment, 
     safety, security, durability, accessibility, cost-benefit, 
     productivity, sustainability, functionality, and operational 
     considerations'';
       Whereas, because individuals spend approximately 90 percent 
     of their time indoors and buildings are the single largest 
     consumer of energy and water in the United States, built 
     environments have a vast impact on virtually all aspects of 
     life and national security in the United States;
       Whereas the United States benefits technologically, 
     economically, and environmentally from innovative 
     technologies developed for use in high performance buildings;
       Whereas research and programs that are supported by 
     government entities and private industry and relate to high 
     performance buildings benefit the United States and 
     individuals in the United States; and
       Whereas investing in resilient and robust building systems 
     protects individuals and businesses in the United States from 
     the impacts of man-made disasters and natural disasters, such 
     as hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes, wildland fires, floods, 
     and earthquakes: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of June 11 through June 15, 2018, 
     as ``High Performance Building Week''; and
       (2) supports efforts to--
       (A) improve the performance of existing and future 
     buildings through--

[[Page S3955]]

       (i) the adoption of best practices and voluntary consensus 
     standards relating to commercial and residential buildings; 
     and
       (ii) participation by interested parties in--

       (I) government programs, including those at the Office of 
     Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the Department of 
     Energy;
       (II) public-private partnerships; and
       (III) private initiatives;

       (B) create awareness of the beneficial impacts that high 
     performance buildings have on communities, including 
     reductions in operating costs, improvements in the health and 
     productivity of occupants of high performance buildings, and 
     enhancements in community resiliency;
       (C) encourage interested parties to engage in dialogues on 
     innovative policies and programs relating to the build 
     environment that address needs relating to resiliency, 
     workforce development, and energy and water efficiency;
       (D) support investment in research and programs that 
     incentivize investments in high performance commercial and 
     residential buildings, as investment in high performance 
     buildings is in the overall interests of the United States; 
     and
       (E) invest in training and education for, and celebrate the 
     work of, engineers, architects, builders, code officials, 
     tradespeople, design professionals, laborers, and others in 
     the construction industry who work to advance high 
     performance buildings.

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