[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 157 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10074-S10078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED:
  S. 3654. A bill to improve research on health hazards in housing, to 
enhance the capacity of programs to reduce such hazards, to require 
outreach, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I introduce today the Research, Hazard 
Intervention, and National Outreach for Healthier Homes Act. I am 
introducing this legislation because decent and safe housing is 
possibly one of the most critical determinants of our overall health 
and well-being. Indeed, where we live greatly affects how we live.
  A June 2006 report from the World Health Organization entitled 
``Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environments,'' found that 
environmental exposures contribute to almost one-quarter of the disease 
burden worldwide, resulting in millions of preventable deaths each 
year. Through scientific research, we know that an individual's 
environment can lead to cardiovascular disease, asthma, and lead 
poisoning, as well as many other diseases and conditions.
  The connection between housing and health is not a new idea. Many of 
our nation's earliest housing standards resulted from the concentrated 
slum housing around factories and in big cities during the Industrial 
Revolution. And, after World War II, a national housing policy was 
declared in the National Housing Act of 1949, stating that there should 
be: ``a decent home and a suitable living environment for every 
American family.'' These early housing standards regarding ventilation, 
sanitation, occupancy, structural soundness, lighting, and other 
habitability criteria greatly advanced our nation's public health.
  I would also be remiss if I did not mention the passage of the Lead-
Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act in 1991, which has helped 
dramatically decrease lead poisoning in children over the past 15 
years. This law required the Secretary of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development to establish and implement procedures to eliminate 
lead hazards from public housing.
  In 1992, controls on lead-based paint and lead exposure were further 
enhanced by Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act. Title 
X defined ``hazard'' in such a way that it included deteriorating lead 
paint, and lead-contaminated dust and soil that the lead paint 
generates. It also mandated the creation of an infrastructure that 
would help reduce lead paint hazards in our nation's housing.
  Federal efforts regarding lead poisoning are a wonderful example of a 
federal investment in housing that has produced significant benefits to 
our society while minimizing cost.
  Unfortunately, the conditions of today's worst-case housing looks 
only modestly better than it did a century ago. Now, we must determine 
the role that the government can and should play in stimulating the 
creation of truly decent and safe housing nationwide in the 21st 
Century.
  We can learn from some of our state and local governments about how 
to proceed. In my own state of Rhode Island, the State Department of 
Health and the City of Providence code enforcement division offers 
quarterly training on the identification of housing hazards. Trainees 
walk through homes with a standard assessment survey and evaluate them 
for different environmental hazards, what has been fixed and what needs 
to be repaired or improved.
  The Rhode Island Department of Health Family Outreach Program works 
in conjunction with the state's universal screening program to target 
Rhode Island children, from birth to age three, who are at-risk for 
poor developmental outcomes. Families with children identified as ``at-
risk'' are contacted by a provider in their area and are offered a home 
visit by a multidisciplinary team of nurses, social workers, and 
paraprofessionals. Home visitors also serve as the neighborhood follow-
up for services.
  We need to take advantage of some of the best ideas that are 
currently underway to make our homes and communities healthier. It is 
for this reason that I am introducing, the Research, Hazard 
Intervention and National Outreach for Healthier Homes Act, which seeks 
to encourage and develop healthy housing initiatives in the public and 
private spheres.
  The major purpose of this bill is to enhance and coordinate federal 
healthy housing initiatives. Such coordination should reduce 
duplication in federal efforts and ensure sufficient data collection 
regarding both the housing conditions and the health problems in our 
country's housing stock.
  Specifically, the bill would provide statutory authority for HUD's 
Healthy Homes program, expand the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention's current lead program to also address healthy housing 
issues, where appropriate, and establish the Environmental Protection 
Agency's Office of Children's Health Protection as the center for the 
EPA's healthy housing efforts.
  It would also create a new Health Hazard Reduction competitive grant 
program at the EPA and HUD. Applicants must already be recipients of a 
federal grant through an existing federal program such as the Community 
Development Block Grant, CDBG, the HOME Investment Partnerships 
Program, weatherization assistance, low-income home energy assistance, 
or the rural housing assistance programs. After the first three years, 
the EPA and HUD would evaluate the grant program's effectiveness by 
taking into account the aggregate health, safety, energy savings, and 
durability benefits resulting from the program. The CDC and the United 
States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) current coordinated training 
activities on housing-related hazards would also be expanded and 
evaluated.
  In addition, the bill would expand national outreach about housing 
hazards through a combination of market-based incentives, the expansion 
of existing initiatives, and educational media campaigns. For example, 
the EPA would evaluate and promote health protective products, 
materials,

[[Page S10075]]

and criteria for new and existing housing and create a voluntary 
labeling program that would provide these items with a ``Healthy Home 
Seal of Approval''. The CDC, the EPA, and HUD would pool their 
resources to establish a national media campaign to raise public 
awareness about hazards in housing.
  While our nation and nations around the world grapple with important 
social, economic, and international policy questions, we must keep in 
mind the important role healthy housing plays in all of these issues.
  Scientific research has begun to unlock some of the connections 
between housing, community development, and health outcomes. The 
Research, Hazard Intervention, and National, Outreach for Healthier 
Homes Act will help us start working to a time when every family has an 
affordable, decent, and healthy home. I hope my colleagues will join me 
in supporting this bill and other healthy housing efforts.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3654

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Research, 
     Hazard Intervention, and National Outreach for Healthier 
     Homes Act of 2008''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time 
     indoors, where 6,000,000 households live with moderate or 
     severe housing conditions, including heating, plumbing, and 
     electrical problems, and 24,000,000 households face 
     significant lead-based paint hazards.
       (2) Housing-related health hazards can often be traced back 
     to shared causes, including moisture, ventilation, comfort, 
     pest, contaminant, and structural issues, but further 
     research is necessary in order to definitively understand key 
     relationships between the shared causes, housing-related 
     health hazards, and resident health.
       (3) Since many hazards have interrelated causes and share 
     common solutions, the traditional approach of identifying and 
     remedying housing-related health hazards one-by-one is likely 
     not cost effective or sufficiently health-protective.
       (4) Evidence-based, cost-effective, practical, and widely 
     accessible methods for the assessment and control of housing-
     related health hazards are necessary in order to prevent 
     housing-related injuries and illnesses, including cancer, 
     carbon monoxide poisoning, burns, falls, rodent bites, 
     childhood lead poisoning, and asthma.
       (5) Sustainable building features, including energy 
     efficiency measures, are increasingly popular, and are 
     generally presumed to have beneficial effects on occupant 
     health. However, the health effects of such features need to 
     be evaluated in a comprehensive and timely manner, lest the 
     housing in this country unintentionally revert to the 
     conditions of excessive building tightness and lack of 
     sufficient ventilation characteristic of the 1970s.
       (6) Data collection on housing conditions that could affect 
     occupant health, and on health outcomes that could be related 
     to housing conditions, is scattered and insufficient to meet 
     current and future research needs for affordable, healthy 
     housing. A coordinated, multidata source system is necessary 
     to reduce duplication of Federal efforts, and to ensure 
     sufficient data collection of both the housing conditions and 
     the health problems that persist in the existing housing 
     stock of the Nation.
       (7) Responsibilities related to health hazards in housing 
     are not clearly delineated among Federal agencies. 
     Categorical housing, health, energy assistance, and 
     environmental programs are narrowly defined and often ignore 
     opportunities to address multiple hazards simultaneously. 
     Enabling Federal programs to embrace a comprehensive healthy 
     housing approach will require removing unnecessary Federal 
     statutory and regulatory barriers, and creating incentives to 
     advance the complementary goals of environmental health, 
     energy conservation, and housing availability in relevant 
     programs.
       (8) Personnel who visit homes to provide services or 
     perform other work (such as inspectors, emergency medical 
     technicians, home visitors, housing rehabilitation, 
     construction and maintenance workers, and others) can 
     contribute to occupant health by presenting and applying 
     healthy housing practices. Cost-effective training and 
     outreach is needed to equip such personnel with current 
     knowledge about delivering and maintaining healthy housing.
       (9) Housing-related health hazards are often complex, with 
     causes and solutions often not readily or immediately 
     recognized by residents, property owners, or the general 
     public. In the 2005 American Housing Survey, significant 
     numbers of residents expressed the highest level of 
     satisfaction with their homes, including 20 percent of 
     residents in homes with severe physical problems and 18 
     percent of residents in homes with moderate physical 
     problems. National awareness and local outreach programs are 
     needed to encourage the public to seek and expect healthy 
     housing, to think about housing hazards more comprehensively, 
     to recognize problems, and to address them in a preventative, 
     effective, and low-cost manner.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
       (1) Housing.--The term ``housing'' means any form of 
     residence, including rental housing, homeownership, group 
     home, or supportive housing arrangement.
       (2) Healthy housing.--The term ``healthy housing'' means 
     housing that is designed, constructed, rehabilitated, and 
     maintained in a manner that supports the health of the 
     occupants of such housing.
       (3) Housing-related health hazard.--The term ``housing-
     related health hazard'' means any biological, physical, or 
     chemical source of exposure or condition either in, or 
     immediately adjacent to, housing, that can adversely affect 
     human health.

             TITLE I--RESEARCH ON HEALTH HAZARDS IN HOUSING

     SEC. 101. HEALTH EFFECTS OF HOUSING-RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS.

       (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of 
     Environmental Health Sciences and the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency shall evaluate the health 
     effects of housing-related health hazards for which limited 
     research or understanding of causes or associations exists.
       (b) Criteria.--In carrying out the evaluation under 
     subsection (a), the Director of the National Institute of 
     Environmental Health Sciences and the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency shall--
       (1) determine the housing-related health hazards for which 
     there exists limited understanding of health effects;
       (2) prioritize the housing-related health hazards to be 
     evaluated;
       (3) coordinate research plans in order to avoid unnecessary 
     duplication of efforts; and
       (4) evaluate the health risks, routes and pathways of 
     exposure, and human health effects that result from indoor 
     exposure to biological, physical, and chemical housing-
     related health hazards, including carbon monoxide, volatile 
     organic compounds, common residential and garden pesticides, 
     and factors that sensitize individuals to asthma.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
     2011, $3,500,000 for carrying out the activities under this 
     section.

     SEC. 102. EVIDENCE-BASED, COST-EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR 
                   ASSESSMENT, PREVENTION, AND CONTROL OF HOUSING-
                   RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall, in consultation with the Director of the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to implement 
     studies by the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard 
     Control of the assessment, prevention, and control of 
     housing-related health hazards.
       (b) Study.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
     in consultation with other Federal agencies, shall initiate--
       (1) for fiscal years 2009 through 2013, at least 1 study 
     per year of the methods for assessment, prevention, or 
     control of housing-related health hazards that provide for--
       (A) instrumentation, monitoring, and data collection 
     related to such assessment or control methods;
       (B) study of the ability of the assessment and monitoring 
     methods to predict health risks and the effect of control 
     methods on health outcomes; and
       (C) the evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of such 
     assessment or control methods; and
       (2) no fewer than 4 studies, which may run concurrently.
       (c) Criteria for Study.--Each study conducted pursuant to 
     subsection (b) shall, if the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development deems it scientifically appropriate, evaluate the 
     assessment or control method in each of the different 
     climactic regions of the United States, including--
       (1) a hot, dry climate;
       (2) a hot, humid climate;
       (3) a cold climate; and
       (4) a temperate climate (including a climate with cold 
     winters and humid summers).
       (d) Authority of the Secretary.--The Secretary of Housing 
     and Urban Development may award contracts or interagency 
     agreements to carry out the studies required under this 
     section.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
     2013, $6,000,000 for carrying out the activities under this 
     section.

     SEC. 103. STUDY ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING FEATURES AND INDOOR 
                   ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN EXISTING HOUSING.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency shall, in consultation with other Federal 
     agencies, conduct a detailed study of how sustainable 
     building features, such as energy efficiency, in existing 
     housing affect the quality of the indoor environment, the 
     prevalence of housing-related health hazards, and the health 
     of occupants.

[[Page S10076]]

       (b) Contents.--The study required under subsection (a) 
     shall--
       (1) investigate the effect of sustainable building features 
     on the quality of the indoor environment and the prevalence 
     of housing-related health hazards;
       (2) investigate how sustainable building features, such as 
     energy efficiency, are influencing the health of occupants of 
     such housing; and
       (3) ensure that the effects of the indoor environmental 
     quality are evaluated comprehensively.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
     2013, $500,000 for carrying out the activities under this 
     section.

     SEC. 104. DATA COLLECTION ON HOUSING-RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS.

