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HR 7595

Superfund Area Facts and Exposure Act

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Lawler

Mandates a GAO study to count residential and public housing units within one mile of CERCLA NPL sites, reporting findings to Congress within six months.

Introduced in House
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Bill Summary · HR 7595

Summary: Superfund Area Facts and Exposure Act (H.R. 7595, 118th-119th Congress)

Note: This bill, introduced February 17, 2026, directs a governmental study to identify residential exposure near Superfund cleanup sites.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • Aim: To determine how many residential dwelling units, including units in public housing, are located within one mile of sites listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
  • Outcome Sought: Providing Congress with quantified data on proximity of residences to Superfund sites to inform policy discussions, resource allocation, and potential health/exposure considerations.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

  • Study Mandate (Section 2(a)): The Comptroller General of the United States (GAO) must conduct a study to identify:
    • The number of residential dwelling units within one mile of any CERCLA NPL site.
    • The number of dwelling units in public housing within one mile of any CERCLA NPL site.
  • Definition References:
    • “Public housing” is as defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).
    • NPL sites are those included on the National Priorities List per CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 9605).
  • Reporting Timeline (Section 2(b)): The GAO must submit a report to Congress not later than six months after the date of enactment, detailing:
    • For each NPL site identified, the count of nearby residential dwelling units within one mile.
    • The count of nearby dwelling units in public housing within one mile.

3) Who/What is Affected

  • Geographic/Environmental Scope: All sites on the CERCLA National Priorities List (NPL).
  • Population Scope:
    • General residential dwelling units within one mile of each NPL site.
    • Public housing units within one mile of each NPL site.
  • Oversight and Analysis: The GAO (Congressional watchdog for federal programs) conducts and reports the findings.

4) Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Effective Date: The bill was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services on February 17, 2026.
  • Reporting Deadline: The GAO must complete and submit the report within six months after enactment.
  • Status and Sponsorship:
    • Primary sponsor: Representative Mike Lawler (co-sponsor noted).
    • Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services (no committee passage information provided in the text).

5) Potential Implications

  • The report would provide a quantified snapshot of residential exposure to Superfund sites, which could inform:
    • Public health risk discussions and community outreach.
    • Resource allocation for containment, remediation, or health monitoring.
    • Policymaking related to housing near contaminated sites or to disclosure and risk communication requirements.
  • The bill does not enact new cleanup standards or funding; it mandates data collection and reporting to Congress.

6) Notes for Context

  • This bill focuses solely on mapping proximity (within one mile) and does not assess contamination levels, exposure pathways, or health outcomes.
  • It relies on GAO data collection and analysis and would result in a congressional report rather than immediate regulatory or funding changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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