WASHINGTON (July 23, 2024) – The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) today commended the U.S. House of Representatives for voting down H.R. 1631, The Pro Codes Act, which would fundamentally alter copyright law and erode the standards industry which has kept Americans safe for over 100 years. The legislation, which was opposed by nearly every major American standards development organization, failed on the House floor. 

ASME Executive Director/CEO Tom Costabile made the following statement:

“We thank the bipartisan group in the U.S. House of Representatives who answered the call of ASME, along with a coalition of many of the nation’s leading Standards Development Organizations, to successfully press pause on the Pro Codes Act today. This legislation’s potential unintended consequences have vast national safety and economic implications that deserve a full public debate. We look forward to engaging with our partners in government and fellow stakeholders in a more thorough process that protects American leadership in creating international standards and upholds a system of standards development that has safeguarded our citizens for more than a century.”  

About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education, and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world. In 2020, ASME formed the International Society of Interdisciplinary Engineers (ISIE) LLC, a new for-profit subsidiary to house business ventures that will bring new and innovative products, services, and technologies to the engineering community. For more information, visit  www.asme.org.

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