       (a) Completion of Analysis.--The Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development shall complete the analysis of data 
     collected for the National Survey on Lead and Allergens in 
     Housing and the American Healthy Housing Survey.
       (b) Expansion of Monitoring.--The Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency shall expand the current 
     indoor environmental monitoring efforts of the Administrator 
     in an effort to establish baseline levels of indoor chemical 
     pollutants and their sources, including routes and pathways, 
     in homes.
       (c) Data Evaluation and Collection System.--
       (1) Data evaluation.--The Director of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention shall, in consultation with 
     the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, 
     determine the data and resources needed to establish and 
     maintain a healthy housing data collection system.
       (2) Data collection system.--
       (A) In general.--The Director of the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention, based upon the needs determined under 
     paragraph (1), shall carry out the development and operation 
     of a healthy housing data collection system that--
       (i) draws upon existing data collection systems, including 
     those systems at other Federal agencies, to the maximum 
     extent practicable;
       (ii) conforms with the 2001 Updated Guidelines for 
     Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems;
       (iii) improves upon the ability of researchers to assess 
     links between housing and health characteristics; and
       (iv) incorporates the input of potential data users, to the 
     maximum extent practicable.
       (B) Criteria.--The data collection system required to be 
     developed under subparagraph (A) shall--
       (i) pilot subject areas to evaluate for overall data 
     quality and utility, level of data collection, feasibility of 
     additional data collection, and privacy considerations;
       (ii) develop common assessment tools and integrated 
     database applications and, where possible, standardize 
     analysis techniques;
       (iii) develop mechanisms to facilitate ongoing 
     multidisciplinary interagency involvement;
       (iv) create a clearinghouse to monitor potential data 
     sources; and
       (v) develop public use datasets.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated--
       (1) for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2011, $600,000 
     for carrying out the activities under subsection (a); and
       (2) for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013--
       (A) $2,000,000 for carrying out the activities under 
     subsection (b); and
       (B) $8,000,000 for carrying out the activities under 
     subsection (c).

         TITLE II--CAPACITY TO REDUCE HEALTH HAZARDS IN HOUSING

     SEC. 201. HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CAPACITY ON 
                   HOUSING-RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall, in cooperation with other Federal 
     agencies--
       (1) develop improved methods for evaluating health hazards 
     in housing;
       (2) develop improved methods for preventing and reducing 
     health hazards in housing;
       (3) support the development of objective measures for what 
     is considered a ``healthy'' residential environment;
       (4) evaluate the long-term cost effectiveness of a healthy 
     housing approach;
       (5) promote the incorporation of healthy housing principles 
     into ongoing practices and systems, including housing codes, 
     rehabilitation specifications, and maintenance plans;
       (6) promote the incorporation of health considerations into 
     green and energy-efficient construction and rehabilitation;
       (7) promote the use of healthy housing principles in post-
     disaster environments, such as the dissemination of 
     information on safe rehabilitation and recovery practices;
       (8) improve the dissemination of healthy housing 
     information, including best practices, to partners, grantees, 
     the private sector, and the public; and
       (9) promote State and local level healthy housing efforts, 
     such as the collaboration of State and local health, housing, 
     and environment agencies, and the private sector.
       (b) Authority of the Secretary.--The Secretary of Housing 
     and Urban Development may award grants, contracts, or 
     interagency agreements to carry out the activities required 
     under this section.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
     2013, $14,800,000 for carrying out the activities under this 
     section.

     SEC. 202. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION PROGRAM 
                   CAPACITY ON HOUSING-RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS.

       Section 317A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     247b-1) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)--
       (i) in clause (i), by inserting ``and other housing-related 
     illnesses and injuries'' after ``screening for elevated blood 
     lead levels'';
       (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``referral for treatment 
     of such levels'' and inserting ``referral for treatment of 
     elevated blood lead levels and other housing-related 
     illnesses and injuries''; and
       (iii) in clause (iii), by striking ``intervention 
     associated with such levels'' and inserting ``intervention 
     associated with elevated blood lead levels and other housing- 
     related illnesses and injuries''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B) by inserting before the period at 
     the end ``and other housing-related illnesses and injuries'';
       (2) in subsection (l), by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Additional appropriations.--In addition to any other 
     authorization of appropriation available under this Act to 
     the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the 
     purpose of carrying out the lead poisoning prevention grant 
     program, there is authorized to be appropriated for each of 
     fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention $10,000,000 to incorporate healthy 
     housing principles into the work of program staff and 
     grantees.''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(n) Healthy Housing Approach.--An eligible entity under 
     this section is encouraged to--
       ``(1) in general, work toward a transition from a 
     categorical lead-based paint approach to a comprehensive 
     healthy housing approach that focuses on primary prevention 
     of housing-related health hazards (as that term is defined 
     under section 3 of the Research, Hazard Intervention, and 
     National Outreach for Healthier Homes Act of 2008);
       ``(2) train staff in healthy housing principles;
       ``(3) promote the incorporation of healthy housing 
     principles into ongoing State and local programs and systems; 
     and
       ``(4) incorporate healthy housing principles into education 
     programs for parents, educators, community-based 
     organizations, local health officials, health professionals, 
     and paraprofessionals.''.

