Rep. Bruce Braley renews call for End Radon in Schools Act - KWWL

U.S. Congressional Representative Bruce Braley was in Des Moines for the opening day of the state legislature Monday to renew his call to pass the End Radon in Schools Act.

The Act would require schools to perform radon testing and install mitigation systems if high levels of radon gas are found.

Braley believes that, because radon testing is often required when purchasing a home, there's no reason it shouldn't be done in schools. He noted that radon exposure is a leading cause of lung cancer.

"Those buildings that have unhealthy radon levels would be required to mitigate that level, and those schools would be awarded grant funds to conduct testing based upon testing already in place by the Environmental Protection Agency," Braley said.

Braley plans to introduce the End Radon in Schools Act as the first bill Tuesday, when the 113th United States Congress convenes in Washington, D.C.