Law Guards Armed Forces Against Shoddy Construction Specs

The fiscal year 2009 Department of Defense (DoD) authorization bill President Bush signed in mid-October requires the Secretary of Defense to incorporate sustainable design and life-cycle cost principles as an element in construction subject to Congressional approval

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The fiscal year 2009 Department of Defense (DoD) authorization bill President Bush signed in mid-October requires the Secretary of Defense to incorporate sustainable design and life-cycle cost principles as an element in construction subject to Congressional approval. All projects submitted by the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force will have to take into account these criteria. While some branches have favored use of durable, low maintenance building materials that provide long-term sustainability, the National Concrete Masonry Association notes, other elements have sacrificed long-term cost-effectiveness and performance in the interest of achieving short-term objectives.

This legislation is of particular importance to [our] members, as well as other segments of the masonry industry and members of the North American Concrete Alliance (NACA), says NCMA President Bob Thomas. We look forward to working with our industry partners in supporting the military service branches in the months and years ahead to fully implement these provisions.

From the beginning of our dialogue with Congress going back to last year, the House Armed Services Committee members and senior staff expressed a willingness to work with NCMA to address our ongoing concerns regarding the choice of building materials used to house troops, adds NCMA Government Affairs Committee Chairman Don Foster. Our legislative effort focused on the 2009 DoD authorization bill as the appropriate vehicle to seek life-cycle language.