     SEC. 203. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PROGRAM CAPACITY ON 
                   HOUSING-RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency, acting through the director of the Office 
     of Children's Health Protection and Environmental Education, 
     shall address health hazards in the home environment, with 
     particular attention to children, the elderly, and families 
     with limited resources.
       (b) Required Actions of Office of Children's Health 
     Protection and Environmental Education.--The director of the 
     Office of Children's Health Protection and Environmental 
     Education, in consultation with other relevant offices within 
     the Environmental Protection Agency, shall--
       (1) monitor standards set by the Environmental Protection 
     Agency to ensure that the standards are protective of 
     elevated risks faced by children or the elderly;
       (2) develop policies to address aggregate, cumulative, and 
     simultaneous exposures experienced by children and the 
     elderly, with particular attention to hazards in the home 
     environment;
       (3) coordinate healthy housing efforts across the 
     Environmental Protection Agency;
       (4) promote the incorporation of healthy housing principles 
     into ongoing practices and systems, including the work of 
     State and local environment departments;
       (5) encourage and expand healthy housing educational 
     efforts to partners, grantees, the private sector, 
     environmental professionals, and the public; and
       (6) designate not less than 1 representative per region, to 
     coordinate children's environmental health activities, 
     including healthy housing efforts, with State and local 
     environmental departments.
       (c) Authority of the Administrator.--The Administrator of 
     the Environmental Protection Agency may award grants, 
     contracts, or interagency agreements to carry out the 
     activities required under this section.
       (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to alter, invalidate, repeal, or otherwise 
     supercede the duties assigned to any office within the 
     Environmental Protection Agency under any other provision of 
     law.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
     2013, $8,000,000 for carrying out the activities under this 
     section.

     SEC. 204. HEALTH HAZARD REDUCTION GRANTS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall award health

[[Page S10077]]

