What This Bill Does
This bill requires that homes receiving federal housing assistance maintain comfortable and safe indoor temperatures. The bill, called the Safe Temperature Act of 2023, sets temperature requirements for certain types of federally assisted housing.
Who It Affects
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Owners of dwelling units (homes) that receive federal housing assistance. Residents living in public housing, project-based assisted housing (housing where federal assistance is tied to specific buildings), and supportive housing for elderly people.
Key Provisions
- The Secretary may require owners of homes receiving housing assistance payments to keep indoor temperatures between 71 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit (Sec. 2(a)(1))
- The Secretary may use Capital Fund or Operating Fund money (federal funding for housing maintenance and operations) to maintain temperatures between 71 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit in public housing units (Sec. 2(a)(2))
- The Secretary may require owners of housing for elderly people to keep each unit at temperatures between 71 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit (Sec. 2(b))
What Changes
Owners of federally assisted homes would be required or allowed to maintain specific temperature ranges. Federal housing funds could be used to meet these temperature requirements.
Important Definitions
Comfortable and safe temperature level: Not explicitly defined in bill text beyond the specified range of 71 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit.
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 579
To provide for a comfortable and safe temperature level in dwelling units
receiving certain Federal housing assistance, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 1, 2023
Mr. RUBIO introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
A BILL
To provide for a comfortable and safe temperature level
in dwelling units receiving certain Federal housing assist-
ance, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Safe Temperature Act
4
of 2023’’.
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SEC. 2. COMFORTABLE AND SAFE TEMPERATURE LEVEL IN
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FEDERALLY ASSISTED HOUSING.
7
(a) PUBLIC HOUSING AND PROJECT-BASED ASSIST-
8
ANCE.—The United States Housing Act of 1937 (42
9
U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) is amended—
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•S 579 IS
(1)
in
section
8(o)(13)
(42
U.S.C.
1
1437f(o)(13)), by adding at the end the following:
2
‘‘(P) MAINTAINING TEMPERATURE LEVEL
3
IN
UNITS.—The Secretary may require the
4
owner of a dwelling unit receiving assistance
5
under a housing assistance payment under this
6
paragraph to ensure that the dwelling unit
7
maintains a comfortable and safe temperature
8
level ranging from 71 degrees to 81 degrees
9
Fahrenheit.’’; and
10
(2) in section 9 (42 U.S.C. 1437g), by adding
11
at the end the following:
12
‘‘(p) USE
OF FUNDS TO MAINTAIN TEMPERATE
13
LEVEL
IN UNITS.—With respect to a public housing
14
dwelling unit, the Secretary may use amounts in the Cap-
15
ital Fund or the Operating Fund to ensure that the dwell-
16
ing unit maintains a comfortable and safe temperature
17
level ranging from 71 degrees to 81 degrees Fahrenheit.’’.
18
(b) SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY.—
19
Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C.
20
1701q) is amended by striking the first and second sub-
21
section (m) and inserting the following:
22
‘‘(m) MAINTAINING TEMPERATURE IN UNITS.—The
23
Secretary may require the owner of housing assisted under
24
this section to ensure that each unit in that housing main-
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•S 579 IS
tains a comfortable and safe temperature level ranging
1
from 71 degrees to 81 degrees Fahrenheit.’’.
2
Æ
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