This bill would create a new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to protect people’s health as the climate changes. The office would lead a national plan so hospitals, clinics, and communities can prepare for heat waves, wildfire smoke, floods, and infectious diseases. It would share clear information, build tools and training, support partners on the ground, and work to cut the health care sector’s pollution.

The plan would focus on people hit hardest—especially communities of color, low-income communities, and Tribal communities—and improve tracking of climate-related illnesses, air quality harms, and mental health impacts. A science advisory board and the National Academies would advise and issue regular reports, and federal agencies would review how their programs protect health from climate threats.

• Who is affected: Patients and families; health workers and hospitals; state, local, and Tribal governments; and communities most at risk, including environmental justice and medically underserved communities.
• What changes: A new HHS office; a national strategic action plan; public engagement; tools, data, and forecasts; stronger disease tracking; help to keep care going during extreme weather; and efforts to track and reduce health care emissions.
• When: The plan would be published within 1 year of becoming law and updated every year; agencies would complete climate‑health reviews within 2 years; the National Academies would report 1 year after the plan and every 4 years after that.
• Funding: Up to $10 million each year for 2026–2031 for the new office, plus $2 million in 2026 for the plan and $500,000 in 2026 for the advisory board.