by Brianna Crandall — May 25, 2016 — The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently applauded U.S. Representatives Carlos Curbelo, R-FL, and Albio Sires, D-NJ, for the introduction of bipartisan legislation to focus federal disaster policy on preventing losses.
The bipartisan National Mitigation Investment Act of 2016 will reform federal disaster policy to encourage pre-disaster mitigation and resilient construction. The introduction of the Act came as a House Subcommittee began hearings on the rapidly rising cost of natural disasters for the federal government.
The National Mitigation Investment Act provides additional hazard mitigation grants to states with qualifying building code systems following a natural disaster — a powerful incentive for states to modernize building codes, notes AIA. Additionally, the legislation will authorize a first-of-its-kind pilot program of code enforcement grants to states and localities to defray the costs that often prohibit enacting strong building codes.
The bill will also authorize a study, commenced through the National Advisory Council, to examine costs and losses from natural disasters, identify how disaster assistance is being used, and determine ways to best mitigate ahead of catastrophes.
AIA President Russell Davidson, FAIA, commented:
The federal government significantly overspends on post-disaster assistance compared to pre-disaster mitigation, waiting for the next disaster to strike while doing little to fortify our defenses in the face of a rising number of extreme weather events. The National Mitigation Investment Act will correct this backwards approach by incentivizing states, localities, and individuals to make proactive investments in mitigation.
A panel of governmental and private sector witnesses testified at the hearing. The text of HR 5177 National Mitigation Investment Act is available on the U.S. Congress Web site, as are actions taken on the bill so far.
