Homeowners' Defense Act of 2007

HOMEOWNERS' DEFENSE ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - November 08, 2007)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

The Acting CHAIRMAN. The gentlewoman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to ask my colleagues to support the Murphy, Matsui, Bean and Larson amendment.

I am sponsoring this amendment because it carries forward important public policy initiatives. It encourages local governments to develop comprehensive land use and zoning plans that include natural hazard mitigation. It also requires participating States to adopt internationally recognized building code standards.

I applaud the overall goal of this bill to provide access to insurance coverage for homeowners and disaster-prone communities. Our amendment today is about public safety.

As a representative from Sacramento, the Nation's most at-risk river city for catastrophic flooding, I am all too familiar with risk and vulnerability. Preparedness is a first step toward public safety. Strong building codes are key to being prepared and to reducing the damage caused by catastrophic events. This amendment ensures that States take steps to minimize risk.

Last week, I introduced the Safe Building Code Incentive Act of 2007 to encourage States to adopt stronger building codes. Our communities and homeowners should be better prepared, and Congress should be setting high standards for public safety.

Over the last few weeks, residents of my home State of California experienced devastating wildfires and an earthquake. We know that another event will occur and that it is only a matter of time.

To rapidly growing regions around the country such as Sacramento, the building standards we adopt now will ensure a safer future for our communities and property owners.

In January 2006, a Louisiana State University Hurricane Center study concluded that wind-related damage to homes by Katrina could have been reduced by 65 percent if current building code standards had been used. In short, we should be elevating public policy standards before disaster impacts our communities, not after.

Our amendment today raises the standard for public safety and encourages smarter planning to mitigate risk. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source