Congressional senators have introduced two bills that are designed to promote "healthy housing." The measures include the Healthy Housing Council bill (S. 1617) and the Livable Communities bill (S. 1621).
S. 1617, introduced by Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), would create the first Council on Healthy Housing, bringing together federal, state, and local-government officials as well as industry and non-profit representatives.
The bill aims to promote coordination and collaboration among those federal departments and agencies involved with housing, public health, energy efficiency, emergency preparedness and response, and the environment. The bill aims to improve services for families and individuals residing in housing deemed inadequate or unsafe and to make recommendations about needed changes in programs and services.
Residents of housing that is poorly designed, constructed, or maintained are at risk for serious health issues, according to the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH). "These risks include cancer, injuries, childhood lead poisoning and asthma that cost the country nearly $76 billion annually. Children and the elderly are the specific age groups that are at the greatest risk."
Members of the council will include the Agency heads of the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services; Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Energy; Labor; Veterans Affairs; Treasury; Agriculture; and Education as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Six members of the council would represent state or local agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the housing, banking, or health insurance industries. The bill would authorize $750,000 per year for the work of the council.
The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
Sen. Robert Menendez' (D-N.J.) S.1621 would formally authorize the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities at HUD and its Regional Planning and Community Challenge grant programs.
"The Livable Communities [bill] would improve the way federal agencies with jurisdictional overlap work together so that the policies, programs, and regulations they enforce are well aligned," NCHH stated. "The bill would further direct HUD to engage the wide range of federal agencies that address healthy housing issues and marks an important step forward in working together to improve housing conditions.
"These programs support community efforts to establish and implement a locally-defined vision for future growth and redevelopment through comprehensive planning and capital improvement programs. The bill would also create a loan program for infrastructure improvements, including streetscape and utilities in preparation for transit oriented development.
Seventeen Senators cosponsored this bill.
