HR 6207 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

2d SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 6207CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide for the establishment of the Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

July 26, 2012CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Ms. SLAUGHTER (for herself, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Ms. CHU) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide for the establishment of the Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Children’s Health Task Force Act of 2012’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. TASK FORCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISKS AND SAFETY RISKS TO CHILDREN.

(a) Establishment- The Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, acting jointly, shall establish and maintain a permanent task force, to be known as the Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children (in this Act referred to as the ‘Task Force’).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Membership- The Task Force shall be composed of the following officials (or their designees):CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, who shall serve as a Co-Chair of the Task Force.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, who shall serve as a Co-Chair of the Task Force.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The Secretary of Education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The Secretary of Labor.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The Attorney General of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The Secretary of Energy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) The Secretary of Agriculture.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) The Secretary of Transportation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) The Secretary of Defense.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) The Secretary of the Interior.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) The Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(14) The Chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(15) Such other officials of Federal departments and agencies as the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, acting jointly, may designate or invite (as appropriate) to serve on the Task Force.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Stakeholders- The Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, acting jointly, shall, as appropriate, invite representatives of stakeholders to attend meetings of the Task Force, appear before the Task Force, and file statements with the Task Force, subject to such requirements as the Secretary and Administrator may determine.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Functions- The Task Force shall recommend to the President and the Congress Federal strategies for addressing environmental health risks and safety risks to children in the United States, within projected budgetary limits, including the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Adoption of action plans, including multiyear and annual priorities, to address the principal environmental health risks and safety risks to children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Initiatives that the Federal Government has undertaken or will undertake in addressing the principal environmental health risks and safety risks to children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Recommendations on how to improve cross-agency implementation of actions, including cross-agency budgeting, to address environmental health risks and safety risks to children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Recommendations for a coordinated research agenda for the Federal Government to address environmental health risks and safety risks to children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Recommendations for appropriate partnerships among Federal, State, local, and tribal governments and the private, academic, and nonprofit sectors.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Proposed ways to enhance public outreach and communication to assist families in evaluating environmental health risks and safety risks to children and in making informed consumer choices.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Proposed ways to strengthen the data system in order to identify and track development of rulemakings and other actions to ensure they comply with current policy on evaluating environmental health risks and safety risks to children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Reports-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) BIENNIAL REPORTS- Not later than July 31, 2013, and biennially thereafter, the Task Force shall submit to the President and the Congress, make publicly available, and disseminate widely a report including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the strategies developed and updated under subsection (d);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in the case of reports subsequent to the first report, a description of the accomplishments of the Task Force since the preceding report;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) current national priorities for addressing environmental health risks and safety risks to children in the United States and any related emerging issues;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) updates on Federal research findings and research needs regarding environmental risks and safety risks to children;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) information submitted to the Task Force by Federal departments and agencies for inclusion in the report;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) appropriate recommendations by the Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) information submitted by stakeholders for inclusion in the report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ADDITIONAL REPORTING- In addition to the biennial reports under paragraph (1), the Task Force--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) may, as appropriate, submit to the President and the Congress such additional reports and updates as necessary;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) shall make any such reports and updates publicly available; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) shall disseminate widely any such reports and updates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Meetings-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Task Force shall meet at least annually.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) NOTICE- The Task Force shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) publish in the Federal Register timely notice of each upcoming meeting of the Task Force; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) provide for other types of public notice to ensure that all interested persons receive timely notice of each upcoming meeting of the Task Force.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) MINUTES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The Task Force shall record and maintain detailed minutes of each meeting of the Task Force, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) the meeting agenda;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) a record of the persons present;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) a complete and accurate description of matters discussed at the meeting and conclusions reached; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) copies of all reports received, issued, or approved by the Task Force in connection with the meeting.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY; COPYING- The Task Force shall make such minutes available for public inspection and copying.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) ACCURACY- The Co-Chairs of the Task Force shall certify the accuracy of all such minutes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Termination of Existing Task Force- The Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children established by Executive Order 13045 (April 21, 1997) is hereby terminated.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Authorization of Appropriations- To carry out this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013 and each subsequent fiscal year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink