[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9435 of April 29, 2016

National Building Safety Month, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Buildings across our country provide safety and shelter to our people.
From high-rises that form our cities' skylines to ranch homes that
blanket the countryside, our buildings offer places to gather and
perform daily activities, and they must have sound, secure, and
resilient structures. During National Building Safety Month, we
recognize and pay tribute to those who ensure the safety and resilience
of our Nation's buildings, and we reaffirm our commitment to upholding
and abiding by strong and effective building safety standards.

Maintaining the safety and resilience of our homes and buildings is
imperative. By using disaster-resistant building codes and standards,
resilient construction materials, and safe and performance-based design
methods, we can safeguard the workplaces, houses, schools, and other
facilities that provide us with space to grow, live, and learn.
Americans can also take steps to secure buildings before natural
disasters strike by elevating properties where necessary, anchoring
furniture and other materials, reinforcing doors, and covering windows.
I encourage everyone to visit www.Ready.gov to learn about more ways to
keep yourself and those around you safe in your homes and businesses.
The Federal Government is leading by example. To prepare for natural
disasters, I have signed Executive Orders that strengthen the security
of Federal buildings and assets and improve their resilience to floods
and earthquakes, reduce the risks of harm to people, lower recovery
costs, and make it easier for communities to recover faster and emerge
stronger. Later this month, the White House will bring together
collaborators from the public and private sectors at a Conference on
Resilient Building Codes. This event will underscore the critical role
building codes play in ensuring community resilience, and it will
strengthen our national commitment to advancing resilience in the built
environment, from codes and standards to building design and
construction.
The consequences of natural disasters can be exacerbated by the effects
of a changing climate--including through stronger storms and longer
wildfire seasons--so it is crucial that we ensure our buildings are
resilient to the impacts of climate change. My Administration has worked
with communities to build climate-resilient infrastructure to prepare
for the impacts of climate change that we can no longer prevent, and we
are continuing to invest in energy efficiency in our buildings.
All people deserve to feel safe in the buildings we inhabit day in and
day out. With care and attention, we can secure and protect the places
we spend time in. This month, let us take action to safeguard America's
homes, schools, and other buildings, and let us ensure those responsible
for this important work have the tools and resources they need.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, 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 2016 as National
Building Safety Month. I encourage citizens, govern

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ment 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 and in their communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA