Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4515
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-25T09:06:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025 aims to prepare and strengthen the U.S. health care system against the health effects of climate change. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create an Office of Climate Change and Health Equity and develop a national strategic action plan. This plan focuses on protecting health workers, communities, and the environment from climate-related threats, such as extreme weather, diseases, and pollution, while emphasizing support for vulnerable groups.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity: Creates a new office within HHS, led by a Director reporting to the Secretary. The office's duties include:
- Assessing climate change's health impacts on U.S. populations.
- Identifying needs of disproportionately affected groups, like environmental justice communities (areas with higher exposure to pollution due to race, income, or Indigenous status) and medically underserved communities (regions with limited access to health care).
- Tracking data on environmental conditions, diseases, and risks; expanding forecasting tools; and communicating risks to the public, health professionals, and policymakers.
- Developing tools for climate resilience in health care, reducing the health sector's greenhouse gas emissions (gases that trap heat in the atmosphere), and preparing response plans for events like heat waves or infectious disease outbreaks.
- Building partnerships with government, private sector, nonprofits, and educational institutions; promoting workforce training; and aligning federal services for vulnerable populations.
- National Strategic Action Plan: HHS must publish this plan within one year of enactment, based on scientific evidence and consultations with federal agencies (e.g., EPA, NOAA), Tribal governments, state/local officials, and stakeholders like health providers and affected communities. Key components include:
- Prioritizing support for at-risk groups and addressing health disparities (unequal health outcomes) worsened by climate change.
- Outreach to professionals and the public; tracking federal research; evaluating preparedness strategies; and prioritizing infrastructure like hospitals.
- Tools for modeling local health impacts; technical assistance to states, Tribes, and even developing countries; and strategies to cut health sector emissions.
- Enhanced disease surveillance for issues like vector-borne diseases (spread by insects), air pollution effects, mental health impacts, extreme weather, and disruptions in medical access.
- Annual assessments and revisions to update the plan with new data on environmental trends, health impacts, and program effectiveness.
- Implementation and Assessments: HHS will use existing authorities to meet plan goals, and other agencies must align their programs accordingly. Within 180 days, HHS identifies laws/policies affecting climate health; within two years, agencies assess their impacts and help state/Tribal/local governments do the same.
- Advisory Board: Establishes a permanent science advisory board (10-20 members) with experts in public health, climate justice, and related fields, including those with personal experience in affected communities. The board advises on science, impacts, and strategies; submits annual reports to Congress; and receives HHS support.
- Periodic Reports: HHS funds the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to produce reports every four years after the plan's release, reviewing scientific advances, plan impacts, and recommended changes. These are submitted to Congress and made public.
- Funding: Authorizes $10 million annually (fiscal years 2026-2031) for the office; $2 million in 2026 for the plan; and $500,000 in 2026 for the advisory board.
The act clarifies it does not override other federal laws or responsibilities in areas like health, environment, or energy.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This legislation introduces entirely new structures and mandates not previously in U.S. law:
- Creates a dedicated HHS office focused on climate-health links, which did not exist before.
- Requires a comprehensive national strategic action plan with specific equity and emission-reduction elements, building on but expanding beyond existing public health preparedness laws (e.g., Public Health Service Act).
- Mandates interagency coordination, health impact assessments of policies, and regular scientific reporting, adding layers of accountability and revision to federal climate-health efforts.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases coordination among HHS and agencies like EPA, NOAA, and Defense; requires new assessments and plan implementation, potentially straining resources but improving cross-agency responses to climate threats. Provides dedicated funding to support these activities.
- On Citizens: Enhances public health preparedness, especially for vulnerable groups, by improving disease tracking, resilience tools, and access to care during climate events. Could reduce health disparities and costs from climate-related illnesses (e.g., heat strokes, asthma from pollution) through better forecasting and outreach.
- On International Relations: Primarily domestic but includes technical assistance for developing countries and consultations with international agencies (e.g., State Department). May position the U.S. as a leader in global health-climate strategies, indirectly supporting efforts like those under the Paris Agreement, without binding international commitments.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: HHS (lead role), other agencies (e.g., EPA, NOAA, Indian Health Service), and Congress (receives reports).
- State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments: Receive technical assistance, assessments, and resources for local preparedness.
- Communities and Populations: Environmental justice communities, medically underserved areas, Tribal/Indigenous groups, low-income/racial minorities, migrants, and those facing health disparities—prioritized for protection and support.
- Health Sector: Providers, public health organizations, hospitals, and workers—gain tools for resilience, emission reductions, and training.
- Other Groups: Scientists, nonprofits, private sector (e.g., health industries), educational institutions, and the general public—through communication, partnerships, and workforce development.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces existing federal authority under public health laws without conflicting with them; promotes environmental justice by mandating equity in planning, aligning with Executive Orders on climate and justice. The advisory board follows standard federal procedures (e.g., Federal Advisory Committee Act).
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; operates within Congress's powers to regulate public health and welfare (Commerce Clause) and spend for general welfare. Emphasizes voluntary consultations and evidence-based actions, avoiding mandates that could raise federalism concerns.
- Political: Advances climate policy through a health-focused, bipartisan-accessible lens (e.g., protecting workers and infrastructure), potentially bridging divides. Highlights equity for marginalized groups, which could influence future environmental legislation, but requires appropriations for full effect—subject to congressional budgeting debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
Cosponsors (24)
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-17 — PDF (17 pages)