[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6462]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               YOU CAN BE A PART OF BUILDING SAFETY WEEK

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                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 2, 2004

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Building 
Safety Week, observed April 4-10. Building safety affects many aspects 
of American life. Because of building safety code enforcement, we enjoy 
the comfort of structures that are safe and sound. Building safety and 
fire prevention officials work with citizens to address building safety 
and fire prevention concerns everyday.
  The dedicated members of the International Code Council, including 
building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, 
and others in the construction industry, develop and enforce the codes 
that safeguard Americans in the buildings where we live, work, play and 
learn. The International Codes, the most widely adopted building safety 
and fire prevention codes in the nation, are used by most U.S. cities, 
counties and states.
  Building safety codes provide safeguards to protect the public from 
natural disasters that can occur all across the country, such as 
snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildland fires, and earthquakes. 
Building safety codes also work to minimize other potential building 
catastrophes.
  Building Safety Week, sponsored by the International Code Council 
Foundation, is an opportunity to educate the public. It is a perfect 
time to increase public awareness of the role building safety and fire 
prevention officials, local and state building departments, and federal 
agencies play in the first line of defense to protect the public.
  This year's theme, ``You Can Be a Part of Building Safety Week,'' 
encourages all Americans to raise our awareness of building safety, and 
to take appropriate steps to ensure that the places where we live, 
work, play and learn are safe. Countless lives have been saved because 
of the building safety codes adopted and enforced by local and state 
agencies.
  This year, as we observe Building Safety Week, I ask all Americans to 
consider projects to improve building safety at home and in the 
community, and to recognize the local building safety and fire 
prevention officials and the important role that they play in public 
safety.
  I am proud to have this opportunity to recognize building safety and 
fire prevention officials today and urge all people to participate in 
Building Safety Week activities and to commence efforts to improve 
building safety.

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