[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7581-H7583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS LEADING EVERY RESIDENT TO SAFETY ACT OF 2019

  Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 1690) to require carbon monoxide alarms or detectors in 
certain federally assisted housing, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1690

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Carbon Monoxide Alarms 
     Leading Every Resident To Safety Act of 2019'' or the ``CO 
     ALERTS Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) carbon monoxide alarms are not required by federally 
     assisted housing programs, when not required by State or 
     local codes;
       (2) numerous federally assisted housing residents have lost 
     their lives due to carbon monoxide poisoning;
       (3) the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning occur 
     immediately and can result in death in a matter of minutes;
       (4) carbon monoxide exposure can cause permanent brain 
     damage, life-threatening cardiac complications, fetal death 
     or miscarriage, and death, among other harmful health 
     conditions;
       (5) carbon monoxide poisoning is especially dangerous for 
     unborn babies, children, elderly individuals, and individuals 
     with cardiovascular disease, among others with chronic health 
     conditions;
       (6) the majority of the 4,600,000 families receiving 
     Federal housing assistance are families with young children, 
     elderly individuals, or individuals with disabilities, making 
     them especially vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning;
       (7) more than 400 people die and 50,000 additional people 
     visit the emergency room annually as a result of carbon 
     monoxide poisoning;
       (8) carbon monoxide poisoning is entirely preventable and 
     early detection is possible with the use of carbon monoxide 
     alarms;
       (9) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns 
     that carbon monoxide poisoning is entirely preventable and 
     recommends the installation of carbon monoxide alarms;
       (10) the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes of 
     the Department of Housing and Urban Development recommends 
     the installation of carbon monoxide alarms as a best practice 
     to keep families and individuals safe and to protect health; 
     and
       (11) in order to safeguard the health and well-being of 
     tenants in federally assisted housing, the Federal Government 
     should consider best practices for primary prevention of 
     carbon monoxide-related incidents.

     SEC. 3. CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS OR DETECTORS IN FEDERALLY 
                   ASSISTED HOUSING.

