[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 114 (Friday, June 30, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E625-E626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING BUILDING SAFETY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GARRET GRAVES

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 30, 2023

  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark Building 
Safety Month 2023 and to recognize the more than 63,000 members of the 
International Code Council (ICC) who have dedicated their careers to 
ensuring public safety throughout the built environment--whether in our 
homes, offices, schools, or houses of worship. One of those members is 
International Code Council President Michael Wich, the Director of 
Building Code Administration and Chief Building Official for the South 
Central Planning and Development Commission--who just happens to be my 
constituent from Houma, Louisiana.
  The Code Council brings together local, state, and federal government 
stakeholders, as well as those from the private sector, to develop 
model codes and standards that protect the occupants of the buildings 
in which we live, work, and play. Those standards are then implemented 
year-round by building safety officials, the fire service, architects, 
engineers, builders, and other skilled tradespeople to ensure the safe 
construction and maintenance of buildings.

[[Page E626]]

  Building Safety Month was created by the International Code Council 
and its partners to remind the public about the professionals who 
ensure buildings are safe, resilient, efficient, and livable. This 
year's Building Safety Month theme is ``It Starts with You,'' which 
encourages the public to recognize the critical role of our local code 
officials who work around the clock to keep our communities safe and 
mitigate the risks posed by natural disasters.
  Building codes and standards include important safeguards to protect 
the public from hurricanes, tornadoes, snow and ice storms, and 
earthquakes. As Americans rebuild following these events, we recognize 
and thank those who implement and enforce building codes for protecting 
lives, property, and businesses, and ultimately ensuring our 
communities are resilient to future events.
  Development, adoption, and implementation of up-to-date codes and 
standards has enabled Louisiana to rebuild stronger following the 
devastation stemming from Katrina and Rita in 2005; Gustav and Ike in 
2008; Lee in 2011; Isaac in 2012; the Baton Rouge flooding of 2016; 
Harvey in 2017; Laura, Delta, and Zeta in 2020; and Ida in 2021.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking ICC Board President Michael 
Wich, as well as ICC's Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, the 
International Code Council leadership, and ICC's Members and staff as 
they recognize Building Safety Month 2023.

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