NAMIC’s Advocacy for Stronger Building Codes Produces Important Congressional Approval

Our push to encourage states to adopt and enforce stronger building codes to stave off losses from natural disasters has moved the issue forward in Congress. The influential House Financial Services Committee unanimously endorsed a NAMIC-backed proposal, sending it to the full House.

The legislation, H.R. 4461, would provide $100 million during a five-year period to help local and state authorities adopt and enforce statewide building codes. States do not get federal funding and rely mainly on building permit fees and general funding to administer and enforce building codes, resulting in overworked and understaffed operations.

To generate strong support on the building code issue, NAMIC founded the Building Codes Coalition. The goal of the BCC is to educate members of Congress on the importance of building codes and to promote legislation that incentivizes or helps states pass and enforce strong building codes. We worked with our coalition partners to educate members of Congress on the necessity of promoting building codes to save lives, property, and money. Research by the National Institute of Building Sciences indicates every $1 spent on mitigation at the federal level saves taxpayers $4 in disaster assistance.

During last week’s House committee meeting, Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., expressed optimism the legislation would gain the support of the full House. We will continue to lead the efforts for passage of the bill.

Direct questions to NAMIC’s Senior Federal Affairs Director Justin Roth.

Posted: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 12:28:46 PM.

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We are 1,400 property/casualty insurance companies serving more than 135 million auto, home and business policyholders, with more than $196 billion in premiums accounting for 50 percent of the automobile/homeowners market and 31 percent of the business insurance market. We are the largest and most diverse property/casualty trade association in the country, with regional and local mutual insurance companies on main streets across America joining many of the country’s largest national insurers who also call NAMIC their home. More than 200,000 people are employed by NAMIC members.