[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 23023-23032]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Akaka, and Mr. 
        Inouye):
  S. 3651. A bill to provide for the settlement df certain claims under 
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, the Tlingit and Haida people, the first 
people of Southeast Alaska, were perhaps the first group of Alaska 
Natives to organize for the purpose of asserting their aboriginal land 
claims. The Native land claims movement in the rest of Alaska did not 
gain momentum until the 1960s when aboriginal land titles were 
threatened by the impending construction of the Trans Alaska Pipeline. 
In southeast Alaska, the taking of Native lands for the Tongass 
National Forest and Glacier Bay National Monument spurred the Tlingit 
and Haida people to fight to recover their lands in the early part of 
the 20th Century.
  One of the first steps in this battle came with the formation of the 
Alaska Native Brotherhood in 1912. In 1935, the Jurisdictional Act, 
which allowed the Tlingit and Haida Indians to pursue their land claims 
in the U.S. Court of Claims, was enacted by Congress.
  After decades of litigation, the Native people of southeast Alaska 
received a cash settlement in 1968 from the Court of Claims for the 
land previously taken to create the Tongass National Forest and the 
Glacier Bay National Monument. Yes there was a cash settlement of $7.5 
million but the Native people of southeast Alaska have long believed 
that it did not adequately compensate them for the loss of their lands 
and resources.
  Beware the law of unintended consequences. When the Native people of 
southeast Alaska chose to pursue their land claims in court they could 
not have foreseen that Congress would ultimately settle the land claims 
of all of Alaska's Native people through the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act of 1971. Nor could they have foreseen that they would be 
disadvantaged in obtaining the return of their aboriginal lands because 
of their early, and ultimately successful, effort to litigate their 
land claims. Sadly this was the case.
  The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 imposed a series of 
highly prescriptive limitations on the lands that Sealaska Corporation, 
the regional Alaska Native Corporation formed for southeast Alaska, 
could select in satisfaction of the Tlingit and Haida land claim. None 
of the other 11 Alaska based regional Native corporations were subject 
to these limitations. Today, I join with Mr. Stevens, Mr. Akaka and Mr. 
Inouye to introduce legislation to right this wrong.
  For the most part, Sealaska Corporation has agreed to live within the 
constraints imposed by the 1971 legislation. It has taken conveyance to 
290,000 acres from the pool of lands it was allowed to select under the 
1971 act. As Sealaska moves to finalize its land selections it has 
asked the Congress for flexibility to receive title to certain lands 
which it was not permitted to select under the prescriptive, and as 
Sealaska believes, discriminatory, limitations contained in the 1971 
legislation.
  The legislation we are introducing today would allow Sealaska to 
select its remaining entitlement from outside of the withdrawal areas 
permitted in the 1971 legislation. It allows the Native corporation to 
select up to 3,600

[[Page 23024]]

acres of its remaining land entitlement from lands with sacred, 
cultural, traditional or historical significance. Substantial 
restrictions will be placed on the use of these lands.
  Up to 5,000 acres of land could be selected for non-timber related 
economic development. These lands are called ``Native Futures'' lands 
in the bill. Other lands referred to as ``economic development lands'' 
in the bill could be used for timber related and nontimber related 
economic development. These lands are on Prince of Wales Island.
  Sealaska observes that if it were required to take title to lands 
within the constraints prescribed by the 1971 legislation it would take 
title to large swaths of roadless acres in pristine portions of the 
Tongass National Forest. The lands it proposes to take for economic 
uses under this legislation are predominantly in roaded and less 
sensitive areas of the Tongass National Forest.
  The pools of lands which would be available to Sealaska under this 
legislation are depicted on a series of maps referred to in the bill. 
It must be emphasized that not all of the lands depicted on these maps 
will end up in Sealaska's ownership. Sealaska cannot receive title to 
lands in excess of its remaining acreage entitlement under the 1971 
legislation and this legislation does not change that entitlement.
  Earlier in the 110th Congress, several of our friends in the other 
body introduced H.R. 3560 to address these issues. Over the past year, 
Sealaska and the communities of southeast Alaska have worked 
collaboratively in good faith to identify issues that may arise from 
the transfer of lands on which those communities have relied for 
subsistence and recreation out of the Tongass National Forest and into 
Native corporation ownership. My colleagues in the Alaska congressional 
delegation and I have devoted a great deal of time in reaching out and 
encouraging comment from southeast Alaska on H.R. 3560. Sealaska has 
itself conducted numerous public meetings on the bill in southeast 
Alaska. I believe that these efforts have helped us to formulate a bill 
that addresses the concerns we most frequently heard.
  The legislation we are introducing today is different from H.R. 3560 
in numerous respects. In some cases, the lands open to Sealaska 
selection have changed from those which were referred to in H.R. 3560 
to accommodate community concerns. Our conversations have led to 
precedent setting commitments by the Sealaska Corporation to maintain 
public access to the economic development lands it receives on Prince 
of Wales Island for subsistence uses and recreational access. These 
commitments are laid out in Section 4(d) of our bill.
  Sealaska has also offered a series of commitments to ensure that the 
benefits of this legislation flow to the broader southeast Alaska 
economy and not just to the corporation and its Native shareholders. 
These commitments are memorialized in a letter from Sealaska's 
chairman, Alaska State Senator Albert Kookesh, and its president and 
chief executive officer, Chris E. McNeil, Jr.
  It comes as no secret to anyone that this legislation is introduced 
as we enter what may be the final hours of the 110th Congress. There 
will not be sufficient opportunity in the remaining hours of this 
Congress to consider the legislation. It will need to be reintroduced 
in January 2009. We hope that we can move on it in the early part of 
the 111th Congress.
  In the meantime, we encourage and welcome comments from the people 
and communities of southeast Alaska on the revised legislation and hope 
that we will be able to productively use the next few months to 
identify and resolve any issues or concerns that remain before the 
111th Congress begins.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and 
a letter of support be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3651

