HR0994 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0994 LRB099 20395 MST 44883 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Our State's continuing efforts to address the critical issues of safety, energy efficiency, water conservation, and resilience in the built environment that affect our citizens, both in everyday life and in times of natural disaster, gives us confidence that our structures are safe and sound; and

WHEREAS, Our confidence is achieved through the devotion of vigilant guardians - building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, tradespeople, laborers, and others in the construction industry, who work year-round to ensure the safe construction of buildings; and

WHEREAS, These guardians - dedicated members of the International Code Council - use a governmental consensus process that brings together local, state, and federal officials, with expertise in the built environment, to create and implement the highest-quality codes to protect Americans in the buildings where we live, learn, work, worship, and play; and

WHEREAS, The International Codes - the most widely adopted building safety, energy, and fire prevention codes in the nation - are used by most U.S. cities, counties and states; these modern building codes also include safeguards to protect the public from natural disasters such as hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes, wildland fires, floods, and earthquakes; and

WHEREAS, Building Safety Month, sponsored by the International Code Council, reminds the public about the critical role of our communities; largely unknown guardians of public safety - our local code officials - who assure us of safe, efficient, and livable buildings; and

WHEREAS, "Building Codes: Driving Growth through Innovation, Resilience, and Safety", the theme for Building Safety Month 2016, encourages all Americans to raise awareness of the importance of building safe and resilient construction, fire prevention, disaster mitigation, water safety and conservation, energy efficiency, and new technologies in the construction industry; Building Safety Month 2016 encourages appropriate steps everyone can take to ensure that the places where we live, learn, work, worship, and play are safe and sustainable; it recognizes that countless lives have been saved due to the implementation of safety codes by local and state agencies; and

WHEREAS, Each year, in observance of Building Safety Month, Americans are asked to consider projects to improve building safety and sustainability at home and in the community, and to acknowledge the essential service provided to all of us by local and state building departments, fire prevention bureaus, and federal agencies in protecting lives and property; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare May of 2016 as "Building Safety Month" in the State of Illinois and we encourage citizens to join with their communities in participating in Building Safety Month activities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the International Code Council as a symbol of our respect and esteem.