Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Green Building Council, which was founded in April of 1993. This member-led, nonprofit organization has helped countless schools, businesses, cities, and even countries build and operate better buildings that truly transform lives. Their LEED certification program has grown to become the world's most acclaimed and widely used green building system with 105,000 projects in 187 countries. In my home State of New York, over 2,600 projects and over 15,000 homes have achieved LEED certification. At a time when homeowners and businesses are dealing with rising costs, research has repeatedly found that energy-efficient, lower-waste buildings result in major savings. Plus, they boost staff recruitment, retention, and productivity. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago there was no agreement on what constituted green buildings, let alone any kind of accepted mechanism to certify them. Because of the efforts of the U.S. Green Building Council, our country is moving toward better performing buildings that lower costs and waste, mitigate climate impacts and improve health. Mr. Speaker, I thank the council's staff for all their great efforts and offer my congratulations to this incredible organization. Here is to another impactful 30 years. ____________________”