WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., is supporting efforts to end discriminatory green building standard practices that negatively impact the Mississippi timber industry.

“The federal government wields immense influence over green building specifications in the federal sector and broader commercial marketplace,” Wicker said. “However, I believe the government ought to support competition and allow the free market to produce the best energy-efficient buildings at the lowest costs.  They must also support the use of domestically produced materials such as sustainable wood and green technologies.”

Wicker is the lead Republican cosponsor of an amendment by Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., to S. 1392, the “Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013.” The amendment specifies that the Department of Energy (DOE) and the General Services Administration (GSA) should allow the use of multiple green building rating systems for both commercial and residential buildings.

“This amendment is a step forward to ensure GSA and DOE’s green building policies are fair and effective,” Wicker said. “It will also ensure the federal government is selecting green buildings certification systems that are the most cost-efficient.”