II 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3587 

To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide grants to hospitals and nonprofit health care institutions for use 

in improving building and maintenance operations to engage in environmentally sustainable practices. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 25 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 17), 2008 

Mrs. CLINTON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Environment and Public Works 

A BILL 

To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 

Agency to provide grants to hospitals and nonprofit 

health care institutions for use in improving building 

and maintenance operations to engage in environmentally 

sustainable practices. 

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 ‘‘Greening the 

5 Healthcare Workforce Act of 2008’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 


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1 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis2 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ3 mental Protection Agency, acting in conjunction 

4 with the Secretary. 

5 (2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti6 ty’’ means a nonprofit hospital or nonprofit health 

7 care institution, as identified by the Administrator, 

8 that submits an application described in section 

9 3(b). 

10 (3) GREEN GUIDE.—The term ‘‘Green Guide’’ 

11 means the most recent Green Guide for Health 

12 Care. 

13 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

14 the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

15 SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall establish 

17 a program to provide grants to eligible entities for use in 

18 improving building and maintenance operations to engage 

19 in environmentally sustainable practices, including for— 

20 (1) the training of employees in environmentally 

21 sound waste management practices, such as those 

22 recommended by the Green Guide, or other con23 sensus-based recommendations, as the Administrator 

24 determines to be appropriate; 


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1 (2) the training of employees in environmentally 

2 sound chemical management practices, such as those 

3 recommended by the Green Guide, or other con4 sensus-based recommendations, as the Administrator 

5 determines to be appropriate; 

6 (3) the conduct of activities to reduce use of 

7 mercury-containing medical supplies, and ensure 

8 proper disposal of any mercury-containing medical 

9 supplies; 

10 (4) the conduct of minor improvements to both 

11 grounds and facilities to improve energy efficiency, 

12 reduce water waste, and improve indoor air quality, 

13 such as those recommended by the Green Guide, or 

14 other consensus-based recommendations, as the Ad15 ministrator determines to be appropriate; and 

16 (5) the conduct of other activities, as approved 

17 by the Administrator, that would assist in reducing 

18 the environmental pollution and waste of eligible en19 tities. 

20 (b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 

21 under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the 

22 Administrator an application in such form, at such time, 

23 and containing such information as the Administrator may 

24 require, including— 


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1 (1) demonstrated evidence that the eligible enti2 ty has evaluated the environmental policies, analyzed 

3 the building and maintenance operations, and identi4 fied areas of improvement of the eligible entity that 

5 could increase energy efficiency, reduce waste, and 

6 improve environmental health for patients, employ7 ees, and visitors to the eligible entity; 

8 (2) demonstrated evidence of existing efforts by 

9 the eligible entity to address environmental pollu10 tion, reduce waste, and increase energy efficiency; 

11 and 

12 (3) a detailed plan for the use of grant funding, 

13 including a description of the manner in which out14 comes will be measured to demonstrate improve15 ments to the environment as a result of the use of 

16 the grant funding. 

17 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

18 of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Ad19 ministrator shall submit to Congress and make available 

20 to the public (including on the website of the Environ21 mental Protection Agency) a report that describes the 

22 progress made in carrying out this Act during the period 

23 covered by the report. 


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1 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

2 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 

3 $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013. 

Æ 


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