I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1661 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 23, 2009 Mr. Barrow introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To establish a health registry to ensure that certain individuals who may have been exposed to formaldehyde in a travel trailer have an opportunity to register for such registry and receive medical treatment for such exposure, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Travel Trailer Residents’ Health Registry Act.

2.

Establishment of registry

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall— (1)establish and maintain a health registry for eligible individuals who may have been exposed to formaldehyde in a travel trailer; (2)include any information in such registry that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines necessary to ascertain and monitor the health effects of the exposure to formaldehyde in a travel trailer by eligible individuals; (3)develop a public information campaign to inform eligible individuals about the health registry, including how and where to register and the benefits of registering; and (4)periodically notify eligible individuals of significant developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with exposure to formaldehyde.

3.

Treatment and study of health effects

(a)

Examination of eligible individuals

(1)

In general

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide initial and ongoing health examinations, consultations, and mental health counseling free of charge to each eligible individual for the purposes of— (A)assisting eligible individuals with any health effects associated with exposure to formaldehyde in a travel trailer; (B)ascertaining and monitoring the health effects on each eligible individual of exposure to formaldehyde in such a trailer; and (C)completing the epidemiological study required under subsection (b). (2)

Information feedback

Such health consultation and mental health counseling described in paragraph (1) shall provide to each eligible individual information regarding the examination results for such individual, as well as any available information concerning ongoing developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with exposure to formaldehyde. (b)

Epidemiological study

Not later than 90 days after the establishment of the health registry under section 2, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall commence an epidemiological study of the immediate and long-term effects of exposure to formaldehyde in a travel trailer sufficient to further understand the immediate and long-term medical needs of eligible individuals.

4.

Report to congress

(a)

Report by independent scientific organization

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into an agreement with an independent scientific organization to submit a report to Congress, not later than 18 months after the establishment of the registry, containing the following: (1)

Effectiveness of secretaries

An assessment of the effectiveness of actions taken by the Secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services to collect and maintain information on the health consequences of exposure to formaldehyde in a travel trailer. (2)

Collection and maintenance

Recommendations to improve the collection and maintenance of such information. (3)

Medical needs

Using the ongoing epidemiological study under section 3(b), recommendations regarding the most effective and prudent means of addressing the medical needs of eligible individuals, as such needs relate to conditions likely to result from exposure to formaldehyde in a travel trailer.

5.

Funding

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

6.

Definitions

(a)

Travel trailers

For the purposes of this Act, the term travel trailer means any temporary housing unit provided by the Federal Government to individuals displaced by a major disaster that occurred or occurs between August 29, 2005, and December 31, 2009. (b)

Eligible individuals

For the purposes of this Act, the term eligible individual means any individual who— (1)lawfully resided in a travel trailer; and (2)applied or applies for inclusion on the health registry established pursuant to this Act.