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HR 919 116th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Animal protection and human-animal relationships Birds Building construction Government buildings, facilities, and property Lighting, heating, cooling Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2019

Introduced: May 14, 2019 Introduced by: Quigley, Mike Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 7, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Jan 30, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Jan 30, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2019

This bill requires each public building constructed, acquired, or of which more than 50% of the facade is substantially altered 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 which employs any combination of the methods of modification described in this bill;
  • at least 60% of the exposed facade material above 40 feet shall meet such modified 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 standard; and
  • outside lighting shall be appropriately shielded and minimized subject to security and other mission related requirements.

The GSA must (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 and consistent with the requirements for outside lighting.

The bill exempts from these requirements buildings and sites listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the White House and its grounds, the Supreme Court building and its grounds, and the U.S. Capitol and its related buildings and grounds.

What's happening now February 7, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 919: Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-919/
MLA
"H.R. 919: Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-919/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 919, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-919/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 919: Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-919/)
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