Bipartisan legislation would give EPA resources and authority to protect Americans from poor indoor air quality
Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) today announced the introduction of their Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act, bipartisan legislation that would protect the public from poor indoor air quality (IAQ).
While progress has been made to address outdoor air pollution, efforts on indoor air quality have been largely unacknowledged and underfunded. Despite this lack of action on IAQ, studies have shown that indoor contaminants can be 2-5 times—and occasionally 100 times—higher than outdoors. Further the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Science Advisory Board has consistently ranked poor IAQ among the top five environmental risks to public health, and over 3 million people globally die prematurely each year from disease caused by poor IAQ.
“Despite the immense and urgent threat poor indoor air quality poses, precious little has been done to address this issue,” Congressman Tonko said. “Our bipartisan Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act gives EPA the tools to face this problem head on, by taking action to establish science-based guidelines and promote effective tools and best practices to minimize indoor health risks. I’m proud to champion this legislation alongside Congressman Fitzpatrick, and I urge our colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation to help keep our children safe and healthy.”
“Ensuring that the air the children in our community and nationwide are breathing at school is clean and safe is a fundamental priority,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick (PA-1). “Through our bipartisan legislation, we will provide the EPA with the proper level of authority and access to tools needed to combat poor indoor air quality and protect public health within our schools, and I encourage all of our colleagues to join us in supporting this critical initiative.”
This bipartisan legislation is supported by numerous groups and organizations, including: Allergy and Asthma Network, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), ASHRAE, American Lung Association, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Austin Air Systems, Ltd., Climate Code Blue, First Focus Campaign for Children, Healthy Schools Network, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), International WELL Building Institute, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Moms Clean Air Force, RMI, National Education Association, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), U.S. Green Building Council, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice.
The Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act would ensure that EPA has the authority and resources necessary to better protect public health from poor indoor air quality. Specifically, the bill:
- Updates, expands, and codifies the work of EPA’s Indoor Environments Division;
- Requires EPA to establish and regularly update a list of significant indoor contaminants, and develop health-based, voluntary guidelines to reduce exposure risks to these contaminants;
- Directs EPA to develop or recognize one or more voluntary certifications for buildings designed, built, operated, and maintained to prevent or minimize indoor air health risks; and
- Establishes a regularly updated national assessment of IAQ in schools and childcare facilities, and supports development of technical assistance, guidelines, and best practices to improve the IAQ conditions of these facilities.
Healthy Schools Network Executive Director said, “Polluted indoor air in schools is a well-documented serious public health concern that affects tens of millions of US school children and school personnel every day. Poor indoor air results in less learning, worse test scores, and more absences. The children hardest hit are those with preexisting health or learning problems. We strongly support Congressman Tonko’s Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act of 2024. It advances US EPA’s three key strategies to improve indoor air quality: source control of pollutants which is highly cost-effective, improved ventilation, and the filtration of indoor air. Every child deserves clean air in school.” Claire L. Barnett, MBA, Executive Director, Healthy Schools Network
A fact sheet of the bill can be found HERE.
Quotes from organizations in support of this bill can be found HERE.
Bill text can be found HERE.