       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 ``Southeast Alaska Native Land 
     Entitlement Finalization Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1)(A) in 1971, Congress enacted the Alaska Native Claims 
     Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) to recognize and 
     settle the aboriginal claims of Alaska Natives to land 
     historically used by Alaska Natives for traditional, 
     cultural, and spiritual purposes; and
       (B) that Act declared that the land settlement ``should be 
     accomplished rapidly, with certainty, in conformity with the 
     real economic and social needs of Natives'';
       (2) the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 
     et seq.)--
       (A) authorized the distribution of approximately 
     $1,000,000,000 and 44,000,000 acres of land to Alaska 
     Natives; and
       (B) provided for the establishment of Native Corporations 
     to receive and manage the funds and that land to meet the 
     cultural, social, and economic needs of Native shareholders;
       (3) under section 12 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
     Act (43 U.S.C. 1611), each Regional Corporation, other than 
     Sealaska Corporation (the Regional Corporation for southeast 
     Alaska) (referred to in this Act as ``Sealaska''), was 
     authorized to receive a share of land based on the proportion 
     that the number of Alaska Native shareholders residing in the 
     region of the Regional Corporation bore to the total number 
     of Alaska Native shareholders, or the relative size of the 
     area to which the Regional Corporation had an aboriginal land 
     claim bore to the size of the area to which all Regional 
     Corporations had aboriginal land claims;
       (4)(A) Sealaska, the Regional Corporation for Southeast 
     Alaska, 1 of the Regional Corporations with the largest 
     number of Alaska Native shareholders, with more than 21 
     percent of all original Alaska Native shareholders, did not 
     receive land under section 12 of the Alaska Native Claims 
     Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1611);
       (B) the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska was 1 of 
     the entities representing the Alaska Natives of southeast 
     Alaska before the date of enactment of the Alaska Native 
     Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); and
       (C) Sealaska did not receive land in proportion to the 
     number of Alaska Native shareholders, or in proportion to the 
     size of the area to which Sealaska had an aboriginal land 
     claim, in part because of a United States Court of Claims 
     cash settlement to the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of 
     Alaska in 1968 for land previously taken to create the 
     Tongass National Forest and Glacier Bay National Monument;
       (5) the Court of Claims cash settlement of $7,500,000 did 
     not--
       (A) adequately compensate the Alaska Natives of southeast 
     Alaska for the significant quantity of land and resources 
     lost as a result of the creation of the Tongass National 
     Forest and Glacier Bay National Monument or other losses of 
     land and resources; or
       (B) justify the significant disparate treatment of Sealaska 
     under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 
     1611);
       (6)(A) while each other Regional Corporation received a 
     significant quantity of land under sections 12 and 14 of the 
     Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1611, 1613), 
     Sealaska only received land under section 14(h) of that Act 
     (43 U.S.C. 1613(h)), which provided a 2,000,000-acre land 
     pool from which Alaska Native selections could be made for 
     historic sites, cemetery sites, Urban Corporation land, 
     Native group land, and Native Allotments;
       (B) under section 14(h)(8) of that Act (43 U.S.C. 
     1613(h)(8)), after selections are made under paragraphs (1) 
     through (7) of that section, the land remaining in the 
     2,000,000-acre land pool is allocated based on the proportion 
     that the original Alaska Native shareholder population of a 
     Regional Corporation bore to the original Alaska Native 
     shareholder population of all Regional Corporations; and
       (C) the only land entitlement of Sealaska derives from a 
     proportion of leftover land remaining from the 2,000,000-acre 
     land pool, estimated as of the date of enactment of this Act 
     at approximately 1,700,000 acres;
       (7) despite the small land base of Sealaska as compared to 
     other Regional Corporations (less than 1 percent of the total 
     quantity of land allocated pursuant to the Alaska Native 
     Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)), Sealaska 
     has--
       (A) provided considerable benefits to shareholders; and
       (B) been a significant economic force in southeast Alaska;
       (8) pursuant to the revenue sharing provisions of section 
     7(i) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 
     1606(i)), Sealaska has distributed more than $300,000,000 
     during the period beginning on January 1, 1971, and ending on 
     December 31, 2005, to Native Corporations throughout the 
     State of Alaska from the development of natural resources, 
     which accounts for 42 percent of the total revenues shared 
     under that section during that period;
       (9) as a result of the small land entitlement of Sealaska, 
     it is critical that the remaining land entitlement 
     conveyances to

