[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8537 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8537

  To require a study on public health impacts as a consequence of the 
      February 3, 2023, train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 23, 2024

Mr. Joyce of Ohio (for himself and Ms. Kaptur) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require a study on public health impacts as a consequence of the 
      February 3, 2023, train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``East Palestine Health Impact 
Monitoring Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. STUDY ON PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE TRAIN 
              DERAILMENT IN EAST PALESTINE, OHIO.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall award a grant, 
contract, or cooperative agreement to an eligible entity for purposes 
of conducting a longitudinal study on any human health effects as a 
consequence of the February 3, 2023, train derailment in East 
Palestine, Ohio, and subsequent venting and burning of chemicals.
    (b) Eligible Entity.--To be eligible for the award under subsection 
(a), an entity shall be a consortium of public or private institutions 
of higher education that demonstrates requisite capacity and expertise 
to carry out the study described in such subsection. The Secretary 
shall give additional consideration to eligible entities that have 
established relationships within the affected communities.
    (c) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives--
            (1) not later than 2 years after the date on which an award 
        is made pursuant to subsection (a), a report summarizing the 
        progress of such study, including a description of any 
        challenges related to conducting such study and an anticipated 
        timeline for completion of such study and publication of 
        results; and
            (2) not later than 1 year after publication of such 
        results, a report describing such results and any ongoing or 
        planned activities of the Secretary to support or conduct 
        further research and, as appropriate, otherwise address such 
        results.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025, to 
remain available until September 30, 2029, to carry out this Act.
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