Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2015

Summary: Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2015 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, orany 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.  Directs GSA to: (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. Exempts historic buildings of national significance, the White House and its grounds, the Supreme Court building and its grounds, or the U.S. Capitol and its related buildings and grounds.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 
2015''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Nearly one-third of the 800 bird species in the United 
        States are endangered, threatened, or in significant decline.
            (2) In the United States alone, an estimated 1 billion 
        birds die annually from striking buildings, bridges, and other 
        manmade structures, with glass being one of the primary causes 
        of the deaths.
            (3) Birds have a significant impact on the United States 
        economy, as evidenced by United States Fish and Wildlife 
        Service estimates that the 47 million birdwatchers in the 
        United States contribute $40 billion annually to the Nation's 
        economy.
            (4) The General Services Administration is obligated, under 
        Executive Order 13186, to ``support the conservation intent of 
        the migratory bird conventions by integrating bird conservation 
        principles, measures, and practices into agency activities and 
        by avoiding or minimizing, to the extent practicable, adverse 
        impacts on migratory bird resources when conducting agency 
        actions''.

SEC. 3. USE OF BIRD-SAFE BUILDING MATERIALS AND DESIGN FEATURES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 33 of title 40, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating sections 3314, 3315, and 3316 as 
        sections 3315, 3316, and 3317, respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after section 3313 the following:
``Sec. 3314. Use of bird-safe building materials and design features
    ``(a) Construction, Alteration, and Acquisition of Public 
Buildings.--Each public building constructed, substantially altered, or 
acquired by the Administrator of General Services shall meet, to the 
maximum extent feasible, as determined by the Administrator, the 
following standards:
            ``(1) At least 90 percent of the exposed facade material 
        from ground level to 40 feet--
                    ``(A) shall not be composed of glass; or
                    ``(B) shall be composed of glass employing--
                            ``(i) elements that preclude bird 
                        collisions without completely obscuring vision, 
                        such as secondary facades, netting, screens, 
                        shutters, and exterior shades;
                            ``(ii) ultraviolet (UV) patterned glass 
                        that contains UV-reflective or contrasting 
                        patterns that are visible to birds;
                            ``(iii) 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, 
                        commonly referred to as the `2 X 4 rule';
                            ``(iv) opaque, etched, stained, frosted, or 
                        translucent glass; or
                            ``(v) any combination of the methods 
                        described in this subparagraph.
            ``(2) At least 60 percent of the exposed facade material 
        above 40 feet shall meet the standard described in paragraph 
        (1)(A) or (1)(B).
            ``(3) There shall not be any transparent passageways or 
        corners.
            ``(4) All glass adjacent to atria or courtyards containing 
        water features, plants, and other materials attractive to birds 
        shall meet the standard described in paragraph (1)(B).
            ``(5) Outside lighting shall be appropriately shielded and 
        minimized.
    ``(b) Monitoring.--The Administrator shall take such actions as may 
be necessary to ensure that actual bird mortality is monitored at each 
public building.
    ``(c) Existing Buildings and Lighting.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator, where practicable, as 
        determined by the Administrator, shall reduce exterior building 
        and site lighting for each public building.
            ``(2) Use of automatic control technologies.--In carrying 
        out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall make use of 
        automatic control technologies, including timers, photo-
        sensors, and infrared and motion detectors.
    ``(d) Exempt Buildings.--This section shall not apply to--
            ``(1) a historic building of national significance within 
        the meaning of the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et 
        seq.; commonly known as the Historic Sites, Buildings, and 
        Antiquities Act);
            ``(2) the White House and its grounds;
            ``(3) the Supreme Court building and its grounds; or
            ``(4) the United States Capitol and its related buildings 
        and grounds.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended 
by striking the items relating to sections 3314, 3315, and 3316 and 
inserting the following:

``3314. Use of bird-safe building materials and design features.
``3315. Delegation.
``3316. Report to Congress.
``3317. Certain authority not affected.''.