       (a) Public Housing, Tenant-Based Assistance, and Project-
     Based Assistance.--The United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
     U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 3(a) (42 U.S.C. 1437a(a)), by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(8) Carbon monoxide alarms.--Each public housing agency 
     shall ensure that carbon monoxide alarms or detectors are 
     installed in each dwelling unit in public housing owned or 
     operated by the public housing agency in a manner that meets 
     or exceeds--
       ``(A) the standards described in chapters 9 and 11 of the 
     2018 publication of the International Fire Code, as published 
     by the International Code Council; or
       ``(B) any other standards as may be adopted by the 
     Secretary, including any relevant updates to the 
     International Fire Code, through a notice published in the 
     Federal Register.''; and
       (2) in section 8 (42 U.S.C. 1437f)--
       (A) by inserting after subsection (i) the following:
       ``(j) Carbon Monoxide Alarms.--Each owner of a dwelling 
     unit receiving project-based assistance under this section 
     shall ensure that carbon monoxide alarms or detectors are 
     installed in the dwelling unit in a manner that meets or 
     exceeds--
       ``(1) the standards described in chapters 9 and 11 of the 
     2018 publication of the International Fire Code, as published 
     by the International Code Council; or
       ``(2) any other standards as may be adopted by the 
     Secretary, including any relevant updates to the 
     International Fire Code, through a notice published in the 
     Federal Register.''; and
       (B) in subsection (o), by adding at the end the following:
       ``(21) Carbon monoxide alarms.--Each dwelling unit 
     receiving tenant-based assistance or project-based assistance 
     under this subsection shall have carbon monoxide alarms or 
     detectors installed in the dwelling unit in a manner that 
     meets or exceeds--
       ``(A) the standards described in chapters 9 and 11 of the 
     2018 publication of the International Fire Code, as published 
     by the International Code Council; or
       ``(B) any other standards as may be adopted by the 
     Secretary, including any relevant updates to the 
     International Fire Code, through a notice published in the 
     Federal Register.''.
       (b) Supportive Housing for the Elderly.--Section 202(j) of 
     the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q(j)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) Carbon monoxide alarms.--Each owner of a dwelling 
     unit assisted under this section shall ensure that carbon 
     monoxide alarms or detectors are installed in the dwelling 
     unit in a manner that meets or exceeds--
       ``(A) the standards described in chapters 9 and 11 of the 
     2018 publication of the International Fire Code, as published 
     by the International Code Council; or
       ``(B) any other standards as may be adopted by the 
     Secretary, including any relevant updates to the 
     International Fire Code, through a notice published in the 
     Federal Register.''.
       (c) Supportive Housing for Persons With Disabilities.--
     Section 811(j) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable 
     Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013(j)) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(7) Carbon monoxide alarms.--Each dwelling unit assisted 
     under this section shall contain installed carbon monoxide 
     alarms or detectors that meet or exceed--
       ``(A) the standards described in chapters 9 and 11 of the 
     2018 publication of the International Fire Code, as published 
     by the International Code Council; or
       ``(B) any other standards as may be adopted by the 
     Secretary, including any relevant updates to the 
     International Fire Code, through a notice published in the 
     Federal Register.''.
       (d) Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS.--Section 
     856 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 12905) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(i) Carbon Monoxide Alarms.--Each dwelling unit assisted 
     under this subtitle shall contain installed carbon monoxide 
     alarms or detectors that meet or exceed--
       ``(1) the standards described in chapters 9 and 11 of the 
     2018 publication of the International Fire Code, as published 
     by the International Code Council; or
       ``(2) any other standards as may be adopted by the 
     Secretary, including any relevant updates to the 
     International Fire Code, through a notice published in the 
     Federal Register.''.
       (e) Rural Housing.--Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 
     U.S.C. 1471 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 514 (42 U.S.C. 1484), by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(j) Housing and related facilities constructed with loans 
     under this section shall contain installed carbon monoxide 
     alarms or detectors that meet or exceed--
       ``(1) the standards described in chapters 9 and 11 of the 
     2018 publication of the International Fire Code, as published 
     by the International Code Council; or
       ``(2) any other standards as may be adopted by the 
     Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development, including any relevant updates to the 
     International Fire Code, through a notice published in the 
     Federal Register.''; and
       (2) in section 515 (42 U.S.C. 1485)--
       (A) in subsection (m), by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The 
     Secretary shall establish''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Housing and related facilities rehabilitated or 
     repaired with amounts received under a loan made or insured 
     under this section shall contain installed carbon monoxide 
     alarms or detectors that meet or exceed--
       ``(A) the standards described in chapters 9 and 11 of the 
     2018 publication of the International Fire Code, as published 
     by the International Code Council; or
       ``(B) any other standards as may be adopted by the 
     Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development, including any relevant updates to the 
     International Fire Code, through a notice published in the 
     Federal Register.''.
       (f) Guidance.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall provide guidance to public housing agencies 
     (as defined in section 3(b)(6) of the United States Housing 
     Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(6)) on how to educate tenants 
     on health hazards in the home, including to carbon monoxide 
     poisoning, lead poisoning, asthma induced by housing-related 
     allergens, and other housing-related preventable outcomes, to 
     help advance primary prevention and prevent future deaths and 
     other harms.
       (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     through (d) shall take effect on the date that is 2 years 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this Act, $101,400,000 per 
     year for each of fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022.

[[Page H7582]]

       (i) No Preemption.--Nothing in the amendments made by this 
     section shall be construed to preempt or limit the 
     applicability of any State or local law relating to the 
     installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms or 
     detectors in housing that requires standards that are more 
     stringent than the standards described in the amendments made 
     by this section.

     SEC. 4. STUDY ON INCLUSION OF CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS OR 
                   DETECTORS IN OTHER UNITS.

