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State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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NORTON'S RADON LEGISLATION SPURS OTHER STATES TO ACTION
CORALVILLE, IA If you think that what happens in Minnesota, stays in Minnesota think again. At a conference sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures in east-central Iowa today, State Representative Kim Norton (DFL Rochester) discovered that lawmakers throughout the Midwest are looking to her work as a national model.
"As a State Representative in my first term, I came to this conference to learn how to be a more effective legislator for the Rochester community in the area of environmental health," said Norton. "I was pleasantly surprised to find that radon was one of the main areas of discussion and that my legislation has helped other legislators who want to move forward with this issue in their own states."
The legislation grabbing so much attention is a constituent-inspired bill Norton moved through the legislature last session that will prevent harmful human exposure to radon in Minnesota homes a natural, odorless, but dangerous gas responsible for 15% of all lung cancer. Her bill (HF993), signed into law by the governor last spring, will require radon ventilation systems to be installed in all new homes in Minnesota before they are sold. Norton's efforts are now being recognized as a proper and necessary course of action by legislators across the country, particularly the Midwest where radon levels are especially high, to protect people from the harmful effects of dangerous radon exposure.
"Homeowners in Midwestern states, like Minnesota, are at the highest risk for exposure to radon," said Norton. "I am very pleased that lawmakers from states like Iowa, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and others are seriously considering taking the necessary public health measures to protect their citizens from this silent killer."
According to a 2006 Surgeon General report, radon is responsible for approximately 20,000 deaths per year the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. These deaths are often a result of poor detection and filtration of radon gasses in the home. The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest cites the fact that radon gas can travel through soil and enter homes virtually undetected through gaps in the foundation, pipes, drains, or other openings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that one out of every 15 homes in the U.S. contains dangerous levels of radon gas 1 in 3 in Minnesota.
"This is a serious issue that is often overlooked," said Norton. "By taking the necessary, cost-effective steps to prevent radon exposure in the first place, states will be armed with effective tools to promote public health and significantly mitigate the risk associated with natural exposure to this dangerous gas."
Like most people, Rep. Norton's constituent was unaware of the harmful effects of radon exposure when he bought a new house in Badger Ridge three years ago. He was disturbed to find high levels of radon in his new home. More than that, he was shocked to find that the equipment necessary to protect his home and family from the harmful effects of radon, would cost between $2,000$4,000 to install, when it would have cost less than $500 if it had been installed when the home was built.
By listening attentively to the concerns of her constituent, Norton was able to enact nation-leading legislation that will ultimately save lives and consumer dollars and that's precisely the dual benefit that has attracted so many other legislators to enact similar laws in their own states.
"I am very thankful that a concerned constituent brought this issue to my attention," said Norton. "It just goes to show that one voice really can make a difference."
Other topics discussed at the conference included PCBs, renewable energy, mercury reduction, CAFOs, and Federal-State partnerships in addressing environmental health issues.
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- Its Time for Legislature to Get Back to Basics, Balance the Budget Honestly - (Posted: 2012-12-11 00:00:00)
- Second Saturday Coffee Meeting Date Changed to December 9 - (Posted: 2012-12-03 00:00:00)
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