by jbs042610 j3 — April 28, 2010—Thirty-three organizations have voiced support for bipartisan legislation introduced April 22 that would provide training for federal building personnel in the areas of building operations and maintenance, energy management, safety and design functions/future performance.
The Federal Building Personnel Training Act of 2010 was introduced by Reps. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Judy Biggert (R-IL) and Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Susan Collins (R-ME).
Organizations supporting it include the International Facility Management Association, the U.S. Green Building Council, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), and the High-Performance Buildings Congressional Caucus Coalition (HPBCCC).
The legislation would require the General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees more than 500,000 federal buildings and facilities, to identify core competencies necessary for federal personnel to construct and maintain environmentally sound federal buildings in a manner consistent with industry best practices. GSA would work with various organizations to make sure that personnel meet the required competencies through the designation of courses, certifications, licensees, and registrations.