       The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in 
     consultation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
     shall conduct a study and issue a publicly available report 
     on requiring carbon monoxide alarms or detectors in federally 
     assisted housing that is not covered in the amendments made 
     by section 3.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Guam (Mr. San Nicolas) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stivers) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material 
thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1690, the CO ALERTS Act 
of 2019, which would prevent needless carbon monoxide deaths from 
happening in federally assisted housing.
  Known as the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless, 
colorless, tasteless, and nonirritant gas that is produced by common 
fuel-burning products and appliances, such as gas ranges, cars, heating 
systems, boilers, and portable engine-driven generators.
  High levels of carbon monoxide can cause serious illness and, in 
worst cases, death. Carbon monoxide poisoning is as risky to health and 
safety as a fire.
  But while smoke detectors are required in all housing units, 
including public and assisted housing units, carbon monoxide detectors 
are not. Only some States and localities currently require carbon 
monoxide detectors. They are not otherwise required in federally 
assisted housing, such as public housing or private market units 
inhabited by Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher households. Therefore, 
public and assisted housing residents are at risk of this silent 
killer.
  According to media reports, there have been 13 carbon monoxide 
poisoning deaths cited in public housing since 2003. Four have occurred 
in 2019 alone.
  In April of this year, HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing sent 
a notice to public housing authorities and private owners of HUD-
subsidized housing to encourage them to install and maintain carbon 
monoxide detectors.
  Unfortunately, in the absence of funding and clear statutory 
requirements, public housing authorities and property owners will 
struggle to afford the cost of these critical safety devices.
  H.R. 1690 will provide just over $300 million over a 3-year period to 
support the installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide detectors 
and alarms in public and assisted housing, including units in rural 
areas.
  No family should have to learn their loved ones died because Congress 
did not invest in a simple and cost-effective solution that would have 
prevented this tragedy from happening in the first place.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia) for 
introducing this lifesaving legislation, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 1690, the Carbon Monoxide ALERTS Act of 
2019, by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia).
  Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas emitted from household 
items like stoves, furnaces, fireplaces, and portable generators that 
can cause sudden illness or death when it is inhaled.
  The Centers for Disease Control, CDC, reports that each year more 
than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, 
and more than 4,000 people are hospitalized.
  The good news is that carbon monoxide poisoning is easily detectable 
and preventable through the installation of relatively inexpensive, 
battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors.
  But, unlike fire alarms, Federal law doesn't currently require 
federally assisted housing properties to have carbon monoxide 
detectors. H.R. 1690 would address that by requiring that properties in 
Section 8 public housing, Section 202 for elderly folks, and Section 
811 for disabled people have at least one carbon monoxide detector per 
floor installed.
  This bill builds on the proactive work of HUD Secretary Ben Carson. 
In April, Secretary Carson issued a notice to all properties in the 
programs encouraging them to do just that and followed up with a 
release of $5 million in funding for the installation of these 
detectors in public housing. I commend Secretary Carson for taking that 
action and issuing that guidance.
  I also want to thank Representative Garcia for this legislation, and 
I want to thank Senator Scott for his work on similar legislation in 
the United States Senate. This is a bill that will save lives and will 
help make us all safer.
  Again, I want to commend Representative Garcia for his great work on 
this. I would urge its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Garcia), the sponsor of the legislation and an active 
member of the Financial Services Committee.
  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a 
practical bill that will ensure healthy, safe housing.
  H.R. 1690, the Safe Housing for Families Act, now named the Carbon 
Monoxide ALERTS Act, or CO ALERTS Act, would require the installation 
of carbon monoxide detectors in all federally assisted public housing 
to prevent needless deaths.
  The legislation I introduced with my colleague,   Joe Cunningham of 
South Carolina, passed out of the Financial Services Committee 
unanimously, and bipartisan action in the Senate is well underway.
  Secretary Carson of the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
testified in support of our efforts to put an end to carbon monoxide 
deaths in public housing.
  Allow me to share a story about Gwendolyn and Anthony Fleming, who 
were residents of the Hickory Hollow residence in Wayne, Michigan. They 
moved to their community to be somewhere quiet and safe, but the fact 
that HUD doesn't require carbon monoxide detectors on its facilities 
put them in grave danger.