     hazard reduction grants to enable eligible applicants from 
     other eligible Federal programs to reduce significant 
     structural, health, and safety hazards in the home.
       (b) Eligible Programs.--Programs eligible to participate in 
     the grant program established under this section shall be 
     Federal assistance programs that pertain to housing, as 
     determined by the Secretary, including--
       (1) the Community Development Block Grant program under 
     title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 
     (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.);
       (2) the HOME Investment Partnerships program under title II 
     of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 
     U.S.C. 12721 et seq.);
       (3) the lead hazard control grants under the Residential 
     Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 4851 
     et seq.);
       (4) the Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income 
     Persons established under part A of title IV of the Energy 
     Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 et seq.);
       (5) the low-income home energy assistance program 
     established under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act 
     of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.);
       (6) rural housing assistance grants under section 515 of 
     the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485); and
       (7) any other temporary or other Federal housing assistance 
     programs that benefit low-income households.
       (c) Eligible Applicants.--Eligible applicants for grants 
     under this section shall be nonprofit or governmental 
     entities that have applied for or receive primary funding 
     from an eligible program, and may include State and local 
     agencies, community action program agencies, subrecipients of 
     funds under the Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-
     Income Persons established under part A of title IV of the 
     Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 et 
     seq.), community development corporations, community housing 
     development organizations, and other nonprofit organizations 
     as determined by the Secretary.
       (d) Award of Grants.--
       (1) In general.--Each eligible program shall submit a list 
     of the recipients of the grant funds awarded by the eligible 
     program to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
     prior to publicly announcing such list.
       (2) Competitive basis.--The Secretary shall award grants 
     under this section on a competitive basis.
       (3) Funding cycles.--In the event that the Secretary of 
     Housing and Urban Development announces the availability of 
     grants under this section prior to an eligible program's 
     public announcements of the list of recipients of grant funds 
     described under paragraph (1), a grantee from that eligible 
     program may apply for grants under this section during the 
     next funding cycle.
       (e) Eligible Activities.--
       (1) In general.--Grants awarded under this section may be 
     used to fund corrective and preventive measures to address 
     housing-related health hazards and safety hazards, and energy 
     burden problems, including--
       (A) roof repair and replacement;
       (B) structural repairs and exterior grading;
       (C) window repair and replacement;
       (D) correction of combustion gas appliance back-drafting 
     and other serious ventilation problems;
       (E) provision of adequate ventilation;
       (F) integrated pest management; and
       (G) control of other critical housing-related health and 
     safety hazards, such as installation of smoke alarms, carbon 
     monoxide detection devices, and radon testing and mitigation.
       (2) Covered costs.--The costs of visual assessment and 
     testing for baseline documentation of problems, and eligible 
     corrective and preventive measures to address such problems, 
     shall be allowable program expenses.
       (f) Flexible Funding.--Grants awarded under this section 
     shall be subject to the requirements that govern the primary 
     source of Federal funds supporting each project.
       (g) Administrative Expenses.--Not more than 10 percent of 
     funds for each grant awarded under this section may be used 
     for administrative expenses.
       (h) Reporting Requirements.--Consistent with the 
     supplemental purpose of the grant program established under 
     this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
     shall streamline reporting and record keeping requirements by 
     building on existing reporting requirements of the eligible 
     program. For each property receiving treatments funded by 
     grants under this section, the grantee shall document the 
     problems treated and the amount of grant funds used, and 
     report such information to the primary awarding agency, which 
     shall aggregate reports and supporting data and submit all 
     such reports and data to the Secretary.
       (i) Evaluation.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall review the implementation of the grant 
     program established under this section beginning on the date 
     of enactment of this Act and ending on the date that is 1 
     years after such date of enactment. The review shall 
     determine how grantees use and leverage funds and evaluate 
     the cost-effectiveness of the grant program, taking into 
     account the aggregate health, safety, energy savings, and 
     durability benefits from measures taken, as well as the 
     success of the grant program's leveraging of and coordination 
     with Federal investments from other programs.
       (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
     2011, $10,000,000 for carrying out the activities under this 
     section.

     SEC. 205. EFFECTIVE TRAINING ON HOUSING-RELATED HEALTH 
                   HAZARDS.

       (a) Public Health Service Act Amendments.--Section 317B of 
     the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-3) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Training.--The Secretary, acting through the Director 
     of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall--
       ``(A) train lead poisoning prevention program staff in 
     healthy housing principles;
       ``(B) deliver training and technical assistance in the 
     identification and control of housing-related health hazards 
     (as that term is defined in section 3 of the Research, Hazard 
     Intervention, and National Outreach for Healthier Homes Act 
     of 2008) to staff of State and local public health 
     departments and code enforcement agencies, health care 
     providers, other health care delivery systems and 
     professionals, and community-based organizations; and
       ``(C) provide resources and incentives to State and local 
     health departments to support the wide availability of free 
     or low-cost training to prevent and control housing-related 
     health hazards.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Authorizations of Appropriations.--In addition to any 
     other authorization of appropriation available under this Act 
     to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the 
     purpose of carrying out lead poisoning prevention education, 
     the Interagency Task Force, technology assessment, and 
     epidemiology, there is authorized to be appropriated for each 
     of fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention $8,000,000 to facilitate a transition 
     from categorical lead poisoning prevention to comprehensive 
     healthy housing approaches.''.
       (b) Department of Agriculture.--
       (1) Technical assistance.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall, acting 
     through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
     Extension Service, establish a competitive grant program to 
     promote education and outreach on housing-related health 
     hazards.
       (B) Eligible applicants.--The Secretary of Agriculture may 
     award grants, on a competitive basis, under this subsection 
     to land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in 
     section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
     Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) 
     for education and extension services.
       (C) Criteria for grants.--Grants under this subsection 
     shall be awarded to address housing-related health hazards 
     through translation of the latest research into easy-to-use 
     guidelines, development and dissemination of outreach 
     materials, and operation of training and education programs 
     to build capacity at a local level.
       (2) Expanded training.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall, 
     acting through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
     Extension Service Regional Integrated Pest Management 
     Training Centers, expand training and outreach activities to 
     include structural integrated pest management topics.
       (3) Coverage of lead-based paint and other health 
     hazards.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall, acting through 
     the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, in 
     consultation with the Cooperative State Research, Education, 
     and Extension Service Housing and Indoor Environments 
     Division, ensure that food and nutrition subject matter 
     content for adults and youth includes effective information 
     about preventing exposure to lead-based paint, pests, 
     pesticides, mold, and, where there is sufficient data, about 
     preventing exposure to other biological or chemical food 
     safety hazards in and around the home.
       (c) Evaluation.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention and the Secretary of 
     Agriculture shall evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the 
     training programs authorized under this section and prepare a 
     report, the results of which shall be posted on the website 
     of each agency.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
     2013--
       (1) $700,000 for carrying out the activities under 
     subsection (b)(1);
       (2) $250,000 for carrying out the activities under 
     subsection (b)(2); and
       (3) $250,000 for carrying out the activities under 
     subsection (b)(3).

