[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 97 (Friday, June 6, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E537-E538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING BUILDING SAFETY MONTH 2025

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RICK LARSEN

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 6, 2025

  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark Building 
Safety Month 2025 and to recognize the more than 60,000 members of the 
International Code Council (ICC) who have dedicated their livelihoods 
to ensuring public safety throughout the built environment.

[[Page E538]]

  Building Safety Month is sponsored by the International Code Council 
and its partners to remind the public of the professionals who ensure 
buildings are safe, resilient, affordable, efficient, and livable.
  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 services, architects, 
engineers, builders, and other skilled tradespeople to ensure the safe 
construction and maintenance of buildings.
  Building Safety Month is an annual celebration to remind the public 
of the critical role of local code officials--who ensure the safe, 
sustainable, and affordable buildings essential to prosperity.
  In late 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released 
its ``Building Codes Saves'' report, which found that implementing 
modern building codes could prevent $600 billion in disaster-related 
spending by 2060. FEMA further confirmed a prior report by the National 
Institute of Building Sciences that found that adopting modern codes 
provides $11 dollars in mitigation savings for every $1 dollar 
invested.
  As the Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee--responsible for oversight and authorization of FEMA--I have 
heard repeated testimony from expert witnesses on the increase in both 
the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Building codes and 
standards are critical to protecting the public from these disasters, 
including wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, snow and ice storms, and 
earthquakes.
  As Americans rebuild after disasters, 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.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking International Code Council 
Board President David Spencer--a fellow Washingtonian--as well as ICC's 
Chief Executive Officer John Belcik, the International Code Council 
leadership, and ICC's Members and staff as they recognize Building 
Safety Month 2025.

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