Government Affairs Director Promotes EH at the White House

March 8, 2024

This week, our Director of Government Affairs Doug Farquhar lead discussions with the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to encourage federal housing agencies, including HUD, USDA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, to adopt minimum energy housing codes. We were joined the American Lung Association, Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, Advocacy and Policy at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments in the discussion.

We emphasized the health benefits of updating fixtures and appliances in federally owned residential buildings from gas-based to electric, noting the health threats from carbon monoxide poisoning and particulate matter that gas appliances cause. These conclusions are based on the Consolidated Best Practices Report produced by the joint International Code Council and NEHA Pandemic task force.

OMB representatives requested a copy of the report, which we shared with the White House.

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About the National Environmental Health Association

The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) represents more than 7,000 governmental, private, academic, and uniformed services sector environmental public health professionals in the U.S., its territories, and internationally. NEHA is the profession’s strongest advocate for excellence in the practice of environmental health as it delivers on its mission to build, sustain, and empower an effective environmental health workforce.