Sponsors (25)
The bill builds federal capacity, funding, and scientific oversight to address climate-related health risks—especially for vulnerable communities and the health sector—but does so at added taxpayer cost and with new reporting and administrative burdens, potential gaps from narrow legal definitions, and constraints from preserving existing authorities.
Low-income, tribal, and racial/ethnic minority communities gain formal recognition and targeted federal assessments, preparedness, outreach, and tailored actions to address climate-related health harms.
State and local public-health systems, hospitals, and health departments receive designated federal funding (including $10M/year FY2026–2031 and appropriations for a national plan and advisory board) to sustain climate-health programs and implementation.
Healthcare providers, public-health officials, and patients benefit from improved disease surveillance, forecasting, expert guidance, and regular evidence-based reports that enhance preparedness and response to heat, vector-borne disease, wildfire smoke, and other climate-driven health risks.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending and ongoing administrative costs (appropriations and board/reporting expenses) that could add to the deficit or require trade-offs with other programs.
Federal, state, tribal, and local agencies and health systems will incur new administrative, reporting, and coordination burdens (timelines, surveillance, and planning mandates) that could strain limited staff and resources.
Narrow statutory definitions and cross-references to existing law could exclude some communities experiencing climate-related health harms or lock in standards that may be outdated, limiting who receives assistance.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Creates an HHS Office to coordinate climate-related health responses, requires a national strategic plan and advisory board, and authorizes funding to support those activities.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by Doris Matsui · Last progress July 17, 2025
Creates a new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity inside HHS to coordinate federal actions on health harms from climate change, direct research and data collection, develop a national strategic action plan within one year, and provide tools and preparedness for communities and the health sector. It also establishes a permanent science advisory board and requires periodic National Academies reports, while authorizing modest funding for these activities for FY2026–FY2031. The Office must focus on populations disproportionately affected by climate impacts (including environmental justice and medically underserved communities), expand modeling and surveillance, support workforce development, and lead efforts to reduce the health sector’s greenhouse gas and environmental footprint. The law preserves existing federal authorities and requires interagency and stakeholder consultation in plan development.