[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 87 (Friday, May 3, 2024)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 36657-36658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09814]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 87 / Friday, May 3, 2024 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 36657]]


                Proclamation 10737 of April 30, 2024

                
National Building Safety Month, 2024

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                During National Building Safety Month, we thank the 
                engineers, construction workers, trades unions, 
                building inspectors, and other building professionals, 
                who make our buildings stronger, more sustainable, and 
                more resilient.

                Building codes help to keep us all safe at home, at 
                work, and in our communities. But two in three 
                communities have not yet adopted the latest building 
                codes, leaving them more vulnerable to fires, floods, 
                and storms, which pose a growing threat in the face of 
                climate change. There is so much we can do to change 
                that by investing in housing, infrastructure, and code 
                enforcement to prevent accidents and protect our 
                families.

                Today, a record 1.7 million new housing units are under 
                construction nationwide, and my Budget has a plan to 
                build 2 million more affordable homes, boosting supply 
                and bringing down costs for families. My Administration 
                is making the most significant investment in 
                generations in our Nation's infrastructure while 
                working to remove poisonous lead pipes from every home 
                and school in America so that every child can turn on 
                the faucet and drink clean water. We are modernizing 
                our power grid and investing in energy-efficient 
                buildings and homes so that when disasters hit, the 
                lights stay on. We are weatherizing homes so that 
                families are safe and comfortable inside during extreme 
                heat or cold, storms, and other extreme weather and pay 
                less for utilities. For all of these Federal projects, 
                we are making sure that construction materials are 
                safe, environmentally friendly, high quality, and made 
                in America.

                I am calling on the Congress to pass legislation that 
                would provide tax credits for first-time homebuyers and 
                fortify housing to be safe from extreme weather and 
                climate change and built to last.

                At the same time, we are making the most significant 
                investment in fighting climate change in history--
                providing tax credits so folks can make their homes 
                more energy efficient and affordable while also 
                ensuring that the clean energy industries of the future 
                are being built here at home. We are working to 
                dedicate 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain 
                Federal investments in our sustainable housing, clean 
                energy, and building safety projects to disadvantaged 
                communities that have borne the brunt of economic 
                disinvestment for too long so they can be stronger and 
                more resilient in the face of a changing climate.

                To make sure all of these new projects are safe, my 
                Administration launched the National Initiative to 
                Advance Building Codes and is investing over $1 billion 
                to help thousands of communities adopt modern building 
                codes to strengthen their housing and communities from 
                risk. The Department of Housing and Urban Development 
                is working to ensure federally funded housing is safe 
                from flooding through safer flood standards. The 
                Federal Emergency Management Agency is helping 
                communities devastated by floods, fires, tornadoes, and 
                hurricanes to rebuild more safely by incentivizing the 
                adoption of modern building codes. For every dollar 
                invested in sturdier new buildings that meet modern 
                codes, it saves 11 times that in avoided disaster 
                repair and recovery costs down the line.

[[Page 36658]]

                Every American has a part to play in keeping their 
                homes safe and secure and building a more resilient 
                Nation. You can start by changing the batteries in your 
                smoke alarms regularly and ensuring you have backup 
                power for your critical appliances. Get rid of mold and 
                pests to avoid health issues. If wildfires are a 
                concern where you live, clear leaves and debris from 
                around your community and home to reduce the risk of 
                fires. If you plan to renovate, make sure you follow 
                local home improvement requirements or get expert 
                advice and quality work from a professional contractor 
                who honors those codes.

                Today, America is in the midst of a great national 
                comeback. Our economy is strong, and we are building a 
                future of possibilities, investing in our 
                infrastructure, our communities, and our people. That 
                is what America is all about. This month, we recommit 
                to the work of keeping our Nation's buildings safe and 
                built to last for generations to come.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, by virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws 
                of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as 
                National Building Safety Month. I encourage citizens, 
                government agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and other 
                interested groups to join in activities that raise 
                awareness about building safety. I also call on all 
                Americans to learn more about how they can contribute 
                to building safety at home, at work, and in their 
                communities.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                eighth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2024-09814
Filed 5-2-24; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P