On March 30, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the ABC-supported H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, in a bipartisan 225-204 vote, with four Democrats supporting and only one Republican, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., opposing the bill.

On March 29, the U.S. Senate passed the ABC-supported H.J. Res. 27, the Waters of the United States Congressional Review Act Resolution, in a 53-43 vote with the support of all Senate Republicans and five Democrats, Sens. Rosen, Nev., Cortez Masto, Nev., Manchin, W.Va., Tester, Mont., and Sinema, Ariz. Four Senators did not vote.

On April 14, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Rep. Garrett Graves (R-La.),Ìýreintroduced theÌýBuilding U.S. Infrastructure Through Limited Delays & Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act, which would modernize the outdated National Environmental Policy Act) to make infrastructure project reviews more efficient, reduce project costs, spur economic recovery and rebuild America. The BUILDER Act has been r

On Sept. 22, U.S. Rep. Garrett Graves (R-La.) introduced H.R. 8333, the Building U.S. Infrastructure Through Limited Delays & Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act.ÌýThe legislation would codify much of the Council on Environmental Quality’s National Environmental Policy Act rulemaking,Ìýwhich ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓsupports. Developed with input from the House Transportation and Infrastructure, Energy and Commerce and Judiciary committees, the bill includes important provisions to create a more efficient NEPA review process and clarifies which projects require NEPA review. This will promote better agency coordination and set reasonable time limits for preparing environmental documents.

TheÌýGreen Building Initiative (GBI) announced June 4 that ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓNational’s headquarters office in Washington, D.C. is one of the first buildings to be certified under its new Green Globes for Sustainable Interiors (SI) program.

ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓMay 28 sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Education and the Workforce Committee urging passage of theÌýWorkforce Innovation and Opportunity ActÌý(WIOA). WIOA represents an important opportunity to improve our workforce development system by increasing local business input in developing job training programs and improving access to federal funding for non-union training programs.

Members of the public can create an account with the International Code Council (ICC) andÌýsubmit proposals for changesÌýto the International Green Construction Code (IgCC)Ìýuntil Jan. 10. Any proposal submitted will be posted online by March 2014 to be reviewed by the public and heard by two technical committees in open hearings.Ìý

ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓis offering its members a series of Green Building Toolbox Talks, which are designed to help members drive green education to the craftworker level. The talks are also available in Spanish.

LEED v4 has been approved by a vote of U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) members and will be launched during theÌýGreenbuild conference in November 2013.Ìý

Submissions related to the General Services Administration Feb. 5Ìýrequest for informationÌýregarding their review of green building certification systems for use in federal buildings are due April 8.