Sometimes, even in the often-surreal world known as official Washington, an idea will pop up that makes so much sense that the only question that demands an answer is why hasn't this idea already become reality?

That's the case with the Safe Building Code Incentive Act, which was the subject of a hearing before a House of Representatives panel last month. The idea behind the act is simple: Effective building codes save lives and money—in this case, federal money. In other words, the measure is designed to save taxpayers' money.

If the bill becomes law, states would get a little extra post-disaster federal funding if they enacted and enforced nationally recognized building codes for businesses and residences before the disaster struck. In the world of carrots and sticks, that is called a carrot.

There is no stick. This is not a mandate, unfunded or otherwise. No state has to adopt and enforce effective building codes, if its leaders choose not to do so. Those states simply wouldn't be eligible for the enhanced relief.

As Julie Rochman, president and CEO of the Tampa, Fla.-based Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, told the panel, about 20 states would either qualify immediately for the added help or would be able to do so with minor changes to their laws and standards as things stand right now. That's a pretty good start.

And that start should be followed up. Admittedly, the odds of this bill becoming law during the current session of Congress are negligible. There's next to no legislative time left and, despite the bipartisan support this bill has drawn, there's not a lot of good will on Capitol Hill. As the election approaches, few lawmakers want to do anything with which they'll have to share credit with their colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

Still, the very fact that this measure was the subject of a hearing—and that no objection was raised to the bill during that hearing—is encouraging. Holding out the carrot of increased federal aid for those states that implement and enforce comprehensive building codes ultimately should result in fewer federal dollars being spent after a disaster. In other words, it's a bargain.

There's widespread agreement that well-designed building codes, backed by meaningful enforcement, are the foundation for mitigating catastrophes whether natural or man-made. This year's brief spotlight on the Safe Building Code Incentive Act should form a foundation upon which supporters can build to get the bill through the next Congress and on to the president's desk for a signature.