Promoting Resilient Buildings Act of 2024

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5473. This bill, introduced by Representatives Edwards and Norcross, would provide FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with greater flexibility when incentivizing the use of hazard-resistant building codes in its predisaster mitigation programs.

Current law directs FEMA to only consider the latest edition of building codes when implementing predisaster mitigation programs. This legislation will allow FEMA to consider the latest two editions of codes. The additional flexibility will help States and communities that are struggling to adapt to frequent changes in building codes.

Thanks to an amendment offered by Ranking Member Titus and adopted at markup, this bill now includes a pilot program within FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program called BRIC--not to be confused with Brazil, Russia, India, and China--making it possible to fund individual home retrofits for the purpose of disaster resilience.

The severity of disasters has skyrocketed in recent years, putting homeowners at serious risk. Implementing recommended mitigation measures could make the difference between a family losing their home and life savings or being able to stay safe and continue their daily routines post-disaster.

This pilot program will ensure financial barriers do not stand in the way of making homes safer, so no family is left behind. Homeowners might leverage this pilot to make the roof less flammable and more resilient to wildfires and remove overhanging branches to reduce the risk of damage from severe storms or build a tornado-safe room.

These measures may also come with the added benefit of reduced insurance premiums. Having a home is very important in America, so it is critical that we support ways to lower premiums and make homes more insurable as disaster risk and insurance costs are ballooning.

The House passed the language in this bipartisan bill on suspension in the 117th Congress. I look forward to passing this measure today to improve implementation of predisaster mitigation programs and make homes more resilient to disaster.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join with the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) and me as we support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to ping-pong this back and forth. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my bipartisan co-lead, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross) for his partnership on this act.

Building codes regulate new construction and major renovations, setting minimum standards for homes and commercial structures to withstand natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or, in the case of western North Carolina communities, flooding.

In 2018, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act brought consistency to the home building industry by establishing the definition of building codes as they relate to hazard mitigation to include the latest two published editions of relevant codes, specifications, and standards. This definition, however, will sunset in October. Left unresolved, FEMA can revert the definition to the single latest edition of codes.

My bill, the Promoting Resilient Buildings Act of 2023, will codify the

definition to mean the two latest published editions of building codes, which is expected to prevent significant administrative burdens on States and local municipalities responsible for producing hazard mitigation plans, reduce burdensome regulations on trade industries responsible for adapting their techniques to meet new building standards and codes, and to support stabilized building costs that would otherwise be interrupted by frequently changing building codes and rising construction costs.

Using the latest two editions of building codes does not jeopardize home resilience and will continue to ensure our communities are prepared for disaster if it ever strikes.

Additionally, the Promoting Resilient Buildings Act, as amended, establishes a pilot program to fund individual resilient home retrofits with FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, or BRIC, program.

In order to increase disaster mitigation among States, it is imperative we expand program flexibility. This expansion includes providing opportunities for individual homeowners to access prehazard mitigation funding to minimize the impact of natural disasters. I thank the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) for her amendment, as reported by the committee, to provide this important flexibility.

Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues support this bill, which is important to homebuilders and community members through NC-11 and across the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5473) to amend certain laws relating to disaster recovery and relief with respect to the implementation of building codes, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 5473, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, first, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards) for introducing H.R. 5473, the Promoting Resilient Buildings Act of 2023.

H.R. 5473 cuts red tape and improves resiliency against disasters by making a technical correction to the Stafford Act and extending the building code of 2018, which expired earlier this year.

This bill ensures that there is flexibility in how the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, applies definitions for building codes and promotes individual States' abilities to consider what is best for their communities.

This bill also supports homeowners in mitigating against future disasters through a pilot program intended to test and analyze whether such assistance will help reduce future costs and save some lives.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), a former T&I Committee member.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

This bill extends the current building code definition set in the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 to allow greater flexibility for States and local governments, ultimately ensuring that disaster victims have an easier time rebuilding after a disaster.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.