(WASHINGTON, DC, April 23, 2024) The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) applauds Senators Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) for introducing the bipartisan Facilitating Increased Resilience, Environmental Weatherization and Lower Liability (FIREWALL) Act. This bill safeguards families and incentivizes community resilience by creating a new federal tax credit.

America must build more resilient structures, lifelines, and communities to protect lives and reduce the staggering burden of economic losses from disasters. The FIREWALL Act federal tax credit will cover 50% of eligible upgrades up to $250,000 for families who make less than $200,000 a year. These upgrades include, but are not limited to, fire-resistant building materials and roofing, stormwater barriers, air filtration, and removing vegetation that poses a risk to a home.

Building resilient communities is crucial to reducing and eliminating long-term risks to people and property and Americans deserve this protection. The NIBS Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2019 Report found that for every dollar the federal government invests in communities to build resilience, our communities reap a minimum of $6 in returns on these investments. Further, mitigation activities spur job growth and economic development, save money, and, most importantly, save lives.

“The creation of resilience incentives aligns co-beneficiaries from owners to lenders to operators. Everyone benefits from the mitigation or outright prevention of damage from a wildfire, earthquake, or storm. Insurance companies face fewer claims, government agencies avoid massive emergency aid payouts, property owners benefit from less damage, and families across the nation are safer,” said George Guszcza, President and CEO of NIBS. “This bill allows enables and encourages homeowners to adopt resilience measures through common sense economic incentives.”

NIBS encourages Congress to swiftly adopt this important piece of legislation.