[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 106 (Thursday, June 17, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E661-E662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF BUILDING SAFETY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SHARICE DAVIDS

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 17, 2021

  Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Madam Speaker, in honor of Building Safety 
Month, I am pleased to recognize the importance of safety in the built 
environment and the dedication of the

[[Page E662]]

members of the International Code Council (ICC) to their roles in 
protecting our communities.
  With natural disasters only expected to increase in frequency and 
severity, building codes include important safeguards to protect the 
public from tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, ice and snowstorms, wildland 
fires, and earthquakes. Last November, FEMA released, ``Building Codes 
Save: A Nationwide Study'' and found that implementing modern building 
codes could save $600 billion in disaster spending by 2060. This 
further confirmed findings from the National Institute of Building 
Sciences (NIBS) that show adopting modern model building codes save $11 
for every $1 invested through earthquake, flood, and wind mitigation 
benefits, with a $4 to $1 wildfire mitigation benefit. These benefits 
represent avoided casualties, property damage, business interruptions, 
and insurance costs, and are enjoyed by all building stakeholders--from 
developers, titleholders, and lenders, to tenants and communities.
  Vulnerable and underserved populations are most affected by increases 
in utility costs, and they often have the most to lose in the event of 
a disaster or health emergency. Building codes establish minimum 
requirements that ensure safe, resilient, and energy efficient schools, 
childcare and healthcare facilities, housing, and places of employment.
  Year round, building safety and fire prevention officials, 
architects, engineers, plumbers, builders, tradespeople, laborers, and 
others in the construction industry work to ensure the safe 
construction of buildings though the use of model building codes. The 
dedicated members of the International Code Council, a national 
standards developing organization, come together with local, state and 
federal officials to develop voluntary consensus codes that protect us 
in the buildings where we worship, live, work, learn, and play. The 
International Codes, the most widely adopted building safety and fire 
prevention codes in the nation, are used by most U.S. cities and 
counties and in all 50 states, including the State of Kansas. I commend 
Johnson County, which makes up a large portion of my district, for 
recently adopting the 2018 International Codes.
  During the pandemic, building and fire prevention departments' 
essential work has ensured that healthcare centers are structurally 
sound and capable of withstanding natural disasters, and that temporary 
healthcare facilities providing medical surge capacity are built and 
maintained to protect occupant safety. These officials enforce state, 
local, and federal regulations that require adequate ventilation and 
sanitization. More broadly, code officials protect the health and 
welfare of building occupants to prevent dangerous sanitary, air 
quality, structural, or electrical hazards.
  In a Presidential Proclamation designating May 2021 as Building 
Safety Month, President Biden stated, ``Investing in our infrastructure 
and adopting and implementing modem building codes are the most 
effective mitigation measures communities can undertake.'' Building 
Safety Month was sponsored by the International Code Council to remind 
the public about the critical role of our communities' code officials 
in assuring us safe, efficient, and livable buildings. This year's 
Building Safety Month theme was, ``Prevent, Prepare, Protect. Building 
Codes Save'' and it encouraged all of us to raise awareness of the 
importance of safe and resilient construction, fire prevention, 
sanitation, disaster mitigation, and new technologies in the 
construction industry.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking International Code Council 
Board President Greg Wheeler, as well as ICC's Chief Executive Officer 
Dominic Sims, the International Code Council leadership, and ICC's 
Members and staff for recognizing Building Safety Month.

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