§2152e — Title 22 Foreign Relations and Intercourse | U.S. Code

Summary

The President, through the USAID Administrator, may run a program to improve building codes and construction in Ecuador, El Salvador, and other Latin American countries. The program uses grants or contracts with U.S. technical groups to do three main things: train public and private professionals on building and housing codes; translate and share detailed construction manuals and model codes on topics like zoning, egress, fire and life safety, plumbing, sewage, sanitation, electrical and mechanical work, structural engineering, and seismic design; and give other help, such as making seismic micro‑zonation maps or helping draft laws. Grants and contracts must go to U.S. organizations with relevant expertise, including groups like ASTM, Underwriters Laboratories, ASME, ASCE, ASHRAE, IAPMO, ICC, and NFPA.

Title 22, §2152e

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The President, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, is authorized, under such terms and conditions as the President may determine, to carry out a program to improve building construction codes and practices in Ecuador, El Salvador, and other Latin American countries (in this section referred to as the “program”).

(b)(1)The program shall be in the form of grants to, or contracts with, organizations described in paragraph (2) to support the following activities:

(A)Training of appropriate professionals in Latin America from both the public and private sectors to enhance their understanding of building and housing codes and standards.

(B)Translating and distributing in the region detailed construction manuals, model building codes, and publications from organizations described in paragraph (2), including materials that address zoning, egress, fire and life safety, plumbing, sewage, sanitation, electrical installation, mechanical installation, structural engineering, and seismic design.

(C)Offering other relevant assistance as needed, such as helping government officials develop seismic micro-zonation maps or draft pertinent legislation, to implement building codes and practices that will help improve the resistance of buildings and housing in the region to seismic activity and other natural disasters.

(2)Grants and contracts provided under this section shall be carried out through United States organizations with expertise in the areas described in paragraph (1), including the American Society of Testing Materials, the Underwriters Laboratories, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the International Code Council, and the National Fire Protection Association.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003, and also as part of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003, and not as part of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 which comprises this chapter.

§2152e Program to improve building construction and practices in Latin American countries

Summary

Title 22, §2152e

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

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