HR 271 — A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee and conduct a comprehensive study regarding the indoor air quality for seniors and children in this Commonwealth.

PRINTER'S NO.   2020

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 271
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY BENHAM, HILL-EVANS, MAYES, FREEMAN, SANCHEZ,
        FRANKEL AND KHAN, JUNE 24, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JUNE 25, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an
 2      advisory committee and conduct a comprehensive study
 3      regarding the indoor air quality for seniors and children in
 4      this Commonwealth.
 5      WHEREAS, The United States Environmental Protection Agency
 6   states that concentrations of air contaminants are often found
 7   to be two to five times higher indoors than outdoors due to the
 8   tighter buildings, reduction in outdoor air brought into
 9   buildings for ventilation, reduced maintenance budgets and the
10   proliferation of indoor sources of contaminants; and
11      WHEREAS, The combined indoor pollution from synthetic
12   building materials and furnishings, cleaning agents, printing
13   and copying devices, industrial/vocational shops, art and craft
14   materials, combustion and humidification appliances and other
15   resources can reduce the health and comfort of building
16   occupants as well as increase absenteeism in schools; and
17      WHEREAS, Children may be especially susceptible to air
18   pollution because the same concentration of pollutants results
19   in a higher body burden in children than adults because children
 1   breathe a greater volume of air relative to their body weight;
 2   and
 3         WHEREAS, For senior citizens, several studies reported
 4   mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, increased
 5   hospitalization and increased emergency room visits due to
 6   exposure to indoor air pollution; and
 7         WHEREAS, Studies on senior citizens have reported
 8   arrhythmias, hypertension and ischemic heart disease due to
 9   exposure to indoor air pollutants, increasing mortality,
10   morbidity, hospitalization and emergency room visits as the
11   result of indoor air-pollution-associated diseases, making
12   indoor air pollution a health risk for older adults; therefore
13   be it
14         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
15   State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee
16   and conduct a comprehensive study regarding indoor air quality
17   for children, adults and senior citizens; and be it further
18         RESOLVED, That the advisory committee be formed within 90
19   days of the adoption of this resolution to advise the Governor
20   and General Assembly on the indoor air quality in this
21   Commonwealth and how to improve the quality; and be it further
22         RESOLVED, That the advisory committee be composed of at least
23   15 members, including the following members:
24             (1)   At least one representative from each of the
25         following:
26                   (i)    Department of Aging.
27                   (ii)    Department of Education.
28                   (iii)    Department of Environmental Protection.
29                   (iv)    Department of Health.
30                   (v)    Department of Human Services.

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 1          (2)   At least one representative from five
 2      nongovernmental organizations;
 3   and be it further
 4      RESOLVED, That the advisory committee, in conducting the
 5   study with regards to children and seniors, do all of the
 6   following:
 7          (1)   Recommend indoor air quality standards and
 8      technologies.
 9          (2)   Guide public education efforts.
10          (3)   Advise on data collection and indoor air quality
11      surveillance.
12          (4)   Support prevention methods and protocols;
13   and be it further
14      RESOLVED, That the advisory committee issue a report of its
15   findings to the House of Representatives no later than 18 months
16   after the adoption of this resolution.




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