     SEC. 206. ENFORCEMENT OF LEAD DISCLOSURE RULE.

       Subsection (a) of section 1018 of subtitle A, of title X of 
     the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 
     4852d), is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) Authority of the secretary.--
       ``(A) Investigations.--The Secretary is authorized to 
     conduct such investigations as may be necessary to administer 
     and carry out his duties under this section. The Secretary is 
     authorized to administer oaths and require by subpoena the 
     production of documents, and the attendance and testimony of 
     witnesses as the Secretary deems advisable. Nothing contained 
     in this subparagraph shall prevent the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency from exercising authority 
     under the Toxic Substances Control Act or this Act.

[[Page S10078]]

       ``(B) Enforcement.--Any district court of the United States 
     within the jurisdiction of which an inquiry is carried, on 
     application of the Attorney General, may, in the case of 
     contumacy or refusal to permit entry under this section or to 
     obey a subpoena of the Secretary issued under this section, 
     issue an order requiring such entry or such compliance 
     therewith. Any failure to obey such order of the court may be 
     punished by such court as a contempt thereof.''.

           TITLE III--EDUCATION ON HEALTH HAZARDS IN HOUSING

     SEC. 301. HEALTHY HOME SEAL OF APPROVAL PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established within the 
     Environmental Protection Agency the following labeling 
     programs:
       (1) Products and materials labeling program.--A voluntary 
     labeling program to evaluate consumer products intended for 
     home use and housing materials to determine their efficacy in 
     fostering a healthy home environment.
       (2) Criteria for housing labeling program.--A voluntary 
     labeling program to expand upon the Energy Star program 
     established by section 324A of the Energy Policy and 
     Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6294a) to establish health-
     promoting design and maintenance criteria for new and 
     existing housing.
       (b) Duties.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency shall, in consultation with the Secretary 
     of Housing and Urban Development and the Director of the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--
       (A) promote the Healthy Home Seal of Approval for consumer 
     products and materials, and for criteria for housing as the 
     preferred options in the marketplace for achieving optimum 
     indoor environmental quality and maximum occupant health;
       (B) work to enhance public awareness of the Healthy Home 
     Seal of Approval for consumer products and materials, and for 
     criteria for housing, including by providing special outreach 
     to small businesses;
       (C) conduct research and provide sound science and methods 
     to evaluate products, materials, and criteria for housing 
     that preserves the integrity of the Healthy Home Seal of 
     Approval for consumer products and materials, and for 
     criteria for housing label;
       (D) regularly update the requirements for the Healthy Home 
     Seal of Approval for products and materials, and for criteria 
     for housing;
       (E) solicit comments from interested parties prior to 
     establishing or revising a Healthy Home Seal of Approval, 
     including a change to a product category, material category, 
     specification, or criterion (or prior to effective dates for 
     any such product category, material category, specification, 
     or criterion);
       (F) on adoption of a new or revised product category, 
     material category, specification, or criterion in a Healthy 
     Home Seal of Approval, provide reasonable notice to 
     interested parties of any changes (including effective dates) 
     in product categories, material categories, specifications, 
     or criteria, along with--
       (i) an explanation of the changes; and
       (ii) as appropriate, responses to comments submitted by 
     interested parties; and
       (G) provide appropriate lead time (which shall be 270 days, 
     unless the Administrator specifies otherwise) prior to the 
     applicable effective date for a new or a significant revision 
     to a Healthy Home Seal of Approval, including a change to a 
     product category, material category, specification, or 
     criterion.
       (2) Lead time.--If a product category is revised in 
     accordance with paragraph (1)(G), the lead time shall take 
     into account the timing requirements of the manufacturing, 
     product marketing, and distribution process for the specific 
     product addressed.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
     2013, $6,000,000 for carrying out the activities under this 
     section.

