Uniform Building Codes

UNIFORM BUILDING CODES -- (House of Representatives - October 27, 2005)

(Mrs. SCHMIDT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue that is of great concern to me, the prudent spending of our precious Federal tax dollars. In an ever-difficult budget environment, we need to be more vigilant in determining how these funds are spent.

So far Congress has provided $61 billion in Federal funds for the recovery of the gulf coast. As we turn our attention to helping rebuild this area, any Federal funds for rebuilding should be spent according to a modern, uniform statewide building code. Did you know that Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama do not have statewide building codes?

Today I will introduce a sense of Congress resolution that Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama should adopt modern, uniform statewide building codes so that their rebuilding is, quite frankly, up to code. Every other State on the eastern seaboard already has similar codes. The Gulf Coast States should, too.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Quite frankly, it is a must.

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