This bill aims to empower the healthcare sector to address the health impacts of climate change by establishing the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within the Department of Health and Human Services. The Office will facilitate a robust federal response, focusing on assessing climate change's effects on health, understanding the needs of disproportionately affected populations like environmental justice and medically underserved communities, and serving as a credible source of information. Its duties include tracking data, expanding modeling capacity, communicating health risks to the public and professionals, and leading efforts to reduce the health sector's greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation further directs the Secretary of HHS to publish a National Strategic Action Plan within one year, coordinating federal efforts to prepare public health and healthcare systems for climate change impacts. This plan will include strategies for identifying and prioritizing vulnerable communities, addressing health disparities, reducing the health sector's greenhouse gas emissions, and improving disease surveillance systems for climate-related health issues. A permanent science advisory board will provide expert advice on climate change's public health impacts, and periodic reports from the National Academies will review scientific developments and evaluate the plan's effectiveness. The bill authorizes appropriations for the Office, the National Strategic Action Plan, and the advisory board.
Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025
USA119th CongressHR-4515| House
| Updated: 7/17/2025
This bill aims to empower the healthcare sector to address the health impacts of climate change by establishing the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within the Department of Health and Human Services. The Office will facilitate a robust federal response, focusing on assessing climate change's effects on health, understanding the needs of disproportionately affected populations like environmental justice and medically underserved communities, and serving as a credible source of information. Its duties include tracking data, expanding modeling capacity, communicating health risks to the public and professionals, and leading efforts to reduce the health sector's greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation further directs the Secretary of HHS to publish a National Strategic Action Plan within one year, coordinating federal efforts to prepare public health and healthcare systems for climate change impacts. This plan will include strategies for identifying and prioritizing vulnerable communities, addressing health disparities, reducing the health sector's greenhouse gas emissions, and improving disease surveillance systems for climate-related health issues. A permanent science advisory board will provide expert advice on climate change's public health impacts, and periodic reports from the National Academies will review scientific developments and evaluate the plan's effectiveness. The bill authorizes appropriations for the Office, the National Strategic Action Plan, and the advisory board.