[[Page 23025]]

     Sealaska under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 
     U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) are fulfilled to continue to meet the 
     economic, social, and cultural needs of the Alaska Native 
     shareholders of southeast Alaska and the Alaska Native 
     community throughout Alaska;
       (10)(A) the conveyance requirements of the Alaska Native 
     Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) for southeast 
     Alaska limit the land eligible for conveyance to Sealaska to 
     the original withdrawal areas surrounding 10 Alaska Native 
     villages in southeast Alaska, which precludes Sealaska from 
     selecting land located--
       (i) in any withdrawal area established for the Urban 
     Corporations for Sitka and Juneau, Alaska; or
       (ii) outside the 10 Alaska Native village withdrawal areas; 
     and
       (B) unlike other Regional Corporations, Sealaska was not 
     authorized to request land located outside the withdrawal 
     areas described in subparagraph (A) if the withdrawal areas 
     were insufficient to complete the land entitlement of 
     Sealaska under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 
     U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);
       (11) 44 percent (820,000 acres) of the 10 Alaska Native 
     village withdrawal areas established under the Alaska Native 
     Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) described in 
     paragraph (10) are composed of salt water and not available 
     for selection;
       (12) of land subject to the selection rights of Sealaska, 
     110,000 acres are encumbered by gubernatorial consent 
     requirements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
     (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);
       (13) the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management 
     grossly underestimated the land entitlement of Sealaska under 
     the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et 
     seq.), resulting in an insufficient area from which Sealaska 
     could select land suitable for traditional, cultural, and 
     socioeconomic purposes to accomplish a settlement ``in 
     conformity with the real economic and social needs of 
     Natives'', as required under that Act;
       (14) the 10 Alaska Native village withdrawal areas in 
     southeast Alaska surround the Alaska Native communities of 
     Yakutat, Hoonah, Angoon, Kake, Kasaan, Klawock, Craig, 
     Hydaburg, Klukwan, and Saxman;
       (15) in each withdrawal area, there exist factors that 
     limit the ability of Sealaska to select sufficient land, and, 
     in particular, economically viable land, to fulfill the land 
     entitlement of Sealaska, including factors such as--
       (A) with respect to the Yakutat withdrawal area--
       (i) 46 percent of the area is salt water;
       (ii) 10 sections (6,400 acres) around the Situk Lake were 
     restricted from selection, with no consideration provided for 
     the restriction; and
       (iii)(I) 70,000 acres are subject to a gubernatorial 
     consent requirement before selection; and
       (II) Sealaska received no consideration with respect to the 
     consent restriction;
       (B) with respect to the Hoonah withdrawal area, 51 percent 
     of the area is salt water;
       (C) with respect to the Angoon withdrawal area--
       (i) 120,000 acres of the area is salt water;
       (ii) Sealaska received no consideration regarding the 
     prohibition on selecting land from the 80,000 acres located 
     within the Admiralty Island National Monument; and
       (iii)(I) the Village Corporation for Angoon was allowed to 
     select land located outside the withdrawal area on Prince of 
     Wales Island, subject to the condition that the Village 
     Corporation shall not select land located on Admiralty 
     Island; but
       (II) no alternative land adjacent to the out-of-withdrawal 
     land of the Village Corporation was made available for 
     selection by Sealaska;
       (D) with respect to the Kake withdrawal area--
       (i) 64 percent of the area is salt water; and
       (ii) extensive timber harvesting by the Forest Service 
     occurred in the area before 1971 that significantly reduced 
     the value of land available for selection by, and conveyance 
     to, Sealaska;
       (E) with respect to the Kasaan withdrawal area--
       (i) 54 percent of the area is salt water; and
       (ii) the Forest Service previously harvested in the area;
       (F) with respect to the Klawock withdrawal area--
       (i) the area consists of only 5 townships, as compared to 
     the usual withdrawal area of 9 townships, because of the 
     proximity of the Klawock withdrawal area to the Village of 
     Craig, which reduces the selection area by 92,160 acres; and
       (ii) the Klawock and Craig withdrawal areas are 35 percent 
     salt water;
       (G) with respect to the Craig withdrawal area, the 
     withdrawal area consists of only 6 townships, as compared to 
     the usual withdrawal area of 9 townships, because of the 
     proximity of the Craig withdrawal area to the Village of 
     Klawock, which reduces the selection area by 69,120 acres;
       (H) with respect to the Hydaburg withdrawal area--
       (i) 36 percent of the area is salt water; and
       (ii) Sealaska received no consideration under the Haida 
     Land Exchange Act of 1986 (Public Law No. 99-664; 100 Stat. 
