The senators bring a good deal of clout to the legislation, with Inhofe serving as chairman of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee; Thune as chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; and Grassley as chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
"Under current law, contractors are required by EPA to adhere to the RRP safety measures, even if a home does not contain lead paint or if there is not an individual of an at-risk population residing in the home,” Inhofe said. “This one-size-fits-all approach significantly increases the cost of home-renovation work under contractor requirements from EPA.”
The senators' bill would make it easier for contractors to operate, removing some of the more-stringent lead-exposure restrictions from current policy.
“Our bill restores the 'Opt-Out Provision,' allowing homeowners to withdraw from the rule if an at-risk population does not reside in the home facing direct damage from lead exposure,” Inhofe said. “The bill also prohibits EPA from expanding regulatory control to include commercial and public buildings until EPA conducts a study demonstrating the need for such action. I look forward to working with my colleagues to protect Americans from harmful effects of lead exposure and bring this legislation forward for consideration."
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