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A bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of General Services to incorporate bird-safe building materials and design features into public buildings, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1920| Senate 
| Updated: 10/4/2017
Cory A. Booker

Cory A. Booker

Democratic Senator

New Jersey

Cosponsors (2)
Tom Udall (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)

Environment and Public Works Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2017 This bill requires each public building constructed, substantially altered, or acquired by the General Services Administration (GSA) to meet the following standards: at least 90% of the exposed facade material from ground level to 40 feet shall not be composed of glass or shall be composed of glass employing elements that preclude bird collisions without completely obscuring vision, ultraviolet (UV) patterned glass that contains UV-reflective or contrasting patterns that are visible to birds, patterns on glass designed in accordance with a rule that restricts horizontal spaces to less than 2 inches high and vertical spaces to less than 4 inches wide, opaque, etched, stained, frosted, or translucent glass, or any combination of these methods (modified glass); at least 60% of the exposed facade material above 40 feet shall meet such glass standard; there shall not be any transparent passageways or corners; all glass adjacent to atria or courtyards containing water features, plants, and other materials attractive to birds shall meet the modified glass standard; and outside lighting shall be appropriately shielded and minimized. GSA must: (1) ensure that actual bird mortality is monitored at each public building; and (2) reduce exterior building and site lighting for each public building, where practicable. The bill exempts historic buildings of national significance, the White House and grounds, the Supreme Court building and grounds, and the U.S. Capitol and related buildings and grounds from the provisions of this bill.
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Timeline
May 19, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2542
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Oct 4, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Oct 4, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • May 19, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2542
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.


  • October 4, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 4, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2542: To amend title 40, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of General Services to incorporate bird-safe building materials and design features into public buildings, and for other purposes.
Animal protection and human-animal relationshipsBirdsBuilding constructionGovernment buildings, facilities, and propertyLighting and heatingLighting, heating, coolingWildlife conservation and habitat protection

A bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of General Services to incorporate bird-safe building materials and design features into public buildings, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1920| Senate 
| Updated: 10/4/2017
Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2017 This bill requires each public building constructed, substantially altered, or acquired by the General Services Administration (GSA) to meet the following standards: at least 90% of the exposed facade material from ground level to 40 feet shall not be composed of glass or shall be composed of glass employing elements that preclude bird collisions without completely obscuring vision, ultraviolet (UV) patterned glass that contains UV-reflective or contrasting patterns that are visible to birds, patterns on glass designed in accordance with a rule that restricts horizontal spaces to less than 2 inches high and vertical spaces to less than 4 inches wide, opaque, etched, stained, frosted, or translucent glass, or any combination of these methods (modified glass); at least 60% of the exposed facade material above 40 feet shall meet such glass standard; there shall not be any transparent passageways or corners; all glass adjacent to atria or courtyards containing water features, plants, and other materials attractive to birds shall meet the modified glass standard; and outside lighting shall be appropriately shielded and minimized. GSA must: (1) ensure that actual bird mortality is monitored at each public building; and (2) reduce exterior building and site lighting for each public building, where practicable. The bill exempts historic buildings of national significance, the White House and grounds, the Supreme Court building and grounds, and the U.S. Capitol and related buildings and grounds from the provisions of this bill.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 19, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2542
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Oct 4, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Oct 4, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • May 19, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2542
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.


  • October 4, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 4, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Cory A. Booker

Cory A. Booker

Democratic Senator

New Jersey

Cosponsors (2)
Tom Udall (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)

Environment and Public Works Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2542: To amend title 40, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of General Services to incorporate bird-safe building materials and design features into public buildings, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Animal protection and human-animal relationshipsBirdsBuilding constructionGovernment buildings, facilities, and propertyLighting and heatingLighting, heating, coolingWildlife conservation and habitat protection