The House Appropriations Committee has approved the Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill, which includes $8.05 million for SIRG plus funding to maintain current radon-related activities within EPA. The House’s rejection of the Trump Administration’s proposal to eliminate these vital programs is a positive first step in the federal budget process. Action in the Senate is next. Thanks to all who contacted their House member to express support for the EPA programs.

The text of the relevant FY 18 Report Language is as follows:
Science and Technology (p. 54): Indoor Air and Radiation.—The recommendation includes $5,097,000. The Committee recommendation maintains the radon program at the fiscal year 2017 enacted level.
Environmental Programs Management (p.57): Indoor Air and Radiation.—The Committee recommends $25,637,000, and the Agency should continue to operate the program following the priorities and direction under this heading in House Report 114–632 to implement the National Radon Action Plan.
State Grants: Radon.—The Committee continues to support state radon program efforts that raise awareness about the associated risks of radon exposure as ongoing, unmitigated exposures result in over 21,000 radon-induced lung cancer deaths per year. The Committee provides $8,051,000, equal to the fiscal year 2017 enacted level, and the Agency shall allocate radon grants in fiscal year 2018 following the direction in House Report 114–632.

Excerpts from House Report 114-632:
State Radon Programs—The Committee continues to support State radon program efforts that raise awareness about the associated risks of radon exposure as ongoing, unmitigated exposures result in over 21,000 radon-induced lung cancer deaths per year. The Committee provides $8,051,000, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, and directs that EPA award priority to State applicants that have adopted or seek to adopt radon building codes for single family homes, conduct programs providing radon awareness and education for homebuyers, or have certification requirements according to national consensus standards for radon measurement and mitigation professionals:
• $3,500,000 to promote radon awareness through health care providers and medical professionals, cancer control plans, child care providers, and real estate transactions;
• $1,000,000 to inform local school systems about radon exposure risk in schools and to provide sample school testing and mitigation plans consistent with national consensus standards; and
• $3,551,000 to offer training and technical support on radon measurement and mitigation according to national consensus standards for radon testers, mitigators and home inspectors, and radon-resistant new construction techniques and best practices for home builders and building code officials. Using these funds, the Committee also encourages EPA and the States to convene dialogues involving representatives of home builders, real estate professionals, building code officials, radon testers, mitigators, home inspectors, public health officials, and cancer prevention advocates to consider whether updated code requirements for State or local adoption may have merit.
Indoor Air and Radiation.—The Committee recommends $29,148,000, $1,511,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level… Using the increase provided herein for fiscal year 2017, the Administrator shall take the following actions to meet the increased demand for radon services as a result of the National Radon Action Plan: (1) establish criteria for recognition of national proficiency certification programs that use ongoing performance review processes, with provision for discontinuation of certifications for cause, to ensure the effectiveness of private firms and individuals offering radon-related measurement and mitigation services utilizing consensus American National Standards; recognize qualified programs; and encourage States to require certification by qualified programs; (2) promote and encourage train-the-trainer courses in radon measurement, radon mitigation, and radon resistant new construction for qualified entities and certifying organizations; (3) recognize consensus American National Standards that conform to OMB Circular A–119 and the Technology Transfer Act (P.L. 104–113) and support their completion and adoption; and (4) support dialogues with organizations responsible for developing national model building codes, and respective authorities within States or political subdivisions, to add up-to-date methods of reducing radon in new buildings to model building code requirements.