WASHINGTON—Legislation has been introduced in both the House andSenate aimed at providing additional incentives for states to adoptand enforce uniform building codes.

The bill was introduced as one component of a comprehensive pushby the insurance industry.

As part of the effort, the industry has created the BuildStrongCoalition in order to create momentum for Congress to pass suchlegislation, which has repeatedly been introduced in Congress.

Members include national business and consumer organizations,insurance companies, firefighters, emergency managers, and buildingprofessionals dedicated to promoting stronger buildingcodes. Its members include the Congressional Fire ServicesInstitute and National Fire Protection Association.

The effort included a hearing before a Senate subcommittee May 8on the importance of uniform building standards and a forum heldMay 9 in conjunction with the 25th Annual National Fire andEmergency Services Dinner.

The legislation is the Safe Building Code Incentive Act. Thebills, S 905 in the Senate and HR 1878, are chiefly sponsoredby Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Rep. MarioDiaz-Balart, R-Fla, respectively.

Under the legislation, incentives would be provided for statesto adopt and enforce model building codes that meet minimum lifesafety standards.

Qualifying states would be eligible for an additional 4 percentin post-disaster grants from the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA). According to officials of the BuildStrong Coalition,21 states currently enforce statewide building codes.

Some of these states already qualify for the additional funding,while others would need to make minor legislative adjustments totheir codes, according to Jimi Grande, chairman of the BuildStrongCoalition and senior vice president of federal and politicalaffairs for the National Association of Mutual InsuranceCompanies.

"The legislation is intended to encourage governors and statelawmakers in other states to put the power of modern buildingscience to work for their homeowners, businesses and taxpayers," hesaid.

In testimony Wednesday before a Senate panel, Michael Merwarth,senior vice president and chief underwriter of USAA's Property& Casualty Group, said that Congress should act to createfinancial incentives for states to adopt and enforce statewidemodel building codes to prevent losses from natural disasters, savelives, and reduce the need for taxpayer-funded disaster aid.

"Building codes are the best first line of defense againstnatural disasters," Merwarth said.

He testified before Subcommittee on Emergency Management of theSenate Homeland Security Committee.

"Incentivizing states to adopt stronger building codes will helpsave lives, reduce property damage, and ultimately save taxpayerdollars," he said.

The act would encourage the adoption and enforcement of strongercodes by providing greater post-disaster grant funding toqualifying states Merwath said.

His testimony focused on the overwhelming evidence that enhancedstatewide building codes provide the most efficient and effectivemeans of protecting communities and reducing damage from naturaldisasters.

To illustrate his point, Merwarth cited research by the NationalInstitute of Building Sciences that found that every $1 spent tostrengthen buildings reduced the need for federal disaster spendingby $4.

Additionally, he noted studies from the Louisiana StateUniversity Hurricane Center that estimated stronger building codes– which have now been adopted in the state – would have reducedwind damage from Hurricane Katrina by 80 percent, or $8 billion, inLouisiana and by $3.1 billion in neighboring Mississippi.

"The overwhelming evidence supporting the widespread adoption ofstatewide building codes proves that the Safe Building CodeIncentive Act is a fiscally responsible way to make our countrystronger, safer, and better prepared for natural disasters," heconcluded.