Sponsors
The bill increases transparency and environmental-justice targeting by producing standardized counts of residences and public housing near Superfund (NPL) sites, but it does not compel cleanup or funding and may yield incomplete data within a short (six-month) timeframe.
Residents (renters and homeowners), including parents and families, will get clearer, site-by-site counts of how many residences lie within one mile of each NPL hazardous site, improving awareness of potential exposure.
Public housing tenants (low-income individuals) will be identified through counts of public housing units near NPL sites, giving targeted visibility that can support prioritization for remediation or tenant assistance.
Congress and local governments will receive actionable, site-specific data within six months to inform oversight, funding decisions, and cleanup prioritization.
Residents identified as living near NPL sites (renters, homeowners, low-income individuals) may not see immediate health protections because the GAO report does not require remediation or provide funding.
The six-month deadline for the GAO counts may limit the depth or accuracy of the data, risking incomplete or imprecise information for local governments and families relying on it.
The GAO study could divert staff time and resources from other oversight work, potentially delaying other federal reviews or reports.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires GAO to report within six months on how many residential and public housing units lie within one mile of each EPA Superfund (NPL) site.
Requires the Government Accountability Office (Comptroller General) to study and report to Congress on how many residential dwelling units and public housing units are located within one mile of each site on the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List (Superfund sites). The report must be delivered within six months after the law goes into effect. Also establishes an official short title for the Act; it does not create new programs, authorize spending, or change regulatory rules.
Introduced February 17, 2026 by Michael Lawler · Last progress February 17, 2026