National Building Safety Month, 2013

Proclamation 8967 of April 30, 2013

National Building Safety Month, 2013

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

When natural disasters and other hazards put American
lives at risk, robust codes and standards for our
buildings play an important role in keeping us safe.
They ensure our homes and businesses are resilient to
the challenges of our time--not just by making them
structurally sound, but also by boosting their energy
efficiency. This month, as we pay tribute to
professionals who design, construct, and secure our
infrastructure, let us raise awareness about building
safety and rededicate ourselves to improving it in the
days to come.

Protecting our communities from harm requires
commitment from all of us. Alongside partners in
government and industry, my Administration is
encouraging stakeholders across our country to adopt
disaster-resistant building codes and standards. We are
collaborating with experts to issue modern guidance on
construction and retrofitting techniques. And we are
supporting cities and towns from coast to coast as they
pursue disaster preparedness, mitigation, and
redevelopment. To get involved, visit www.Ready.gov.

Time and again, devastating natural disasters have
tested the strength of our communities and the
resilience of our people. Our capacity to withstand
these threats depends on what we do to prepare today--
from reinforcing critical infrastructure to making sure
our buildings adhere to local codes and standards. This
month, we take up those tasks once more and recommit to
safety in the year ahead.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim May 2013 as National
Building Safety Month. I encourage citizens, government
agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and other interested
groups to join in activities that raise awareness about
building safety. I also call on all Americans to learn
more about how they can contribute to building safety
at home and in their communities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
seventh.