Sponsors (25)
Official title: To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a program and national strategic action plan to prepare and empower the health care sector to protect the health and well-being of our workers, our communities, and our planet in the face of the climate crisis, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by Doris Matsui · Last progress July 17, 2025
The bill builds sustained federal capacity, funding, and expert oversight to reduce climate-related health risks and prioritize vulnerable communities, trading off higher federal spending, added administrative obligations, and potential limits on eligibility and regulatory flexibility.
Millions of Americans (patients, clinicians, local public health) get better disease surveillance, forecasting, and regular expert guidance so communities and healthcare systems can prepare for heat, wildfire smoke, vector-borne disease, and other climate-linked health threats.
Federal funding (including $10M/year FY2026–2031 and additional appropriations) creates sustained capacity to coordinate climate and health programs across federal, state, and local levels, supporting preparedness and response activities.
Communities disproportionately affected by pollution and climate hazards (low-income, tribal, and certain racial/ethnic groups) gain clearer statutory recognition and targeted assessments, outreach, and planning to address climate-related health disparities.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending (annual $10M program funding plus additional appropriations) that could add to the deficit or crowd out other priorities.
New reporting, planning, and program requirements create administrative burdens and compliance costs for federal agencies, states, tribes, localities, and health systems, potentially diverting staff time and resources from other priorities.
Hospitals and healthcare providers may incur capital and operational costs to reduce emissions or meet resilience and reporting requirements, which could raise healthcare costs or require reallocations within health systems.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Establishes an HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, a national strategic action plan, an advisory board, National Academies reports, and authorizes funding to address climate-related health impacts.
Creates a new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity at HHS to coordinate the federal health response to climate change, develop a national strategic action plan, expand science and forecasting, and support communities and the health sector—especially environmental justice and medically underserved communities. The bill also establishes a permanent science advisory board, directs periodic National Academies reports, and authorizes multi-year funding to implement the Office, the plan, and the advisory board.