     4303) for relinquishing selection rights to land within the 
     withdrawal area that the Haida Corporation exchanged to the 
     Forest Service;
       (I) with respect to the Klukwan withdrawal area--
       (i) 27 percent of the area is salt water; and
       (ii) the withdrawal area is only 70,000 acres, as compared 
     to the usual withdrawal area of 207,360 acres, which reduces 
     the selection area by 137,360 acres; and
       (J) with respect to the Saxman withdrawal area--
       (i) 29 percent of the area is salt water;
       (ii) Sealaska received no consideration for the 50,576 
     acres within the withdrawal area adjacent to the first-class 
     city of Ketchikan that were excluded from selection;
       (iii) Sealaska received no consideration with respect to 
     the 1977 amendment to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
     (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) requiring gubernatorial consent for 
     selection of 58,000 acres in that area; and
       (iv) 23,888 acres are located within the Annette Island 
     Indian Reservation for the Metlakatla Indian Tribe and are 
     not available for selection;
       (16) the selection limitations and guidelines applicable to 
     Sealaska under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 
     U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)--
       (A) are inequitable and inconsistent with the purposes of 
     that Act because there is insufficient land remaining in the 
     withdrawal areas to meet the traditional, cultural, and 
     socioeconomic needs of the shareholders of Sealaska; and
       (B) make it difficult for Sealaska to select--
       (i) places of sacred, cultural, traditional, and historical 
     significance; and
       (ii) Alaska Native futures sites located outside the 
     withdrawal areas of Sealaska;
       (17)(A) the deadline for applications for selection of 
     cemetery sites and historic places on land outside withdrawal 
     areas established under section 14 of the Alaska Native 
     Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1613) was July 1, 1976;
       (B)(i) as of that date, the Bureau of Land Management 
     notified Sealaska that the total entitlement of Sealaska 
     would be approximately 200,000 acres; and
       (ii) Sealaska made entitlement allocation decisions for 
     cultural sites and economic development sites based on that 
     original estimate;
       (C) as a result of the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration 
     Act (Public Law 108-452; 118 Stat. 3575) and subsequent 
     related determinations and actions of the Bureau of Land 
     Management, Sealaska will receive significantly more than 
     200,000 acres pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
     Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);
       (D) Sealaska would prefer to allocate more of the 
     entitlement of Sealaska to the acquisition of places of 
     sacred, cultural, traditional, and historical significance; 
     and
       (E)(i) pursuant to section 11(a)(1) of the Alaska Native 
     Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1610(a)(1)), Sealaska was 
     not authorized to select under section 14(h)(1) of that Act 
     (43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(1)) any site within Glacier Bay National 
     Park, despite the abundance of cultural sites within that 
     Park; and
       (ii) Sealaska seeks cooperative agreements to ensure that 
     sites within Glacier Bay National Park are subject to 
     cooperative management by Sealaska, Village and Urban 
     Corporations, and federally recognized tribes with ties to 
     the cultural sites and history of the Park;
       (18)(A) the cemetery sites and historic places conveyed to 
     Sealaska pursuant to section 14(h)(1) of the Alaska Native 
     Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(1)) are subject to a 
     restrictive covenant not required by law that does not allow 
     any type of management or use that would in any way alter the 
     historic nature of a site, even for cultural education or 
     research purposes;
       (B) historic sites managed by the Forest Service are not 
     subject to the limitations referred to in subparagraph (A); 
     and
       (C) those limitations hinder the ability of Sealaska to use 
     the sites for cultural, educational, or research purposes for 
     Alaska Natives and others;
       (19) unless Sealaska is allowed to select land outside 
     designated withdrawal areas in southeast Alaska, Sealaska 
     will not be able--
       (A) to complete the land entitlement selections of Sealaska 
     under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 
     et seq.);
       (B) to secure ownership of places of sacred, cultural, 
     traditional, and historical importance to the Alaska Natives 
     of Southeast Alaska;
       (C) to maintain the existing resource development and 
     management operations of Sealaska; or
       (D) to provide continued economic opportunities for Alaska 
     Natives in southeast Alaska;
       (20) in order to realize cultural preservation goals while 
     also diversifying economic opportunities, Sealaska should be 
     authorized to select and receive conveyance of--
       (A) sacred, cultural, traditional, and historic sites and 
     other places of traditional cultural significance, including 
     traditional and customary trade and migration routes,

