Congress looking to subsidize checking for bed bugs
Posted on July 7th, 2008 by bile Tags: bed bugs, Congress, Doug Summers, iRobot, New Hampshire, Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, travel industries, Uncategorized 1 Comment »(a) Administration; Amount- The Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation with the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, may provide grants to an eligible State to assist such State in carrying out the inspections described in subsection (c). The grants shall be in amounts determined by the Secretary, taking into consideration the relative needs of the State.
(b) Eligibility- A State is eligible for a grant under this Act if the State has established a program whereby not fewer than 20 percent of rooms in lodging facilities in such State are inspected annually for cimex lectularius, commonly know as the bed bug. The Federal share of funding for such a program shall not exceed 80 percent.
(c) Use of Grants- A State may use a grant received under this Act to–
(1) conduct inspections of lodging facilities for cimex lectularius, including transportation, lodging, and meal expenses for inspectors
(2) train inspection personnel; and
(3) educate the proprietors and staff of lodging establishments about methods to prevent and eradicate cimex lectularius.(d) Application- To receive a grant under this Act, an eligible State shall submit an application to the Secretary of Commerce in such form and containing such information as the Secretary shall determine.
(e) Definition of Lodging Facility- For purposes of this Act and the requirement under subsection (b) for State programs receiving funding under this Act, the term `lodging facility’ means any individual hotel, motel, or inn that makes available for commercial lodging more than 10 individual rooms.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012 to the Secretary of Commerce for the grants authorized under this Act.
From WashingtonWatch.com:
deb
As a single homeowner who experienced a bedbug infestation, I can say that these bugs are truly horrible. The expense , the loss of furniture, the stress and mental anguish, the social stigma…all happen to one’s life when bedbugs invade a home.
The bedbug’s ability to hitchhike via personal items is insidious. A bug that causes so much stress and upheaval in one’s life must be taken seriously. Ignore this bug and it will wreak havoc on society.
Doug Summers MS
The re-emergence of bed bugs is going to have a major impact on a number of industries, particularly the hospitality & travel industries.
We need to take action now!
Please support this bill!
This bill will address one important vector, the hotel industry.
Congress needs to consider federal legislation to to help deal with infestations in residential housing , as well.
Marc
I am waiting for dirty dish act of 2008. As a single homeowner who experienced dirty dish infestations, I can say that these dirty dishes are truly horrible. The expense , the loss of clean dishes, the stress and mental anguish, the social stigma…all happen to one’s life when dirty dishes invade a home.
The dirty dishes’ ability to hitchhike via personal actions is insidious. A chore that causes so much stress and upheaval in one’s life must be taken seriously. Ignore dirty dishes and it will wreak havoc on society.
I’m with Marc. If they are going to search for bedbugs they need to start addressing dirty dishes. That impacts far more individuals and costs far more in dollars and man power. In fact the government should mandate dishwashers for all, nationalize the dishwasher manufactures and detergent makers as well as force iRobot to create automatic dishwasher bots or dishwasher loaders.
Funny that they refer to New Hampshire yet no congressmen from NH have sponsored the bill.