     SEC. 302. OUTREACH ON HEALTH HAZARDS IN HOUSING.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency, acting through the Office of Children's 
     Health Protection and Environmental Education, shall provide 
     education and outreach to the general public on the--
       (1) environmental health risks experienced by the elderly; 
     and
       (2) low-cost methods for addressing such risks.
       (b) Food Quality Protection.--Section 303 of the Food 
     Quality Protection Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 136r-1) is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``The Secretary'' 
     and inserting the following:
       ``(a) Programs.--
       ``(1) Implementation.--The Secretary'';
       (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``Integrated Pest 
     Management is'' and inserting the following:
       ``(2) Definition of integrated pest management.--In this 
     section, the term `Integrated Pest Management' means'';
       (3) in the third sentence, by striking ``The Secretary'' 
     and inserting the following:
       ``(b) Federal Agencies.--
       ``(1) Availability of information.--The Secretary'';
       (4) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``Federal 
     agencies'' and inserting the following:
       ``(2) Use.--A Federal agency''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       ``(1) $300,000 for use by the Secretary of Agriculture; and
       ``(2) $300,000 for use by the Administrator.''.
       (c) Grant Program.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall award funds for a Health Hazards Outreach 
     competitive grant program.
       (2) Eligible applicants.--Eligible applicants for a grant 
     under paragraph (1) are national nonprofit organizations, and 
     State and local entities, including community-based 
     organizations and government health, environmental, and 
     housing departments.
       (3) Eligible activities.--Funds awarded under this 
     subsection may be used to--
       (A) document the need for healthy housing assessments or 
     controls in a given community or communities;
       (B) perform outreach and education with a community-level 
     focus; and
       (C) develop policy and capacity building approaches.
       (4) Collaboration with local institutions.--Eligible 
     applicants under this subsection are encouraged to--
       (A) forge partnerships among State or local level 
     government and nonprofit entities; and
       (B) improve the incorporation of healthy housing principles 
     into existing State and local systems where possible.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
     2013--
       (1) $300,000 for carrying out the activities under 
     subsection (a); and
       (2) $2,000,000 for carrying out the activities under 
     subsection (c).

     SEC. 303. NATIONAL HEALTHY HOUSING MEDIA CAMPAIGN.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention, and the Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency shall establish and maintain a national 
     healthy housing media campaign.
       (b) Requirements of Campaign.--The Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development, the Director of the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention, and the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency shall--
       (1) determine the design of the national healthy housing 
     media campaign, including by--
       (A) identifying the target audience;
       (B) formulating and packaging unified messages regarding--
       (i) how best to assess health hazards in the home; and
       (ii) how best to prevent and control health hazards in the 
     home;
       (C) identifying ideal mechanisms for dissemination;
       (D) distributing responsibilities and establishing an 
     ongoing system of coordination; and
       (E) incorporating input from the target audience of the 
     campaign;
       (2) carry out the operation of a national healthy housing 
     media campaign that--
       (A) draws upon existing outreach and public education 
     efforts to the maximum extent practicable;
       (B) provides critical healthy housing information in a 
     concise and simple manner; and
       (C) uses multiple media strategies to reach the maximum 
     number of people in the target audience as possible; and
       (3) evaluate the performance of the campaign, including 
     by--
       (A) tracking the accomplishments of the campaign;
       (B) identifying changes in healthy housing awareness, 
     healthy housing activities, and the healthy housing 
     conditions among the target audience of the campaign;
       (C) assessing the cost-effectiveness of the campaign in 
     achieving the goals of the campaign; and
       (D) preparing a final evaluation report within 1 year of 
     the close of the campaign, the results of which shall be 
     posted on the website of each such agency.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
     2013, $6,000,000 for carrying out the activities under this 
     section.

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