Healthy Places Act of 2006

The Healthy Places Act of 2006 (H.R. 5088) was designed to help state and local governments evaluate how community planning—such as housing, transportation, and land use—affects public health. The bill would have established a federal program to provide funding and technical assistance for "health impact assessments," which are studies used to predict how proposed construction or policy changes might impact the well-being of local residents. Additionally, the legislation sought to create grants for research on how the "built environment" (man-made surroundings like parks and roads) influences health outcomes, with a specific focus on addressing concerns in disadvantaged communities.