ASME Statement on the Reintroduction of the Senate Pro Codes Act

ASME Statement on the Reintroduction of the Senate Pro Codes Act

Washington, D.C. (March 31, 2026) – The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) today released the following statement on the recent reintroduction of the Pro Codes Act in the U.S. Senate: 

“The reintroduction of the Pro Codes Act in the Senate is deeply concerning, not because its goals sound unreasonable, but because its consequences remain just as dangerous and unresolved,” said ASME Executive Director/CEO Tom Costabile. “This legislation still threatens to dismantle the very ecosystem that has safeguarded American innovation, safety, and global leadership for generations. By undermining the financial viability of standards development organizations (SDOs) and weakening longstanding copyright protections, the bill risks handing influence over critical standards to foreign adversaries while burdening taxpayers with costs the private sector currently shoulders. Rushing this measure forward again without addressing these fundamental flaws is not prudent governance — it is a gamble with our economic strength, national security, and public safety. Congress should reconsider this approach and engage in a more thoughtful, balanced solution.”

The Pro Codes Act has been introduced in the House and Senate in several Congresses with no success. The Pro Codes Act would require that any safety standards referenced in laws or regulations be posted online for free. This requirement would force SDOs to give up their copyrights and lose the revenue needed to support the standards setting process.

For more information, visit https://www.stopprocodesact.com/. 


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) II & III 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. 

  Media Contact:
Monica Shovlin
MCShovlin Communications
Mobile  +1-541-554-3796
E-Mail  monica@mcshovlin.com