[[Page 23026]]

     to facilitate the perpetuation and preservation of Alaska 
     Native culture and history; and
       (B) Alaska Native future sites to facilitate appropriate 
     tourism and outdoor recreation enterprises;
       (21) Sealaska has played, and is expected to continue to 
     play, a significant role in the health of the Southeast 
     Alaska economy;
       (22)(A) the rate of unemployment in Southeast Alaska 
     exceeds the statewide rate of unemployment on a non-
     seasonally adjusted basis; and
       (B) in January 2008, the Alaska Department of Labor and 
     Workforce Development reported the unemployment rate for the 
     Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan census area at 20 percent;
       (23) many Southeast Alaska communities--
       (A) are dependent on high-cost diesel fuel for the 
     generation of energy; and
       (B) desire to diversify their energy supplies with wood 
     biomass alternative fuel and other renewable and alternative 
     fuel sources;
       (24) if the resource development operations of Sealaska 
     cease on land appropriate for those operations, there will be 
     a significant negative impact on--
       (A) southeast Alaska Native shareholders;
       (B) the cultural preservation activities of Sealaska;
       (C) the economy of southeast Alaska; and
       (D) the Alaska Native community that benefits from the 
     revenue-sharing requirements under the Alaska Native Claims 
     Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); and
       (25) on completion of the conveyances of land to Sealaska 
     to fulfill the full land entitlement of Sealaska under the 
     Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), 
     the encumbrances on 327,000 acres of Federal land created by 
     the withdrawal of land for selection by Native Corporations 
     in southeast Alaska would be removed, which will facilitate 
     thorough and complete planning and efficient management 
     relating to national forest land in southeast Alaska by the 
     Forest Service.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to address the 
     inequitable treatment of Sealaska by allowing Sealaska to 
     select the remaining land entitlement of Sealaska under 
     section 14 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 
     U.S.C. 1613) from designated Federal land in southeast Alaska 
     located outside the 10 southeast Alaska Native village 
     withdrawal areas.

     SEC. 3. SELECTIONS IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA.

       (a) Selection by Sealaska.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 14(h)(8)(B) of the 
     Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 
     1613(h)(8)(B)), Sealaska is authorized to select and receive 
     conveyance of the remaining land entitlement of Sealaska 
     under that Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) from Federal land 
     located in southeast Alaska from each category described in 
     subsection (b).
       (2) National park service.--The National Park Service is 
     authorized to enter into a cooperative management agreement 
     described in subsection (c)(2) for the purpose, in part, of 
     recognizing and perpetuating the values of the National Park 
     Service, including those values associated with the Tlingit 
     homeland and culture, wilderness, and ecological 
     preservation.
       (b) Categories.--The categories referred to in subsection 
     (a) are the following:
       (1) Economic development land from the area of land 
     identified on the map entitled ``Sealaska ANCSA Land 
     Entitlement Rationalization Pool'', dated March 6, 2008, and 
     labeled ``Attachment A''.
       (2) Sites with sacred, cultural, traditional, or historic 
     significance, including traditional and customary trade and 
     migration routes, archeological sites, cultural landscapes, 
     and natural features having cultural significance, subject to 
     the condition that--
       (A) not more than 2,400 acres shall be selected for this 
     purpose, from land identified on--
       (i) the map entitled ``Places of Sacred, Cultural, 
     Traditional and Historic Significance'', dated March 6, 2008, 
     and labeled ``Attachment B''; and
       (ii) the map entitled ``Traditional and Customary Trade and 
     Migration Routes'', dated March 6, 2008, and labeled 
     ``Attachment C'', which includes an identification of--

       (I) a conveyance of land 25 feet in width, together with 1-
     acre sites at each terminus and at 8 locations along the 
     route, with the route, location, and boundaries of the 
     conveyance described on the map inset entitled ``Yakutat to 
     Dry Bay Trade and Migration Route'', dated March 6, 2008, and 
     labeled ``Attachment C'';
       (II) a conveyance of land 25 feet in width, together with 
     1-acre sites at each terminus, with the route, location, and 
     boundaries of the conveyance described on the map inset 
     entitled ``Bay of Pillars to Port Camden Trade and Migration 
     Route'', dated March 6, 2008, and labeled ``Attachment C''; 
     and
       (III) a conveyance of land 25 feet in width, together with 
     1-acre sites at each terminus, with the route, location, and 
     boundaries of the conveyance described on the map inset 
     entitled ``Portage Bay to Duncan Canal Trade and Migration 
     Route,'' dated March 6, 2008, and labeled ``Attachment C''; 
     and

       (B) an additional 1,200 acres may be used by Sealaska to 
     acquire places of sacred, cultural, traditional, and historic 
     significance, archeological sites, traditional, and customary 
     trade and migration routes, and other sites with scientific 
     value that advance the understanding and protection of Alaska 
     Native culture and heritage that--
       (i) as of the date of enactment of this Act, are not fully 
     identified or adequately documented for cultural 
     significance; and
       (ii) are located outside of a unit of the National Park 
     Service.
       (3) Alaska Native futures sites with traditional and 
     recreational use value, as identified on the map entitled 
     ``Native Futures Sites'', dated March 6, 2008, and labeled 
     ``Attachment D'', subject to the condition that not more than 
     5,000 acres shall be selected for those purposes.
       (c) Sites in conservation System Units.--
       (1) in general.--No site with sacred, cultural, 
     traditional, or historic significance that is identified in 
     the document labeled ``Attachment B'' and located within a 
     unit of the National Park System shall be conveyed to 
     Sealaska pursuant to this Act.
       (2) Cooperative agreements.--
       (A) In general.--The Director of the National Park Service 
     shall offer to enter into a cooperative management agreement 
     with Sealaska, other Village Corporations and Urban 
     Corporations, and federally recognized Indian tribes with 
     cultural and historical ties to Glacier Bay National Park, in 
     accordance with the requirements of subparagraph (B).
       (B) Requirements.--A cooperative agreement under this 
     paragraph shall--
       (i) recognize the contributions of the Alaska Natives of 
     Southeast Alaska to the history, culture, and ecology of 
     Glacier Bay National Park and the surrounding area;
       (ii) ensure that the resources within the Park are 
     protected and enhanced by cooperative activities and 
     partnerships among federally recognized Indian tribes, 
     Village Corporations and Urban Corporations, Sealaska, and 
     the National Park Service;
       (iii) provide opportunities for a richer visitor experience 
     at the Park through direct interactions between visitors and 
     Alaska Natives, including guided tours, interpretation, and 
     the establishment of culturally relevant visitor sites; and
       (iv) provide appropriate opportunities for ecologically 
     sustainable visitor-related education and cultural 
     interpretation within the Park--

       (I) in a manner that is not in derogation of the purposes 
     and values of the Park (including those values associated 
     with the Park as a Tlingit homeland); and
       (II) for wilderness and ecological preservation.

       (C) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Park 
     Service shall submit to Congress a report describing each 
     activity for cooperative management of each site described in 
     subparagraph (A) carried out under a cooperative agreement 
     under this paragraph.

     SEC. 4. CONVEYANCES TO SEALASKA.

       (a) Timeline for Conveyance.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     selection of land by Sealaska under paragraphs (1) and (3) of 
     section 3(b), the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in 
     this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall complete the conveyance 
     of the land to Sealaska.
       (2) Significant sites.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     date of selection of land by Sealaska under section 3(b)(2), 
     the Secretary shall complete the conveyance of the land to 
     Sealaska.
       (b) Expiration of Withdrawals.--On completion of the 
     selection by Sealaska and the conveyances to Sealaska of land 
     under subsection (a) in a manner that is sufficient to 
     fulfill the land entitlement of Sealaska under the Alaska 
     Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)--
       (1) the original withdrawal areas set aside for selection 
     by Native Corporations in Southeast Alaska under that Act (as 
     in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this 
     Act) shall be rescinded; and
       (2) land located within a withdrawal area that is not 
     conveyed to a southeast Alaska Regional Corporation or 
     Village Corporation shall be returned to the unencumbered 
     management of the Forest Service as a part of the Tongass 
     National Forest.
       (c) Limitation.--Sealaska shall not select or receive under 
     this Act any conveyance of land pursuant to paragraph (1) or 
     (3) of section 3(b) located within--
       (1) any conservation system unit;
       (2) any federally designated wilderness area; or
       (3) any land use designation I or II area.
       (d) Applicable Easements and Public Access.--
       (1) In general.--The conveyance to Sealaska of land 
     pursuant to section 3(b)(1) that is located outside a 
     withdrawal area designated under section 16(a) of the Alaska 
     Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1615(a)) shall be 
     subject to--
       (A) a reservation for easements for public access on the 
     public roads depicted on the document labeled ``Attachment 
     E'' and dated March 6, 2008;
       (B) a reservation for easements along the temporary roads 
     designated by the Forest Service as of the date of enactment 
     of this Act for the public access trails depicted on the 
     document labeled ``Attachment E'' and dated March 6, 2008;

[[Page 23027]]

       (C) any valid preexisting right reserved pursuant to 
     section 14(g) or 17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
     Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(g), 1616(b)); and
       (D)(i) the right of noncommercial public access for 
     subsistence uses, consistent with title VIII of the Alaska 
     National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3111 et 
     seq.), and recreational access without liability to Sealaska; 
     and
       (ii) the right of Sealaska to regulate access for public 
     safety, cultural, or scientific purposes, environmental 
     protection, and uses incompatible with natural resource 
     development, subject to the condition that Sealaska shall 
     post on any applicable property, in accordance with State 
     law, notices of any such condition.
       (2) Effect.--No right of access provided to any individual 
     or entity (other than Sealaska) by this subsection--
       (A) creates any interest of such an individual or entity in 
     the land conveyed to Sealaska in excess of that right of 
     access; or
       (B) provides standing in any review of, or challenge to, 
     any determination by Sealaska regarding the management or 
     development of the applicable land.
       (e) Conditions on Sacred, Cultural, and Historic Sites.--
     The conveyance to Sealaska of land selected pursuant to 
     section 3(b)(2)--
       (1) shall be subject to a covenant prohibiting any 
     commercial timber harvest or mineral development on the land;
       (2) shall not be subject to any additional restrictive 
     covenant based on cultural or historic values, or any other 
     restriction, encumbrance, or easement, except as provided in 
     sections 14(g) and 17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims 
     Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(g), 1616(b)); and
       (3) shall allow use of the land as described in subsection 
     (f).
       (f) Uses of Sacred, Cultural, Traditional, and Historic 
     Sites.--Any sacred, cultural, traditional, or historic site 
     or trade or migration route conveyed pursuant to this Act may 
     be used for--
       (1) preservation of cultural knowledge and traditions 
     associated with such a site;
       (2) historical, cultural, and scientific research and 
     education;
       (3) public interpretation and education regarding the 
     cultural significance of those sites to Alaska Natives;
       (4) protection and management of the site to preserve the 
     natural and cultural features of the site, including cultural 
     traditions, values, songs, stories, names, crests, and clan 
     usage, for the benefit of future generations; and
       (5) site improvement activities for any purpose described 
     in paragraphs (1) through (4), subject to the condition that 
     the activities are consistent with the sacred, cultural, 
     traditional, or historic nature of the site.
       (g) Termination of Restrictive Covenants.--
       (1) In general.--Each restrictive covenant regarding 
     cultural or historical values with respect to any interim 
     conveyance or patent for a historic or cemetery site issued 
     to Sealaska pursuant to the regulations contained in sections 
     2653.3 and 2653.11 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations 
     (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act), in 
     accordance with section 14(h)(1) of the Alaska Native Claims 
     Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(h))), terminates on the date 
     of enactment of this Act.
       (2) Remaining conditions.--Land subject to a covenant 
     described in paragraph (1) on the day before the date of 
     enactment of this Act shall be subject to the conditions 
     described in subsection (e).
       (3) Records.--Sealaska shall be responsible for recording 
     with the land title recorders office of the State of Alaska 
     any modification to an existing conveyance of land under 
     section 14(h)(1) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
     (43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(1)) as a result of this Act.
       (h) Conditions on Alaska Native Futures Land.--Each 
     conveyance of land to Sealaska selected under section 3(b)(3) 
     shall be subject only to--
       (1) a covenant prohibiting any commercial timber harvest or 
     mineral development; and
       (2) the restrictive covenants, encumbrances, or easements 
     under sections 14(g) and 17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims 
     Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(g), 1616(b)).

     SEC. 5. MISCELLANEOUS.

