Bed Bug Legislation Being Considered at State and Federal Levels

FAIRFAX, Va. — Gene Harrington, manager of government affairs, NPMA, said the association is is closely monitoring bed bug legislation both at the state and federal levels, including H.R. 6068: Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite Act of 2008. The purpose of this act is to establish a grant program to assist states in inspecting hotel rooms for bed bugs. “Essentially what it does is provide funding to the states, which then pass along (to hotels) funds for inspections of hotels and remedial actions in hotels, to mitigate bed bug infestations in hotels,” according to Harrington.

According to the proposed legislation, 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. 

 “We’ve been in communication with the staff of this bill’s sponsor (G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C.) and we see a lot of positive virtues in it. We are going to work with the sponsor’s staff further on it,” he said.