Extreme Heat Economic Study Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3702
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-20T09:06:51Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Extreme Heat Economic Study Act of 2025 aims to assess the financial and economic burdens caused by extreme heat events in the United States. It directs the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA) to lead a comprehensive study quantifying costs like loss of life, property damage, and broader economic effects, to better inform public policy and preparedness.
Key Provisions
- Study Requirements: NOAA's Climate Program Office, in coordination with the National Integrated Heat Health Information System, must evaluate:
- Health effects of extreme heat, such as deaths and illnesses (morbidity), using standard methods to value human life and health, in partnership with state and national public health agencies.
- Property damage from heat, where feasible.
- Specific economic factors, including:
- Medical costs from heat-related emergencies (e.g., hospital visits, medications).
- Insurance claims for life, health, workers' compensation, and crop/livestock losses.
- Reduced worker productivity due to heat.
- Business disruptions from power outages or "brownouts" (temporary power reductions).
- Damage to critical infrastructure like transportation, energy, and water systems.
- Higher energy bills for cooling.
- Impacts on agriculture, such as crop and livestock losses.
- Feedback and Collaboration: The study must gather input from a wide range of federal agencies (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency), non-federal partners (like state governments), and other relevant entities.
- Recommendations: The study includes suggestions for creating a national system to track and publicly share:
- Healthcare costs during heat events.
- Better ways to report heat-related deaths accurately.
- Metrics for measuring productivity losses from heat.
- Implementation Details:
- NOAA may partner with external groups, such as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
- It must use existing data sources where available.
- A final report must be published on the HEAT.gov website within 4 years of enactment, with findings made publicly available, including in an open-access peer-reviewed journal, following NOAA's scientific integrity rules.
- Funding: Authorizes $3.5 million for the study.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new mandate for a dedicated economic study on extreme heat, which does not amend prior laws but builds on existing frameworks like NOAA's climate programs and heat health initiatives. It creates a novel requirement for interagency coordination and public reporting on heat-related costs, filling a gap in formalized federal analysis of this specific climate impact.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires extensive collaboration among over 20 federal entities, potentially straining resources but enhancing data sharing and policy development for heat resilience. NOAA gains a lead role in climate economics.
- Citizens: Provides better data on heat risks, which could lead to improved public health warnings, emergency planning, and support for vulnerable groups (e.g., elderly, low-income, outdoor workers), potentially reducing future economic losses from heat events.
- International Relations: Limited direct impact, but involvement of the U.S. Agency for International Development suggests potential for sharing findings globally, aiding international climate adaptation efforts.
- Broader Economy: Quantified costs could influence insurance rates, business planning, and federal budgeting for disaster relief, highlighting the growing financial toll of climate change.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal and State Agencies: NOAA, public health departments (e.g., CDC), emergency management (FEMA), agriculture (USDA), energy (DOE), and environmental (EPA) entities, which must contribute data and feedback.
- Public Health and Vulnerable Populations: Individuals at risk from heat (e.g., seniors, children, low-income communities, farmworkers), benefiting from improved tracking of health and mortality data.
- Economic Sectors: Insurers, businesses (especially in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure), and workers facing productivity losses or compensation claims.
- Researchers and Non-Profits: Academic institutions, external organizations like the National Academies, and community partners involved in feedback and implementation.
- General Public: Through public access to the report, enabling awareness and advocacy for heat mitigation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes enforceable timelines and funding for the study, with provisions for scientific integrity and open data access, aligning with federal transparency laws like the Freedom of Information Act. No new regulatory powers are granted.
- Constitutional: Falls within Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate economic activities affected by climate events; no apparent conflicts with states' rights, as it encourages voluntary coordination.
- Political: Signals bipartisan attention to climate adaptation (introduced by a diverse group of representatives), potentially influencing future legislation on disaster funding or environmental policy without mandating emissions reductions or other controversial measures. It emphasizes evidence-based policymaking, which could reduce political debates over climate impacts by focusing on quantifiable economic costs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
Cosponsors (28)
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-06-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Extreme Heat Economic Study Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-04 — PDF (7 pages)