WHEREAS, safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of citizens is of paramount concern to all building safety professionals in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, protection is realized through the devotion and dedication of our Commonwealth’s first preventers: building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and fire prevention regulators; the design community; and the construction industry, working year-round to ensure our buildings are safe; and

WHEREAS, Virginia building safety professionals create and influence our built environment through the consensus development and implementation of the highest quality codes; and

WHEREAS, our Commonwealth’s continuing efforts to maintain the highest quality construction with regard to safety, structural soundness, and sustainable construction methods, while allowing the use of emerging technologies in the construction process, give us confidence that structures throughout the Commonwealth are durable, reliable and will be the blueprint for the future; and

WHEREAS, Building Safety Month is sponsored by the International Code Council, and it is promoted statewide by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and the Virginia Department of Fire Programs to inform the public about the critical and often little-known role of the Commonwealth’s first preventers and building safety professionals; and

WHEREAS, the theme for Building Safety Month, “It Starts With YOU!,” encourages all Virginians to raise awareness of the importance of technology and innovation, water safety; disaster mitigation; and training the next generation of code professionals; and

WHEREAS, Building Safety Month encourages appropriate steps to ensure that the places we live, learn, work, worship and play are safe, and recognizes that countless lives have been saved due to the implementation of safety codes; and

WHEREAS, in observance of Building Safety Month, Virginians should consider the commitment to improve building safety and economic investment at home and in the community, and to acknowledge the essential services provided by Virginia’s building safety community in protecting lives and property;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize May 2023, as BUILDING SAFETY MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens.