[House Report 117-422]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                      {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                      {     117-422

======================================================================



 
                 HOUSING TEMPERATURE SAFETY ACT OF 2022

                                _______
                                

 July 20, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Ms. Waters, from the Committee on Financial Services, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 6528]

    The Committee on Financial Services, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 6528) to require owners of covered federally 
assisted rental dwelling units to install temperature sensors 
in such units, and for other purposes, having considered the 
same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and 
recommends that the bill as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     3
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     3
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................     4
Hearing..........................................................     4
Committee Consideration..........................................     4
Committee Votes..................................................     5
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     5
Statement of Performance Goals and Objectives....................     5
New Budget Authority and C.B.O. Cost Estimate....................     5
Committee Cost Estimate..........................................     5
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................     5
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................     5
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................     5
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
  Benefits.......................................................     6
Duplicative Federal Programs.....................................     6

    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Temperature Safety Act of 
2022''.

SEC. 2. TEMPERATURE SENSOR PILOT PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a temperature sensor 
3-year pilot program to provide grants to public housing agencies and 
owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to install 
and test the efficacy of temperature sensors in residential dwelling 
units to ensure such units remain in compliance with temperature 
requirements.
  (b) Application.--The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, establish eligibility criteria 
for participation in the pilot program established pursuant to 
subsection (a) and such criteria shall be designed to ensure--
          (1) the pilot program includes a diverse range of 
        participants that represent different geographic regions, 
        climate regions, unit sizes and types of housing; and
          (2) the functionality of the temperature sensors that will be 
        tested, including internet connectivity requirements.
  (c) Installation.--Each public housing agency or owner of a covered 
federally assisted rental dwelling unit that receives one or more 
temperature sensors under this Act shall, after receiving written 
permission from the resident of a dwelling unit, install such 
temperature sensor and monitor the data from such temperature sensor.
  (d) Collection of Complaint Records.--
          (1) In general.--Each public housing agency or owner of a 
        covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit that receives 
        one or more temperature sensors under this Act shall collect 
        and retain information about temperature-related complaints and 
        violations.
          (2) Definitions.--The Secretary shall, not later than 180 
        days after the date of the enactment of this Act, define the 
        terms temperature-related complaints and temperature-related 
        violations for the purposes of this Act.
  (e) Data Collection.--
          (1) In general.--Data collected from temperature sensors 
        provided to public housing agencies and owners of covered 
        federally assisted rental dwelling units under this Act shall 
        be retained until the Secretary notifies the public housing 
        agency or owner that the pilot program and the evaluation of 
        the pilot program are complete.
          (2) Personally identifiable information.--The Secretary 
        shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act, establish standards for the protection of 
        personally identifiably information collected during the pilot 
        program by public housing agencies, owners of federally 
        assisted rental dwelling units, and the Secretary.
  (f) Pilot Program Evaluation.--
          (1) Interim evaluation.--Not later than 12 months after the 
        establishment of the pilot program under this Act, the 
        Secretary shall publicly publish and submit to the Congress a 
        report that--
                  (A) examines the number of temperature-related 
                complaints and violations in federally assisted rental 
                dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated 
                by temperature sensor technology and climate region--
                          (i) that occurred before the installation of 
                        such sensor, if known; and
                          (ii) that occurred after the installation of 
                        such sensor; and
                  (B) identifies any barriers to full utility of 
                temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband 
                Internet access and tenant participation.
          (2) Final evaluation.--Not later than 36 months after the 
        conclusion of the pilot program established by the Secretary 
        under this Act, the Secretary shall publicly publish and submit 
        to the Congress a report that--
                  (A) examines the number of temperature-related 
                complaints and violations in federally assisted rental 
                dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated 
                by temperature sensor technology and climate region--
                          (i) that occurred before the installation of 
                        such sensor; and
                          (ii) that occurred after the installation of 
                        such sensor;
                  (B) identifies any barriers to full utility of 
                temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband 
                Internet access and tenant participation; and
                  (C) compare the utility of various temperature sensor 
                technologies based on--
                          (i) climate zones;
                          (ii) cost;
                          (iii) features; and
                          (iv) any other factors identified by the 
                        Secretary.
  (g) Definitions.--For the purposes of this Act:
          (1) Temperature sensor.--The term ``temperature sensor'' 
        means an internet capable temperature reporting device able to 
        measure ambient air temperature to the tenth degree Fahrenheit 
        and Celsius.
          (2) Covered federally assisted housing.--The term ``covered 
        federally assisted rental dwelling unit'' means a residential 
        dwelling unit that is made available for rental and for which 
        assistance is provided, or that is part of a housing project 
        for which assistance is provided, under--
                  (A) the program for project-based rental assistance 
                under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 
                1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f);
                  (B) the public housing program under the United 
                States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.);
                  (C) the program for supportive housing for the 
                elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 
                (12 U.S.C. 1701q); or
                  (D) the program for supportive housing for persons 
                with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-
                Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 
                8013).
          (3) Owner.--The term ``owner'' means--
                  (A) with respect to the program for project-based 
                rental assistance under section 8 of the United States 
                Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f), any private 
                person or entity, including a cooperative, an agency of 
                the Federal government, or a public housing agency, 
                having the legal right to lease or sublease dwelling 
                units;
                  (B) with respect to public housing program under the 
                United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et 
                seq.), a public housing agency or an owner entity of 
                public housing units as defined in section 905.108 of 
                title 24, Code of Federal Regulations;
                  (C) with respect to the program for supportive 
                housing for the elderly under section 202 of the 
                Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q), a private 
                nonprofit organization as defined under section 
                202(k)(4) of the Housing Act of 1959; and
                  (D) with respect to the program for supportive 
                housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 
                of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 8013), a private nonprofit organization 
                as defined under section 811(k)(5) of section 811 of 
                the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act.
          (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        Housing and Urban Development.
  (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary--
          (1) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to 
        provide grants to owners of covered federally assisted rental 
        dwelling units participating in the pilot program established 
        under this Act;
          (2) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to 
        administer the pilot program established under this Act; and
          (3) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to 
        provide technical assistance to owners of covered federally 
        assisted rental dwelling units that are participating in the 
        pilot program established under this Act.

                          PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

    On January 28, 2022, Representative Torres introduced H.R. 
6528, the ``Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022'', which 
would establish a pilot at the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development to install and study the efficacy of temperature 
sensors in federally assisted housing to better ensure tenant 
health and safety.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    On January 9, 2022, a fire broke out at the Twin Parks 
North West apartment building, killing 17 Bronx residents in 
what was New York City's deadliest fire in three decade. All of 
the victims, including 8 children, were determined to have died 
from smoke inhalation. The 19-story apartment building includes 
120 units, of which, 91 units were assisted with Housing Choice 
Vouchers (HCVs). The New York Fire Department reported the fire 
was caused by a malfunctioning space heater. Previously, the 
building was cited by the city for issues related to its 
heating and ventilation systems that led to tenants relying on 
space heaters with tragic results. Currently, in federally 
assisted housing, there is no widespread technology system used 
to monitor unit temperature to ensure compliance with minimum 
heating requirements. The ANS to H.R. 6528 would establish a 
pilot program at HUD to install and study the efficacy of 
temperature sensor technology in federally assisted housing to 
ensure units are maintaining proper temperature levels.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title

           This section establishes the short title of 
        the bill as ``Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022''.

Section 2. Temperature Sensor Pilot Program

           This section would require HUD to establish 
        a pilot program to provide grants to public housing 
        agencies (PHAs) and owners of federally assisted rental 
        units to install and test the efficacy of temperature 
        sensors to ensure those units remain in compliance with 
        temperature requirements.
           HUD would be required to establish 
        eligibility criteria within 120 days of enactment, 
        designed to ensure the inclusion of diverse units, and 
        to test the functionality of the selected sensors, 
        including internet connectivity requirements.
           Grantee PHAs and unit owners would be 
        required to install the sensors, with permission of the 
        resident.
           This section requires non-personally 
        identifiable data to be collected and retained for the 
        duration of the pilot program and evaluation.
           HUD would be required to publicly publish 
        and submit to Congress interim and final evaluations, 
        within one year of the establishment of the program and 
        one year of the conclusion of the program, 
        respectively. The reports would examine the number of 
        temperature-related complaints and violations before 
        and after the installation of sensors, identify 
        barriers to the use of such sensors, and compare the 
        utility of various temperature sensor technologies 
        across different regions.
           This section authorizes the expenditure of 
        such sums as may be necessary to provide the grants, 
        administer the pilot program, and provide technical 
        assistance to participants.

                                HEARINGS

    For the purposes of section 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the 
Committee on Financial Services' Subcommittee on Housing, 
Community Development and Insurance, held a hearing to consider 
H.R. 6528 entitled, ``Housing America: Addressing Challenges in 
Serving People Experiencing Homelessness,'' on February 2, 
2022. The Committee's Subcommittee on Housing, Community 
Development and Insurance held a second hearing to consider 
H.R. 6528 entitled ``A Matter of Life and Death: Improving Fire 
Safety in Federally Assisted Housing,'' on April 20, 2022.

                        COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    The Committee on Financial Services met in open session on 
June 22, 2022 and ordered H.R. 6528 to be reported favorably to 
the House with an amendment in the nature of a substitute by a 
voice vote, a quorum being present.

                  COMMITTEE VOTES AND ROLL CALL VOTES

    In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that no 
roll call votes occurred during the Committee's consideration 
of H.R. 6528.

  STATEMENT OF OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in the descriptive portions of this report.

             STATEMENT OF PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    Pursuant to clause (3)(c) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the goals of H.R. 6528 are to 
establish a pilot at the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development to install and study the efficacy of temperature 
sensors in federally assisted housing to better ensure tenant 
health and safety.

               NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND CBO COST ESTIMATE

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and pursuant to clause 
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974, the Committee has requested an estimate from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office. CBO was unable to 
provide an estimate in a timely manner.

                        COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

    Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison of the 
costs that would be incurred in carrying out H.R. 6528. After 
careful review, including discussions with the Congressional 
Budget Office, the Committee estimates that H.R. 6528 would 
have an insignificant impact on spending.

                       UNFUNDED MANDATE STATEMENT

    Pursuant to Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and 
Impoundment Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, Pub. L. 104-4), the Committee 
adopts its own the estimate of federal mandates regarding H.R. 
6528, as amended.

                           ADVISORY COMMITTEE

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

              APPLICATION OF LAW TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    Pursuant to section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional 
Accountability Act, Pub. L. No. 104-1, H.R. 6528, as amended, 
does not apply to terms and conditions of employment or to 
access to public services or accommodations within the 
legislative branch.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    In accordance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, H.R. 6528 does not contain any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as described in clauses 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule 
XXI.

                    DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee states that no 
provision of H.R. 6528 establishes or reauthorizes a program of 
the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another 
federal program, a program that was included in any report from 
the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to 
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a 
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance.

                                  [all]