       (a) Status of Conveyed Land.--Each conveyance of Federal 
     land to Sealaska pursuant to this Act, and each action 
     carried out to achieve the purpose of this Act, shall be 
     considered to be conveyed or acted on, as applicable, 
     pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 
     U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
       (b) Environmental Mitigation and Incentives.--
     Notwithstanding subsection (e) and (h) of section 4, all land 
     conveyed to Sealaska pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims 
     Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) and this Act shall be 
     considered to be qualified to receive or participate in, as 
     applicable--
       (1) any federally authorized carbon sequestration program, 
     ecological services program, or environmental mitigation 
     credit; and
       (2) any other federally authorized environmental incentive 
     credit or program.
       (c) No Material Effect on Forest Plan.--
       (1) In general.--The implementation of this Act, including 
     the conveyance of land to Sealaska, alone or in combination 
     with any other factor, shall not require an amendment of, or 
     revision to, the Tongass National Forest Land and Resources 
     Management Plan before the first revision of that Plan 
     scheduled to occur after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (2) Boundary adjustments.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
     shall implement any land ownership boundary adjustment to the 
     Tongass National Forest Land and Resources Management Plan 
     resulting from the implementation of this Act through a 
     technical amendment to that Plan.
       (d) No Effect on Existing Instruments, Projects, or 
     Activities.--
       (1) In general.--Nothing in this Act or the implementation 
     of this Act revokes, suspends, or modifies any permit, 
     contract, or other legal instrument for the occupancy or use 
     of Tongass National Forest land, or any determination 
     relating to a project or activity that authorizes that 
     occupancy or use, that is in effect on the day before the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       (2) Treatment.--The conveyance of land to Sealaska pursuant 
     to this Act shall be subject to the instruments and 
     determinations described in paragraph (1) to the extent that 
     those instruments and determinations authorize occupancy or 
     use of the land so conveyed.
       (e) Prohibition on Reductions in Staff and Closing and 
     Consolidating Districts.--During the 10-year period beginning 
     on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
     not, as a consequence of this Act--
       (1) reduce the staffing level at any ranger district of the 
     Tongass National Forest, as compared to the applicable 
     staffing level in effect on September 26, 2008; or
       (2) close or consolidate such a ranger district.
       (f) Technical Correction.--Section 2(a)(2) of the Tribal 
     Forest Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a(a)(2)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, or is conveyed to 
     an Alaska Native Corporation pursuant to the Alaska Native 
     Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)'' before the 
     semicolon; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B)(i)--
       (A) in subclause (I), by striking ``or'' at the end; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(III) is owned by an Alaska Native Corporation 
     established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
     Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) and is forest land or formerly 
     had a forest cover or vegetative cover that is capable of 
     restoration; or''.

     SEC. 6. MAPS.

       (a) Availability.--Each map referred to in this Act shall 
     be maintained on file in--
       (1) the office of the Chief of the Forest Service; and
       (2) the office of the Secretary.
       (b) Corrections.--The Secretary or the Chief of the Forest 
     Service may make any necessary correction to a clerical or 
     typographical error in a map referred to in this Act.
       (c) Treatment.--No map referred to in this Act shall be 
     considered to be an attempt by the Federal Government to 
     convey any State or private land.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by 
     this Act.
                                  ____



                                         Sealaska Corporation,

                                   Juneau, AK, September 25, 2008.
     Hon. Lisa Murkowski,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Murkowski: On behalf of Sealaska Corporation 
     (Sealaska), I would like to express our appreciation to you 
     for your assistance on legislation to complete Sealaska's 
     Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) land entitlement. 
     This legislation would complete Sealaska's land entitlement 
     by allowing Sealaska to select, and receive conveyance of, 
     lands located outside of the original Southeast Alaska ANCSA 
     land withdrawals. Under this proposal. Sealaska would receive 
     land for timber development, the creation of a more 
     diversified (non-timber) economic portfolio, and the 
     protection and perpetuation of Southeast Alaska's Native 
     culture. The land entitlement proposal affects many interests 
     in Southeast Alaska, and has required a significant amount of 
     communication. collaboration, and negotiation to finalize the 
     legislative language. We believe that we now have a 
     compromise bill that will benefit all of Southeast Alaska.
       As you pursue introduction and legislative action on 
     Sealaska land entitlement legislation, we would like to 
     reiterate to you Sealaska's ongoing commitment to the 
     economic. cultural, social, and environmental health of 
     Southeast Alaska. In particular, you have expressed 
     significant concern regarding the economic and energy needs 
     of the region, and Sealaska's role in meeting those needs. We 
     can assure you that Sealaska has those same concerns. This 
     letter is our commitment to you that Sealaska will continue 
     to maintain its commitment to: the creation of economic and 
     employment opportunities for Sealaska shareholders and 
     residents of Southeast Alaska;

[[Page 23028]]

     collaboration with other participants in the Southeast Alaska 
     timber industry on efforts to preserve the economic viability 
     of locally owned sawmills in Southeast Alaska; continued sale 
     of timber at fair market value to local mills and local 
     producers of wood products; addressing high rural energy 
     costs, including through the development of wood biomass 
     alternative fuels; and coordination and collaboration with 
     Indian tribes, Village Corporations, Urban Corporations, 
     local small businesses. and Federal, State, and local 
     agencies regarding economic and energy matters, among other 
     things. We hope that this commitment will provide you with 
     some assurance that the economic health of Southeast Alaska 
     is a shared aspiration of both you and Sealaska.
       If we can be of assistance to you, as you pursue 
     legislative action on the Sealaska land entitlement 
     legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me. Again, 
     thank you for your guidance and leadership on this important 
     piece of legislation.
           Sincerely,
     Albert M. Kookesh,
       Chairman of the Board.
     Chris E. McNeil, Jr.
       President and CEO.
                                 ______
                                 
      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, 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.

[[Page 23029]]

  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.
       (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.

[[Page 23030]]



     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 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--

[[Page 23031]]

       (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

[[Page 23032]]

     authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act or this Act.
       ``(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.

                          ____________________