PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 9, 2002
National Construction Safety Team Act - Authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish National Construction Safety Teams for deployment within 48 hours after events causing the failure of a building that has resulted in substantial loss of life or that posed significant potential for such loss of life.Requires Teams to: (1) consist of at least one NIST employee and other experts who are not NIST employees; (2) conduct investigations to establish the likely technical cause(s) of the building failure; (3) evaluate the technical aspects of evacuation and emergency response procedures; (4) recommend specific improvements to building standards, codes, and practices; and (5) recommend research and other appropriate actions needed to improve the structural safety of buildings and evacuation and emergency response procedures.Requires such a Team to coordinate its investigations with any search and rescue efforts being undertaken at the site of the building failure. Requires the Director to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the head of each Federal agency that may conduct or sponsor a related investigation, providing for coordination of investigations. Grants a Team investigation priority over any other investigation of any other Federal agency, with the exception of related investigations conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board or building failures that may have been caused by criminal acts.Requires: (1) Teams to issue public reports after completing investigations; (2) NIST to review such reports, to conduct or encourage appropriate recommended research, and to promote adoption of Team recommendations by the Federal Government and encourage adoption by other agencies and organizations; and (3) the Director to report to Congress on Team investigations and recommendations and on NIST actions in response and to establish an advisory committee.
People & committees
Rep. Boehlert, Sherwood [R-NY-23] · R–NY
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 107-231.
Became Public Law No: 107-231.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H6278-6283; text: CR H6279-6280)
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.(consideration: CR H6278-6283; text: CR H6279-6280)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4687.
Mr. Boehlert moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8391-8392)
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 510.
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Received in the Senate.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 338 - 23 (Roll no. 295).
House roll call 295 · Individual votesMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 338 - 23 (Roll no. 295).
House roll call 295 · Individual votesThe House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4687.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4687.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Michael K. Simpson to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 475 and Rule XXIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4687 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Science now printed in the bill (H. Rept. 107-530). Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 475. (consideration: CR H4557-4564; text of measure as reported in House: CR H4561-4563)
Rule H. Res. 475 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 475 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4687 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Science now printed in the bill (H. Rept. 107-530). Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 320.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 107-530.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 107-530.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the House Committee on Science.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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