I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8540 To require the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services to conduct a study of how housing design can help prevent the spread of communicable diseases, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 6, 2020 Mr. KATKO (for himself, Mr. ROSE of New York, Ms. KUSTER of New Hamp- shire, and Mr. DELGADO) introduced the following bill; which was re- ferred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To require the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Develop- ment, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services to conduct a study of how housing design can help prevent the spread of communicable diseases, and for other pur- poses. 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 ‘‘Keeping Seniors Safe 4 from COVID-19 Through Home Design Act of 2020’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:34 Oct 30, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8540.IH H8540 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8540 IH SEC. 2. STUDY AND REPORT ON HOUSING DESIGN. 1 (a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban 2 Development, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Sec- 3 retary of Health and Human Services shall jointly conduct 4 a study to identify improved home and housing design fea- 5 tures and improved design features in nursing homes and 6 assisted living facilities that can help prevent and protect 7 against the spread of infection by communicable diseases, 8 including the novel coronavirus disease (COVID–19), and 9 how such design features could be incorporated under 10 housing assistance and mortgage insurance programs of 11 the Department of Housing and Urban Development and 12 the Department of Agriculture. The study shall consider 13 any advantages that might result from updated or im- 14 proved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, 15 installation of hands-free sinks, incorporation of outdoor 16 space, redesign and re-use of existing space, and other de- 17 sign features and shall consider design features specific 18 to housing for particular populations, including elderly 19 persons, persons with disabilities, and homeless persons, 20 (b) REPORT.—Not later than the expiration of the 21 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment 22 of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Develop- 23 ment, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of 24 Health and Human Services shall jointly submit to the 25 Congress a report describing the study conducted pursu- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:34 Oct 30, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8540.IH H8540 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8540 IH ant to subsection (a) and setting forth the findings and 1 conclusions of the study, including any recommendations 2 regarding improved home and housing design, improved 3 design features in nursing homes and assisted living facili- 4 ties, and implementation of such recommendations. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:34 Oct 30, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8540.IH H8540 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS