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103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1494

To establish a national policy prohibiting the location of new public schools

and child care centers on real property where the electromagnetic field

exceeds an average 2 milligauss per day, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 25, 1993

Mr. MILLER of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to

the Committee on Education and Labor

DECEMBER 17, 1993

Additional sponsors: Mrs. MALONEY, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas,

Mrs. CLAYTON, Ms. FURSE, and Mr. SMITH of New Jersey

A BILL

To establish a national policy prohibiting the location of

new public schools and child care centers on real property where the electromagnetic field exceeds an average

2 milligauss per day, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Children’s Electro5 magnetic Field Risk Reduction Act of 1993’’.
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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

2 The Congress makes the following findings:

3 (1) According to reputable medical and sci4 entific studies, exposure to weak low-frequency elec5 tromagnetic fields can affect living cells and systems

6 and produce biological changes.

7 (2) Although experts disagree on the extent of

8 the danger posed by electromagnetic fields, a grow9 ing body of scientific evidence suggests that there

10 may be a connection between cancer, particularly

11 childhood cancer, and exposure to electromagnetic

12 fields from high current lines.

13 (3) Studies have shown that the greater the

14 dose of electromagnetic field exposure, the greater

15 the incidence of cancer, particularly in children. Sci16 entific evidence has demonstrated that children with

17 prolonged exposure to the weakest electromagnetic

18 field, calculated at less than 1 milligauss, had the

19 lowest incidence of cancer, while those exposed to

20 fields of 2 milligauss were three times as likely to

21 develop cancer, and children exposed to fields of 3

22 milligauss were four times as likely to develop

23 cancer.

24 (4) Until the scientific effect of the bioeffects of

25 electromagnetic fields is conclusively determined, it
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1 is prudent to take actions to reduce the potential

2 risk of electromagnetic fields to children.

3 SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—It is the policy of the United

5 States that any public school or child care facility con6 structed, accredited, or opened after the date of the enact7 ment of this Act shall be located on real property where

8 the electromagnetic field is less than an average 2

9 milligauss per day.

10 (b) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this

11 section shall be construed to prohibit the establishment by

12 any State of more stringent requirements with respect to

13 electromagnetic fields near schools and child care facili14 ties.

15 SEC. 4. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.

16 The Secretary of Education shall develop and dis17 seminate to State and local educational agencies advisory

18 medical and scientific information concerning the potential

19 health risk to children of electromagnetic fields.

20 SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

21 For purposes of this Act—

22 (1) The term ‘‘school’’ means—

23 (A) any elementary or secondary school (as

24 such terms are defined in sections 1471(8) and

25 1471(21) of the Elementary and Secondary
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1 Education Act of 1965) owned and operated by

2 1 or more nonprofit corporations or associations

3 no part of the net earnings of which inures, or

4 may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private

5 shareholder or individual; and

6 (B) any school of the United States.

7 (2) The term ‘‘child care facility’’ means a facil8 ity that is licensed, regulated, or registered under

9 State or local law for the provision of child care

10 services.

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