This morning, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) hosted a press conference to announce the re-introduction of her Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act. This bill, which has garnered broad bipartisan support in the House, would improve carbon monoxide education and prevention efforts in New Hampshire and across the country. Kuster was joined at the event by New Hampshire State Fire Marshal William Degnan, Concord Fire Chief David Andrus, Chief Richard O’Brien, president of the N.H. Association of Fire Chiefs, and other local stakeholders.

“As the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, carbon monoxide poses a serious threat to communities across the country, especially those in cold-weather states like New Hampshire,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “Just this past winter, there were numerous instances of life-threatening carbon monoxide poisoning in the Granite State, some of which were tragically fatal. In order to help protect our communities from this invisible killer, I am proud to reintroduce my Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, which will help states and local governments  implement crucial programs and ensure families are protecting themselves and their loved ones from carbon monoxide. I thank Fire Marshal Degnan and the other leaders who joined me this morning to discuss this important topic, and I urge Congress to pass this life-saving legislation.”

“On behalf of my colleagues at the New Hampshire Healthy Homes Coalition and the citizens of New Hampshire and across the United States, I want to thank Congresswoman Kuster for her dedication to making New Hampshire healthy by reducing unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Marie Mulroy, a member of the Healthy Homes Coalition who took part in the press conference. “It is only through increased awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning and prevention that we can reduce this public health risk.”

Congresswoman Kuster first introduced her Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act during the 113th Congress, after the State Fire Marshal and a delegation of New Hampshire fire chiefs met with her and urged Congress to address the CO-poisoning crisis. Among other things, Kuster’s bill will establish a federal grant program to help states implement CO prevention education programs, and to help pay for the installation of CO detectors in schools and in the homes of elderly and low-income residents. These grants would be prioritized for states like New Hampshire that require the installation of CO detectors, and would encourage other states to follow the Granite State’s example. Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) is the sponsor of companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

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