The Biden administration’s unprecedented effort to convince states to increase the resiliency of new buildings came under attack Wednesday from Republican lawmakers and witnesses.
A small but key part of President Joe Biden’s climate change agenda entices states to adopt the newest building codes, which require new structures to have better protection against natural hazards than versions written five to 20 years ago.
But the chair of a House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee said at a hearing Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is “coercing building code adoption and compliance.”
“Under this current administration, FEMA continues to push these types of ideology-based agendas,” said Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), adding that “federal overreach” on building codes is increasing the cost to build and repair structures.
