U.S. House of Reps Pass Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Bill
The bipartisan legislation, now awaiting approval in the Senate, would help pay for purchasing and installing residential carbon monoxide detectors.
SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Security Industry Association (SIA) announces the U.S. House of Representatives’ has passed H.R. 1618, the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH).
SIA has advocated for the legislation and is urging the U.S. Senate to act on it as well. U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced the bill in February. Named for two young brothers from Kimball, Minn., who died from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, the bill would empower the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to encourage tougher standards to help ensure CO detectors are safe and reliable.
The legislation was introduced in the House on March 7 and discussed in a June 13 hearing by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. H.R. 1618 passed the House on Sept. 17.
“Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Kuster, this bipartisan legislation provides much-needed resources to states seeking funding relief for carbon monoxide detector installation,” states SIA CEO Don Erickson. “Carbon monoxide detectors help save lives — we commend the passage of H.R. 1618 and hope the Senate takes swift action to pass this critical legislation.”
SIA says it represents more than 1,000 companies specializing in safety and security technology solutions, including manufacturers and installers of CO alarm and detection devices.
H.R. 1618 provides grant assistance to eligible states for the purchase and installation of carbon monoxide detectors in residential homes and dwellings of elderly persons, child care facilities, public schools and student housing owned by public universities.
Additionally, the proposed grant program will allow states and local governments greater ability to purchase necessary equipment and implement CO poisoning prevention and awareness programs.
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