STOP Health Threats Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3099
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-27T08:06:09Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to enhance public health and safety by funding training for local enforcement officers to recognize and address health risks stemming from building code violations, such as unsafe residential structures that could lead to hazards like mold, structural failures, or contamination.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other relevant federal agencies regulating building codes, must award grants to local governments.
- Use of Funds:
- Develop and implement training programs for local enforcement officers (defined as those enforcing consensus-based standards for designing, building, and maintaining residential structures and facilities) to identify and respond to public health threats from code violations.
- Facilitate partnerships among local governments for collaborative training.
- Coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies (e.g., public health departments) or nongovernmental organizations with expertise in the area.
- Support other training-related activities approved by the HHS Secretary.
- Application Process: Local governments apply to HHS at specified times, in required formats, and with necessary details.
- Prioritization: Grants prioritize applicants with strong capacity to deliver training and those in areas with documented health threats from code violations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal grant program under HHS authority, which does not appear to amend or reference prior statutes directly. It establishes a dedicated funding mechanism for training on building code enforcement tied to public health, filling a potential gap in existing federal support for local law enforcement and code compliance programs.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HHS and HUD will need to allocate resources for grant administration and consultations, potentially increasing coordination across federal, state, and local levels. Local governments gain access to funding to bolster enforcement capabilities.
- Citizens: Improves community safety by enabling faster detection and mitigation of health risks in housing, such as in underserved or high-risk areas, potentially reducing incidents of illness or injury from substandard buildings.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic building codes and local enforcement.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Local Governments and Enforcement Officers: Primary beneficiaries, receiving grants to train personnel on code violations and health threats.
- Federal Agencies: HHS (lead administrator), HUD (consultant), and other code-regulating bodies, which must collaborate on program implementation.
- Public Health Departments and Nongovernmental Organizations: Involved in coordination and expertise-sharing for training development.
- Residents and Communities: Indirectly affected through safer housing and reduced public health risks, especially in prioritized high-threat areas.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes clear federal guidelines for grant use and prioritization, with flexibility for the HHS Secretary to determine "appropriate" activities, which could lead to administrative rulemaking. The definition of "enforcement officers" emphasizes consensus-based codes (widely accepted industry standards), promoting uniformity without mandating new regulations.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power to fund state and local initiatives for public welfare; no apparent conflicts with federalism, as it supports voluntary local participation via grants.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Representatives Costa and Valadao) highlights a focus on practical public health and infrastructure safety. It could encourage broader discussions on housing quality and intergovernmental partnerships, but may face scrutiny over federal spending priorities in a budget-constrained environment.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Safety Training for Officers on Public Health Threats Act — issued 2025-04-30 — PDF (3 pages)