IEA Radon_Reporter_April 2025

12 | APRIL 2025 FEDERAL POLICY IEA Leaders Visit Capitol Hill in DC to Support EPA Radon Programs In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Indoor Radon Abatement Act, which directed EPA to act to reduce radon levels so “that the air within buildings in the United States should be as free of radon as the ambient air outside of buildings.” Congress passed that law in recognition of this serious health threat. Ever since, the EPA radon program, which is the nation’s primary defense against exposure risk, has received bipartisan support in the Congress. Each year, through the budget appropriations process, the US Congress provides direction to the Executive Branch regarding funding levels and priorities for federal agency programs. EPA’s spending is overseen by Subcommittees for Appropriations for Interior, Environment and Related Agencies in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. On March 13th, IEA leaders participated in a day-long effort on March 13th to educate their own Senators and Representatives and Appropriations Committee leaders on the importance of preserving and fortifying EPA’s radon program through the Fiscal Year 26 Appropriations process. The participants were IEA President Dave Hill, Vice Presidents Dave Gillay and George Schambach, Treasurer Dan Potter, National Directors Nate Burden, John Mallon, Dawn Oggier, and Duane West, Indiana IEA Chapter GA committee Chair Bob Coffee, Executive Director Diane Swecker, and National Policy Director Jane Malone. Below is the messaging that IEA presented. EPA’s State Indoor Radon Grants Program (SIRG) is a central element of that line of defense. SIRG enables state health departments, tribes, and others to implement programs to ensure radon exposure risk is visible through outreach, education, and local initiatives. The same state radon programs can protect families from unqualified persons coming into their homes to perform radon work. Twenty states require a license or other credential; the other 30 states don’t require any qualification. The absence of proficiency requirements in non-licensing states and limited capacity for enforcement in regulated states allows unqualified personnel and fly-by-night contractors to sell radon-related services without regard to established consensus standards. The proposed funding for SIRG will encourage state action to save lives, leverage private proficiency infrastructure, and optimize state regulatory burden by adopting or strengthening certification requirements. Requested Congressional Report Language and Fund Increase - SIRG Categorical Grant: Radon. “The Committee continues to support state radon program efforts that raise awareness about the associated risks of radon exposure. The Committee encourages expanding radon grants to States that are seeking to adopt or strengthen certification requirements for radon measurement and mitigation workers.” Categorical Grant: Radon. “The funding level in the FY 26 Interior-Environments Appropriations Bill for the State Indoor Radon Grant Program (SIRG) shall be increased to $18 million and the increase shall be used for adopting and strengthening credential requirements for radon measurement and mitigation workers.” EPA’s Indoor Air and Radon Program supports risk reduction efforts nationwide through partnerships with the radon industry and others in the private sector and by coordinating public outreach activities. Its expertise and coordination are essential to the ongoing development and maintenance of national industry consensus standards for measurement, mitigation and construction, which are essential to the functioning of this entire industry segment. Building on EPA’s statutory mandate to deliver proficiency programs, the program’s work to update its radon credentialing framework is central to ensuring a quality workforce, public health protection, and consistency.