Sponsors
This bill increases transparency by forcing a rapid, nationwide GAO count of housing near Superfund sites—giving communities and policymakers data to prioritize action—while offering no mandated cleanup and imposing a tight deadline that may limit the study's completeness and immediate benefits to affected residents.
Residents living within one mile of NPL (Superfund) sites will get clearer, standardized information about how many homes and public housing units are nearby, helping families and community groups make health, housing, and planning decisions.
State and local policymakers and federal agencies will have nationwide, comparable data to better prioritize cleanup, community assistance, and resource allocation near hazardous sites.
Low-income and public housing residents could benefit from targeted remediation, relocation, or assistance policies if the study documents high concentrations of public housing near Superfund sites.
Residents living near NPL sites may learn about potential health or housing risks from the report but receive no immediate cleanup, funding, or relief as the study does not require remediation.
The six-month deadline for the GAO report may limit the depth and accuracy of analysis, risking incomplete counts or reliance on imperfect data that could misinform local planning.
Preparing the mandated study creates administrative workload for the GAO and may require additional resources or divert staff time from other oversight priorities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires GAO to report within six months on the number of residential and public housing units within one mile of each Superfund NPL site.
Introduced February 17, 2026 by Michael Lawler · Last progress February 17, 2026
Requires the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to count and report how many residential dwelling units and public housing units are located within one mile of every Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) site. The GAO must deliver that report to Congress within six months of the law taking effect.