National Building Safety Month, 2021

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National Building Safety Month, 2021

A Proclamation

Throughout this past year, we have come to appreciate the contributions and complexity of our building and built environment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people saw their homes become more than a place of dwelling, evolving into a comprehensive space for education, work, childcare, and entertainment. During National Building Safety Month, we recognize the importance of strengthening our buildings and infrastructure to serve the needs and ensure the safety of every American. We also honor the building safety professionals dedicated to creating safe, sustainable, and resilient communities.

We also recognize that now is the time to repair and modernize our buildings and infrastructure, not only to meet the needs of today, but to address the challenges of tomorrow, especially the existential threat of climate change. The unrelenting impact of climate change affects every one of us, but too often the brunt falls disproportionately on vulnerable communities—especially low-income communities and people of color—who are facing new and worsening natural hazards like hurricanes, floods, extreme heat, and wildfires due to climate change. These communities are less likely to have the means to prepare for and recover from these hazards, which have increased in frequency, duration, and intensity. The buildings where we live and work provide an important line of defense against these growing hazards. Investing in our infrastructure and adopting and implementing modern building codes are the most effective mitigation measures communities can undertake.

This is why I have issued several Executive Orders related to buildings and resiliency as part of a Government-wide approach to the climate emergency. My Administration has also put the climate crisis at the center of U.S. foreign and national security policy, and established the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy and the National Climate Task Force. We are committed to creating climate-friendly and environmentally conscious communities that not only protect the people who live and work in them, but also will boost our economy in the long-term.