Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the public health, safety, and welfare implications of licensure of design professionals.
This is a House concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 47) that states the sense of Congress regarding licensure for design professionals such as architects, engineers, surveyors, and mappers. It emphasizes that licensure is essential to public health, safety, and welfare and argues that keeping licensure in place across the states serves the public interest. The resolution references historical licensing, recognition by the National Transportation Safety Board of licensing importance, and past safety-focused reports. It also notes concerns that some states are reducing or eliminating licensing in certain occupations, but it asserts that licensing for these design professions remains important for safety and infrastructure integrity. Importantly, as a concurrent resolution, it expresses a non-binding opinion and does not create new federal licensing requirements or directly alter current law.
Key Points
- 1Design professions (architecture, engineering, surveying, mapping) are deemed essential to the safety and integrity of the built and natural environment and to the nation’s infrastructure and public life.
- 2All states, plus territories and possessions, license individuals in these design disciplines, reflecting a long-standing policy to regulate practice for public protection.
- 3The resolution cites public safety and safety-related findings from authorities like the National Transportation Safety Board and a prior Congress report (H. Rept. 98-61) to support licensing as beneficial for safe construction and appropriate professional oversight.
- 4It acknowledges that some states are reducing or eliminating licensing in certain occupations due to concerns about competition or overregulation, but asserts that licensing remains beneficial for the particular design occupations listed.
- 5The resolution expresses the sense of Congress that continuing licensure by the states is in the best interest of public health, safety, and welfare, and thereby supports maintaining licensure in these professions.