IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 96 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the public health, safety, and 

welfare implications of licensure of design professionals. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 8, 2024 

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania submitted the following concurrent resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the public health, 

safety, and welfare implications of licensure of design 

professionals. 

Whereas the several States have traditionally licensed individuals in the practice of certain design occupations, with 

California having passed the first surveying licensure law 

in 1891, Illinois having passed the first architecture licensing law in 1897, and Wyoming having passed the 

first engineering licensure law in 1907; 

Whereas all 50 States, as well as territories and possessions, 

license individuals in the design profession disciplines; 

Whereas the National Transportation Safety Board has recognized the importance of professional licensing among 

certain design professions, most recently in NTSB/PSR– 

18/02, an incident safety report regarding a natural gas 


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•HCON 96 IH 

distribution system in the northeast region of the 

Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts; 

Whereas, more than 30 years ago, Congress recognized the 

importance of professional licensing in design disciplines 

in its report titled ‘‘Structural Failures in Public Facilities’’ (H. Rept. 98–61), which recommended ‘‘all necessary architectural and engineering design and on-site 

services in public construction projects are furnished by 

licensed professionals who are qualified and experienced 

to assure the construction of safe structures’’; and 

Whereas many States are reducing requirements for, or eliminating the licensing of, certain occupations due to concerns over competition, market entry, and overregulation 

that do not serve the public interest, but in many cases 

the aforementioned State actions do not distinguish those 

professional design occupations in which licensing has a 

significant benefit to public health, safety, and welfare: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that— 

3 (1) occupations in design professions, including 

4 but not limited to architecture, engineering, sur5 veying, and mapping, are essential to the integrity of 

6 the built and natural environment and critical to the 

7 successful research, planning, design, construction, 

8 development, alteration, repair, operation, and main9 tenance of real property, the Nation’s physical infra10 structure, and resource planning activities, including 

11 the assessment, location, and development of critical 


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•HCON 96 IH 

1 materials, that contribute to maintaining the coun2 try’s economic prosperity, national security, and en3 vironmental protection; and 

4 (2) continuation of licensure of such occupa5 tions and professions by the several States is in the 

6 best interest of public health, safety, and welfare. 

Æ 


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