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September 18, 2007
CJ's Bill One Step Closer to Becoming Law
House Committee Approves, Reports Bill to Full House for Vote
WASHINGTON - CJ's Home Protection Act has cleared its first major hurdle in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, introduced by Rep. Brad Ellsworth, was considered by the House Financial Services Committee this morning and was unanimously approved.
The bill is named after CJ Martin, a two-year-old boy, whose life was taken by an F3 tornado in southwest Indiana in 2005. His mother, Kathryn, turned her grief into a state-wide advocacy campaign that resulted in an Indiana law requiring NOAA Weather Radios be installed in mobile and manufactured housing. Modeled on the Indiana law, CJ's Home Protection Act would change the Federal manufactured home construction and safety standards to require every manufactured home delivered for sale to be supplied with a weather radio.
During consideration, the Committee amended the bill to require the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee to develop the guidelines for implementing the new safety standard within 90 days of the bill's enactment. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must then order the new standard to be implemented within 90 days. The amendment also clarifies liability protections for manufacturers.
Committee approval is another important step in the legislative process. Next, the bill will need to be scheduled for consideration on the House floor and approved by the full House. The Senate must also pass the bill and the President must sign it before CJ's Bill can become federal law.
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