This bill expands requirements for lead-level testing or screening as part of well-baby care under the TRICARE program of health care for members and dependents. It prescribes testing for the level of lead in the blood at the ages of both 12 and 24 months for children who may be at elevated risk of lead exposure. Test results shall be provided to state health departments (or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the case of children residing abroad).
The Government Accountability Office shall study the effectiveness of such screening, testing, and treatment for lead exposure and poisoning.
The Department of Defense shall maintain records concerning the year housing for military personnel was built, and members must provide notice of when their residence was built as a condition of receiving a housing allowance.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2254 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2254
To amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to ensure that children
covered by the TRICARE program are screened and tested for lead levels,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 10, 2019
Mr. Kildee (for himself and Ms. Speier) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to ensure that children
covered by the TRICARE program are screened and tested for lead levels,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LEAD LEVEL SCREENINGS AND TESTINGS FOR CHILDREN.
(a) TRICARE.--
(1) Well-baby care.--Section 1077 of title 10, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(i)(1) Beginning January 1, 2019, in furnishing well-baby care
under subsection (a)(8), the Secretary shall ensure that such care
includes the following:
``(A) With respect to a child who lives in housing built
before 1978 at any time during the first 24 months of the life
of the child--
``(i) the first testing of the child for the level
of lead in the blood of the child at approximately the
age of 12 months; and
``(ii) the second such test at approximately the
age of 24 months.
``(B) With respect to a child not covered by subparagraph
(A) whose parent or guardian, at any time during the first 24
months of the life of the child, has a military occupational
specialty that the Secretary determines poses an elevated risk
of lead exposure--
``(i) the first testing of the child for the level
of lead in the blood of the child at approximately the
age of 12 months; and
``(ii) the second such test at approximately the
age of 24 months.
``(C) With respect to a child not covered by subparagraph
(A) or (B)--
``(i) the first screening of the child for an
elevated risk of lead exposure at approximately the age
of 12 months; and
``(ii) the second such screening at approximately
the age of 24 months.
``(D) With respect to a child covered by subparagraph (C)
whose screening indicates an elevated risk of lead exposure,
testing of the child for the level of lead in the blood of the
child.
``(2) The Secretary shall ensure that any care provided to a child
pursuant to this chapter for lead poisoning shall be carried out in
accordance with applicable advice from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
``(3)(A) With respect to a child who receives a test under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide the results of the test to
the parent or guardian of the child.
``(B) With respect to a child who receives a test under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall provide the results of the test and the
address at which the child resides to--
``(i) the relevant health department of the State in which
the child resides if the child resides in the United States; or
``(ii) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention if
the child resides outside the United States.
``(C) In providing information regarding a child to a State or the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under subparagraph (B), the
Secretary may not provide any identifying information or health
information of the child that is not specifically authorized in such
subparagraph.
``(D) In this paragraph, the term `State' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and
any territory or possession of the United States.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (a)(8) of such
section is amended by striking ``including well-baby care that
includes one screening of an infant for the level of lead in
the blood of the infant'' and inserting ``including, in
accordance with subsection (i), well-baby care that includes
screenings and testings for lead exposure and lead poisoning''.
(3) Study.--Not later than January 1, 2020, the Secretary
of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees
(as defined by section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States
Code) a report detailing the following:
(A) The number of children who were tested for the
level of lead in the blood of the child pursuant to
subparagraph (A) of subsection (i)(1) of section 1077
of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a), and of such number, the number who were found to
have elevated blood lead levels.
(B) The number of children who were tested for the
level of lead in the blood of the child pursuant to
subparagraph (B) of such subsection (i)(1), and of such
number, the number who were found to have lead
poisoning.
(C) The number of children who were screened for an
elevated risk of lead exposure pursuant to subparagraph
(C) of such subsection (i)(1).
(D) The number of children who were tested the
level of lead in the blood of the child pursuant to
subparagraph (D) of such subsection, and of such
number, the number who were found to have elevated
blood lead levels.
(E) The treatment provided to children pursuant to
chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, for lead
poisoning.
(4) GAO report.--Not later than January 1, 2021, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report on the effectiveness
of screening, testing, and treating children for lead exposure
and lead poisoning pursuant to chapter 55 of title 10, United
States Code.
(b) Notification of Housing.--Section 403 of title 37, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(p) Records Regarding Housing and Lead-Based Paint.--(1) The
Secretary concerned shall keep a record of whether the following
housing was built before, during, or after 1978:
``(A) Quarters of the United States under the jurisdiction
of that Secretary concerned.
``(B) A housing facility under the jurisdiction of that
Secretary concerned.
``(C) Other housing in which a member of the uniformed
service of that Secretary concerned resides.
``(2) As a condition of receipt of a basic allowance for housing
under this section, a member of the uniformed services shall notify the
Secretary concerned whether the housing in which that member resides
was built before, during, or after 1978.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
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