  On a cold February day this year, Ashley, their daughter, pulled up 
to Hickory Hollow with her three kids. She expected to find her parents 
waiting for a routine family dinner. When her parents didn't return her 
calls or answer the door, she knew that something was wrong and called 
the police. Ashley's mother had died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
  When the medical examiner arrived, Ashley knew it was time to leave. 
``I didn't want to see them bring my mother's body out in a body bag,'' 
she said. ``And I didn't want my children to see that either.''
  Anthony Fleming, Ashley's father, was found unconscious and was taken 
to a hospital. He never regained consciousness.
  These deaths--and many others--were preventable.
  Since 2003, 13 people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning in 
federally subsidized housing. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control 
reports that 50,000 individuals per year are sickened by carbon 
monoxide poisoning, and over 400 die per year.
  It is unconscionable that the very people our government seeks to 
provide shelter for are dying in their homes. All it takes is a 
detector, just like smoke detectors we already require in every 
building.
  Secretary Carson said it himself: ``A simple, inexpensive, widely 
available device can be the difference between life and death. Given 
the unevenness of State and local law, we intend to make certain that 
carbon monoxide detectors

[[Page H7583]]

are required in all our housing programs, just as we require smoke 
detectors, no matter where our HUD-assisted families live.''
  In April, HUD proposed a rule to require carbon monoxide detectors on 
its housing units. In May, HUD announced $5 million to install 
detectors. We know, however, that the rulemaking process can drag on 
for months.
  Already, almost 25 States already require carbon monoxide monitors in 
homes, and it was Secretary Carson who suggested that the patchwork of 
State laws be aligned around the principle of expanding public safety 
protections.

                              {time}  1415

  Testifying before the Financial Services Committee in May, Secretary 
Carson said that he was 100 percent in favor of resolving this issue 
and said, ``As quickly as we can get it done, it is going to get 
done.'' The quickest possible solution is for the House to pass the 
bill before us today.
  Secretary Carson's staff at HUD have been engaged in working with 
Congress to expedite the rule-making process and make sure that 
protections are put in place before the cold winter months arrive. This 
bill has already spurred legislative action in the Senate, and the 
bipartisan efforts moving through the Senate Banking Committee are now 
aligned in this bill.
  Let's pass this life-saving legislation and protect those in 
Federally assisted housing.
  I would like to thank the staff of the House Financial Services 
Committee, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and in the 
Senate those who have worked to ensure that our efforts will 
effectively prevent needless deaths as quickly as possible.
  I would also especially like to thank Senator Kamala Harris for 
working with me to introduce this legislation and to Senators Menendez 
and Scott for helping us make technical changes to improve the bill.
  I also want to thank Chair Maxine Waters, ranking members Pat McHenry 
and Mr. Stivers of Ohio and members of their staff for all their work 
on this bill, which received unanimous support from the Financial 
Services Committee.
  Numerous housing, public health, and home security groups support 
this legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia).
  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. The supporters of this bill include the 
National Association of Realtors, the National Low Income Housing 
Coalition, the American Public Health Association, the National Housing 
Law Project, the National Housing Trust, the Public Housing Authorities 
Directors Association, the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, 
the Latin United Community Housing Association, Justice Innovations, 
Safe Kids Illinois, and the Security Industry Association.
  Colleagues, let's seize the rare opportunity to advance 
straightforward life-saving legislation that has already won bipartisan 
support in this House. Saving lives in our housing facilities with a 
simple, inexpensive solution is not a partisan issue. It is exactly 
what our constituents sent us here to do, work together to find 
solutions for the American people. I urge you to support H.R. 1690, the 
CO ALERTS Act.
  Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. 
Speaker, again, I rise in support of H.R. 1690, the CO ALERTS Act. I 
want to thank my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Garcia). I also want to 
recognize Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina, who was the Senate 
sponsor of the bill, and we want to help make this into law. I rise in 
support of this legislation and would urge all my colleagues to support 
this great legislation from Mr. Garcia and Senator Scott.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I just want to extend a sincere thanks to Representative Garcia for 
this life-saving legislation. To be able to introduce something that is 
actually going to save lives, not just immediately but over the 
generations that we are going to continue to provide for is something 
very profound. It is an honor to be able to serve with Representative 
Garcia. It is an honor to see so much bipartisan support for this 
legislation, as well as both Houses of our Congress.
  I humbly ask my colleagues to please join all of us in supporting 
this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1690, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________