NEMA applauds the House Judiciary Committee for advancing the bipartisan Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes Act (Pro Codes Act). H.R. 1631, sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), was introduced in March 2023 and would ensure copyright protections for Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) that form the bedrock of public safety in the built environment. 

“For the last century, NEMA and other Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) have developed the standards that guide all elements of public safety. These consensus-based codes and standards contribute to lower utility bills, fewer deaths caused by extreme temperatures, and billions of dollars in mitigation benefits and savings,” said Todd Sims, Director, Regulatory and Industry Affairs, Codes, NEMA.  

“Protecting the intellectual property and copyrights of SDOs is a win for taxpayers and public safety. Advancing this legislation will help preserve the current public-private partnership model through which federal, state, and local governments depend on privately developed codes and standards to protect public health and safety and regulate industry at no cost to the taxpayer.  

We appreciate and echo the statements made by members of both parties during yesterday’s hearing and will continue to pursue bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. As a standards development organization, NEMA will work with lawmakers to ensure these protections support the development of the next generation of codes and standards.”