Children’s Health Protection Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 2339

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-06-26T08:07:41Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Children's Health Protection Act of 2025 aims to ensure the long-term protection of infants, children, and adolescents from environmental health and safety risks by mandating the maintenance of a dedicated office and advisory committee within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It builds on existing executive orders to integrate children's health considerations into federal environmental policies, programs, and research.

Key Provisions

• Office of Children's Health Protection (Section 2):
• Requires the EPA Administrator to maintain this office within the agency.
• The office is led by a Director, appointed by the EPA Administrator after considering recommendations from the Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee; the Director reports to the Administrator and co-chairs the President's Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children (established by Executive Order 13045 from 1997).
• Duties include:
• Identifying and assessing environmental risks (e.g., pollution or chemicals) that disproportionately affect young people.
• Ensuring federal policies, standards, and activities address these risks, with attention to environmental justice (fair treatment in communities facing higher pollution burdens).
• Coordinating research, grants, and programs across federal agencies.
• Advising the EPA and other agencies on related matters.
• Conducting national activities such as promoting safe chemical use, supporting community programs to reduce threats, increasing awareness among health providers, tracking contaminants linked to childhood diseases, providing school health resources, and other protective efforts.
• Includes a transition process to update the existing office to meet these requirements.
• Authorizes $7,842,000 annually starting in fiscal year 2026 for the office.

• Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee (Section 3):
• Mandates the EPA to maintain this permanent committee to advise on the office's programs, regulations, research, and communications related to children's health.
• The committee supports EPA implementation of Executive Order 13045 and other child health initiatives.
• Operates under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA, a law governing how advisory groups function) but is exempt from automatic termination, making it ongoing.
• Includes a transition to adapt the existing committee.

• Definitions (Section 4):
• Clarifies terms like "Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee," "Executive Order 13045," "local educational agency" (school districts or similar entities under education law), and "Office."

• Funding (Section 5):
• Authorizes $13,200,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to implement the entire Act.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Codifies (makes into permanent law) the Office of Children's Health Protection and the Advisory Committee, which previously existed under executive authority (e.g., Executive Order 13045) and could be altered or eliminated by future administrations.
• Delegates specific co-chair responsibilities for the President's Task Force to the office Director, enhancing EPA's role in interagency coordination.
• Introduces dedicated annual funding authorizations, providing stable resources not previously guaranteed by statute.
• Expands duties to explicitly include environmental justice, school programs, and health provider education, which were not as formally outlined before.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Strengthens EPA's internal structure and coordination with other federal entities (e.g., health and education agencies), potentially leading to more integrated environmental regulations that prioritize children. Increases administrative workload for appointments, reporting, and advisory functions.
• On Citizens: Improves protection for infants, children, and adolescents by addressing risks like chemical exposure or pollution in schools and communities, potentially reducing health issues such as asthma or developmental disorders. Benefits families in underserved or polluted areas through enhanced environmental justice focus.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly support U.S. leadership in global child health standards by advancing domestic research and policies on environmental contaminants.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Children, Infants, and Adolescents: Primary beneficiaries through targeted risk reduction and health protections.
• Families and Communities: Especially those in environmental justice hotspots (e.g., low-income or minority areas facing higher pollution).
• EPA and Federal Agencies: Must implement and coordinate new duties, with added funding to support operations.
• Health Care Providers and Educators: Gain resources for training, school health programs, and contaminant awareness.
• Advisory Committee Members: Experts providing input on policies, likely including scientists, advocates, and public health professionals.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces Executive Order 13045 by embedding its goals into statute, reducing vulnerability to executive changes; complies with FACA for transparency in advisory processes. No conflicts with existing environmental laws like the Clean Air Act.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and public health (under the Commerce Clause); does not raise separation-of-powers issues as it directs agency actions without overriding executive discretion.
• Political: Promotes bipartisan child welfare goals but may spark debate over regulatory expansion and funding amid EPA budget constraints; emphasizes preventive health measures, potentially influencing future environmental justice legislation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

Cosponsors (20)

Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-25: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Children’s Health Protection Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-25 — PDF (7 pages)