2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Expand The Authorities Of The National
Institute Of Standards And Technology Safety Teams Regarding
Investigations Of Construction. In May 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for ,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill, as amended, that would
amend the 2002 National Construction Safety Team Act to expand the
authority of National Institute of Standards and Technology safety teams
to also investigate failures of infrastructure and other non-building
structures. It would allow NIST to deploy response teams to investigate
the failure of a structure or structures that resulted in substantial
loss of life or that posed significant potential for substantial loss of
life. It also would authorize teams to recommend improvements to
engineering codes and standards. It would require NIST, when deploying a
response team, to coordinate with federal, state and local entities that
may conduct their own research on structural failures due to windstorms.
NIST construction safety teams are already required to coordinate with
such entities that research and investigate earthquake damage. The bill
would not authorize any funding, nor would it authorize criminal
investigations or investigations that would lead to enforcement
actions." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 358 to 41. [House Vote 195,
5/8/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/8/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
4143]