[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

  (Mr. TONKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 30th 
anniversary of the U.S. Green Building Council, which was founded in 
April of 1993.
  This member-led, nonprofit organization has helped countless schools, 
businesses, cities, and even countries build and operate better 
buildings that truly transform lives.
  Their LEED certification program has grown to become the world's most 
acclaimed and widely used green building system with 105,000 projects 
in 187 countries.
  In my home State of New York, over 2,600 projects and over 15,000 
homes have achieved LEED certification.
  At a time when homeowners and businesses are dealing with rising 
costs, research has repeatedly found that energy-efficient, lower-waste 
buildings result in major savings. Plus, they boost staff recruitment, 
retention, and productivity.
  Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago there was no agreement on what constituted 
green buildings, let alone any kind of accepted mechanism to certify 
them.
  Because of the efforts of the U.S. Green Building Council, our 
country is moving toward better performing buildings that lower costs 
and waste, mitigate climate impacts and improve health.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the council's staff for all their great efforts 
and offer my congratulations to this incredible organization. Here is 
to another impactful 30 years.

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