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| Government Relations Highlights — August |
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Congress Passes Bill Containing ICC-Advocated Code Language
Acting just as the deadline approached for expiration of highway funding and flood insurance, Congress has passed and sent to the President a combined bill that extends highway funding for the next two years and re-authorizes and reforms the national flood insurance program for the next five years.
The final version approved by Congress includes two provisions ICC Government Relations has been advocating on behalf of our Members for the last several years and which have been the focus of recent Hill Day lobbying efforts. The first provision requires FEMA to conduct a study of the impact of requiring enforcement of current building codes in flood plain management criteria, which should help bolster the case for use of building codes as a key element in the mitigation of disasters.
The second provision included in the bill is a modified version of the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act ICC has championed for years. The bill adds a specific category of grants to the list of eligible Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) activities for support of building code administration, including staffing, training, equipment purchases and related expenditures. |
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GR Speaks at Government Officials' Policy Institute
Mark Roberts, one of GR's regional managers, spoke at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials' National Policy Institute on Emergency Planning and Preparedness in New Orleans on July 21, representing ICC at the nation's largest coalition of Latino government officials.
His presentation, "Making Our Communities More Disaster Resistant", was very well-received and the attendees were interested in code adoption and enforcement, asking numerous questions and expressing a desire for greater involvement in the code administration and development processes.
Other speakers at the event included Leslie Chapman-Henderson, President/CEO of FLASH; Dr. Sandra Knight, Deputy Assistant Administrator of FEMA; and Jarrett Barrios, CEO of the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts. |
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Coalition to Support Current Safety Codes Passes 300 Member Mark
The coalition, founded by ICC and NFPA in early June, has already garnered support from over 300 organizations and individuals who believe in the cause of keeping America's building and safety codes up to date. Running the gamut from governmental entities to private contractors and architects to schools and nonprofit organizations, the diverse and rapidly growing membership speaks to the resonance of the CCSC's mission throughout the building community. |
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2012 I-Codes Adopted by More Jurisdictions*
The 2012 versions of the I-Codes are starting to catch on in a number of states. Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, South Dakota and Wyoming have already adopted and enforce at least one of the 2012 I-Codes on a statewide basis, while Colorado, South Carolina, and Washington have local jurisdictions already adopting the 2012 I-Codes. A number of other states or jurisdictions within them have already begun but have not yet finished the legal process to formally adopt the 2012 codes, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. |
| *Deleted reference to New Mexico, posted 9/10/2012. |
