The Clean Air Sharp Minds Act S.3364 was introduced in the Senate on February 27, 2020 by Democrat Cory Booker from New Jersey, and referred to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee. An identical bill, H.R. 6025 was introduced in the House by Representative Katherine Clark, a Democrat representing Massachusetts' 5th district.
THE BILLS: H.R. 6025 S. 3364 What does it do? This bill highlights the intersection of education and environmental justice. The main goal of this bill is to improve air quality in schools, leading to both better health and academic achievement. The bill outlines a three year, $20 million, trial program called the School Air Filters Demonstration Program. This would be administered and overseen by a joint effort between the Department of Education (DE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The DE would be responsible for selecting a mix of urban, suburban and rural, public elementary or secondary schools. The selection would focus on advancing environmental justice (1), giving priority first to schools located in highly polluted zones (e.g. near heavily trafficked roads or a toxic release site), then to schools that have known health threats, and finally to schools with a high concentration of students from low-income families. At least 175 schools will participate in the program. In the bill Congress notes, “More than 1 in 5 public schools in the United States are located within a mile of a toxic release site. Nearly 1 in 11 public schools, serving 4,400,000 students, are less than 500 feet from a major road.” Further, “4 percent of schools serving predominantly white students are next to major roads, while 15 percent of schools serving largely students of color are next to major roads.” Annually, the DE and EPA will purchase, install, and maintain the filters, and provide a report to Congress outlining metrics, pollutants captured, academic outcomes, and rates of health related absences. They will also provide technical support to the participating schools and collect and analyze data for evaluating the effectiveness of the program. The idea conveyed in this bill is that this program will greatly improve air quality because high quality air filters can remove up to 90% of particulate matter. At the end of the three year trial period, the effectiveness of the program will be evaluated by Congress based on a cumulative report from the DE and the EPA. Why was it proposed? It has been documented that academic achievement increases when students are working in a healthy environment. Yet, in 2014, ~50% of schools in the states reported air quality issues. Asthma is already the leading cause of school absences, and poor air quality increases the risk of asthma, and allergic reactions. According to the EPA (2), indoor air pollutants, which can originate within or outside the building, can be 2-5 times as high, and occasionally as much as 100 times higher, than the outdoor equivalents. Since the majority of people spend ~90% of their time indoors, these levels are concerning. Schools in particular have 4 times more occupants than most office buildings for the same amount of space. The goal is that air filters remove particulate matter (3) and gaseous pollutants (4), and therefore will create healthier environments that in turn advance academic achievement. Benefits The bill states that proof of concept has already been demonstrated in 18 public schools in Los Angeles. Test scores dramatically improved mirroring the same effect as reducing class sizes by 1/3. Ideally, schools should not be located near heavily polluted areas, but in the short term, this program would provide immediate assistance. Challenges Long term, school budgets are small and the addition of ventilation systems and their upkeep increases the strain on maintenance staff. Also, there are known pollutant sources associated with art and science supplies, vocational arts, gyms, and the large amounts of diesel gas emitted from buses. In these areas with higher pollutants, the filters would require more frequent replacement and maintenance. Want to advocate? Does this bill resonate with you? Do you want to see this bill become a law? Have concerns or thoughts you would like to discuss? Thus far, this bill only has two cosponsors, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tina Smith (D-MN). You can email your Senators by finding their emails at: https://www.congress.gov/members?searchResultViewType=expanded or call their offices to voice your thoughts. Remember to use our Resources page for more information and guidance when reaching out! Footnotes as defined by the bill: (1) Briefly, means: the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all individuals with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. This specifically ensures that populations of color, communities of color, indigenous communities, and low-income communities -- a. have access to information and opportunities for meaningful public participation relating to human health and environmental planning, regulations, and enforcement b.are not exposed to a disproportionate burden of the negative human health and environmental impacts of pollution or other environmental hazards c. that the “17 Principles of Environmental Justice”, written and adopted at the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit (1991) are upheld. (2) Source: https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/why-indoor-air-quality-important-schools (3) Includes: mold, smoke, dust, soot, lead, and allergens from pests (4) Includes: carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
1 Comment
David
1/14/2021 08:08:55 am
Excellent insight and analysis on this piece of proposed legislation.
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