I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2919
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a national program
to reduce the threat to human health posed by exposure to contaminants
in the air indoors.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 6, 1993
Mr. KENNEDY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a
national program to reduce the threat to human health
posed by exposure to contaminants in the air indoors.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Indoor Air Act of
1993’’.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.
The Public Health Service Act is amended by adding
the following new title at the end thereof:
with an accredited training provider under sub-
section (a).
Persons certified under this subsection shall comply with
such guidelines when engaged in the identification, elimi-
nation, or prevention of listed indoor air hazards.
‘‘(c) FEES.—The Administrator shall impose an an-
nual fee for the accreditation and certification of persons
under this section. The fee shall be established at such
level as is necessary to cover the costs of administering
the accreditation and certification programs under this
section. Such fees shall be structured such that a person’s
liability for such fees is reasonably based on the proportion
of the program’s operating costs that relate to such per-
son, and such person’s liability for such fees shall not be
based on the income of such person.
‘‘(d) SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION.—The Adminis-
trator may suspend or revoke any accreditation or certifi-
cation issued under this section whenever the Adminis-
trator determines that the holder of the accreditation or
certification has violated any requirement of this section.
Any person whose accreditation or certification is denied,
suspended, or revoked by the Administrator shall be enti-
tled to an administrative hearing.
‘‘(e) PARTICIPATION.—Participation in the certifi-
cation program under this section shall be voluntary un-
less the Administrator determines otherwise.
‘‘SEC. 2704. NATIONAL PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
‘‘(a) NATIONAL CAMPAIGN.—Not later than 2 years
after the enactment of this title, the Administrator shall,
in coordination with other appropriate agencies, establish
a national campaign to increase public awareness concern-
ing the health risks of, and to encourage action to reduce
exposure to, indoor air pollutants. As part of such cam-
paign, the Administrator shall, at a minimum—
‘‘(1) publish and disseminate the health
advisories required under subsection (b),
‘‘(2) publish and disseminate the technology
bulletins required under subsection (c),
‘‘(3) publish and disseminate the list of indoor
air hazards and the guidelines promulgated under
section 2702,
‘‘(4) promulgate and disseminate lists of train-
ing providers accredited and contractors certified
under section 2703, and
‘‘(5) establish an information clearinghouse in
accordance with subsection (d).
‘‘(b) 
INDOOR
AIR
POLLUTANT
HEALTH
ADVISORIES.—The Administrator shall publish advisory
materials addressing the health effects of indoor air pollut-
ants that are likely to occur indoors at concentrations
which may reasonably be anticipated to adversely affect
human health. Such advisory materials shall, at a mini-
mum—
‘‘(1) describe the adverse human health effects
of exposure to various concentrations of the indoor
air pollutant, including the risk to subpopulations
which may have higher exposure levels than the av-
erage person or be especially sensitive to exposure to
the indoor air pollutant;
‘‘(2) characterize the likely sources of exposure
to the indoor air pollutant; and
‘‘(3) establish levels of the indoor air pollutant
at which action should be taken to reduce exposure.
The Administrator shall publish not less than 12
advisories within 2 years after the date of the enactment
of this title.
‘‘(c) TECHNOLOGY BULLETINS.—The Administrator,
shall publish technology bulletins providing an assessment
of the effectiveness, feasibility, and cost of methods for
measurement and reduction of exposure to indoor air pol-
lutants. At a minimum, the Administrator shall publish
a technology bulletin for an indoor air pollutant concur-
rently with the publication of a health advisory for that
pollutant.
‘‘(d) INDOOR AIR QUALITY INFORMATION CLEARING-
HOUSE.—The Administrator shall establish a national in-
door air quality clearinghouse to be used to disseminate
indoor air quality information, including the information
referred to in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection
(a). The clearinghouse shall operate a toll-free telephone
hotline on indoor air quality to provide the public such
information.
‘‘SEC. 2705. FEDERAL FACILITIES.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the
enactment of this title, the Administrator shall, in coordi-
nation with other appropriate agencies, establish a pro-
gram to identify, eliminate, and prevent indoor air hazards
in Federal facilities.
‘‘(b) OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.—The program
under subsection (a) shall require the head of each Fed-
eral agency responsible for operation and maintenance of
a Federal facility to operate and maintain facilities oper-
ated by the agency in compliance with the guidelines es-
tablished under section 2702.
‘‘(c) NEW FACILITIES.—The program under sub-
section (a) shall require the head of each Federal agency
responsible for the design and construction of a new Fed-
eral facility to design and construct the facility in compli-
ance with the guidelines established under section 2702.
‘‘SEC. 2706. HEALTHY BUILDINGS PROGRAM.
‘‘The Administrator shall develop a voluntary, incen-
tive-based program to provide Federal recognition to
buildings that are designed and constructed and operated
and maintained in a manner that prevents indoor air
hazards.
‘‘SEC. 2707. STATE AND LOCAL INDOOR AIR GRANTS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may provide
grants to States and to local governments to develop and
implement programs to measure and reduce indoor air pol-
lutants, consistent with the national strategy promulgated
under section 2701.
‘‘(b) FEDERAL SHARE OF FUNDING.—The Federal
share of grants under this section shall not exceed 75 per-
cent of the costs incurred in developing and implementing
such programs.
‘‘SEC. 2708. INDOOR AIR STUDIES.
‘‘The Administrator, in coordination with other ap-
propriate Federal agencies, may conduct, or provide finan-
cial or other assistance to, studies concerning indoor air
quality, including the following:
‘‘(1) Human exposure to indoor air pollutants,
including baseline levels of exposure in various types
of buildings.
‘‘(2) The sources of indoor air pollutants.
‘‘(3) The effects on human health of indoor air
pollutants, including additive, cumulative, and syner-
gistic effects on the general population and popu-
lations particularly sensitive to indoor air pollutants.
‘‘(4) Methods for measuring, reducing, and pre-
venting exposure to indoor air pollutants.
‘‘SEC. 2709. RELATION TO OTHER LAW.
‘‘(a) STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITY.—Nothing in
this title shall preempt any Federal, State, or local law
or rule of law which is more protective of human health
than this title.
‘‘(b) FEDERAL AUTHORITY.—In taking action under
other authority that may affect indoor air quality the Ad-
ministrator shall, to the extent permitted by such other
authority, exercise such authority in a manner that im-
proves indoor air quality and implements the national
strategy promulgated under section 2701.
‘‘SEC. 2710. REPORTS.
‘‘Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact-
ment of this title and every 2 years thereafter, the Admin-
istrator shall submit to the Congress a report on the ac-