Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2340
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:35:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025 aims to address the health effects of climate change by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create and implement a program and a national strategic action plan. This plan focuses on preparing the health care sector to safeguard the health of workers, communities, and the environment amid the climate crisis.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity: Creates a new office within HHS, led by a Director who reports to the Secretary. The office's duties include assessing climate impacts on health, tracking data on environmental conditions and diseases, communicating risks to the public and professionals, developing tools for climate resilience, preparing response plans for events like heat waves, reducing the health sector's greenhouse gas emissions, and fostering partnerships with governments, organizations, and educational institutions.
- National Strategic Action Plan: Requires HHS to publish this plan within one year of enactment, based on scientific evidence and consultations with federal agencies (e.g., EPA, NOAA, NASA), Tribal governments, state/local officials, and stakeholders like health providers and affected communities. The plan must assess and strategize improvements in health sector capacity, including:
- Prioritizing vulnerable groups, such as environmental justice communities (areas with higher health or environmental risks for communities of color, low-income, or Tribal/Indigenous populations) and medically underserved communities (areas with limited access to health services).
- Addressing health disparities, mental and physical effects, disease surveillance for issues like infectious diseases, air pollution, extreme weather, and disruptions in health care access.
- Promoting outreach, modeling tools, infrastructure projects, emission reductions, and technical assistance for states, Tribes, and localities.
- The plan must be assessed and revised annually to incorporate new data on environmental trends, health impacts, and strategy effectiveness.
- Implementation and Health Impact Assessments: HHS must use its existing authorities to implement the office's goals and integrate them into other public health programs. Within 180 days of enactment, HHS identifies relevant laws, policies, and programs for climate health impacts; within two years, federal agencies assess these under their jurisdiction and help state, Tribal, local, and territorial governments do the same.
- Advisory Board: Establishes a permanent science advisory board (10-20 members) under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, appointed from experts recommended by the National Academy of Sciences or Medicine, including those with practical experience in public health, climate justice, and diverse populations. The board provides advice on climate health impacts and strategies, informs the action plan, and submits annual reports to Congress.
- Periodic Reports from National Academies: HHS must fund agreements with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for reports every four years (starting one year after the action plan's publication). These evaluate scientific developments, measure plan implementation impacts, and recommend updates.
- Funding: Authorizes $10 million annually for the office (fiscal years 2026-2031), $2 million for the action plan (2026, available until spent), and $500,000 for the advisory board (2026, available until spent).
- Definitions and Scope: Defines key terms like "environmental justice community" and "medically underserved community." The act does not override or violate existing federal laws on health, environment, energy, or other areas.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new structures and requirements without directly amending prior laws. It establishes the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity as a dedicated entity within HHS, which did not previously exist in this form. It mandates a comprehensive national strategic action plan for climate-related health preparedness, including annual revisions and health impact assessments of existing policies—features not outlined in current statutes. It also creates a new advisory board and requires external reports from the National Academies, expanding federal coordination on climate health beyond existing environmental or public health laws like the Public Health Service Act.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances coordination among HHS, EPA, NOAA, NASA, and others, potentially increasing administrative workload for assessments, consultations, and implementation. It promotes integration of climate considerations into ongoing programs, aiding state, Tribal, local, and territorial governments with technical support and resources for preparedness plans.
- Citizens: Improves public health resilience by addressing climate-driven risks like extreme weather, infectious diseases, air pollution, and mental health effects, with a focus on reducing disparities for vulnerable groups. It could lead to better access to information, tools, and services, such as emission-tracking resources for health facilities and disease surveillance systems, ultimately lowering health costs and risks from climate events.
- International Relations: Primarily domestic-focused, but consultations with the Secretary of State and involvement of agencies like Defense and Veterans Affairs could indirectly support global health diplomacy on climate issues. No direct international mandates are included.
Main Stakeholders
- Federal Government: HHS (lead role), other agencies (e.g., EPA, NOAA, NASA, Labor, Defense, State, Veterans Affairs), and the National Academies.
- State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments: Recipients of technical assistance, assessments, and resources for local health plans.
- Communities and Populations: Environmental justice communities, medically underserved areas, Tribal/Indigenous groups, migrants, refugees, and those facing health disparities from climate impacts.
- Health Sector: Public health professionals, health care providers, hospitals, and workforce training programs benefiting from tools, emission reductions, and resilience strategies.
- Other Groups: Nongovernmental organizations, private sector (e.g., health facilities tracking emissions), community leaders, faith-based groups, scientists, and educational institutions through partnerships and advisory roles.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The act explicitly preserves existing federal authorities and prohibits violations of other laws, ensuring compatibility with regulations on health, environment, and energy. It requires science-based decisions and broad consultations, promoting transparency and evidence-driven policy.
- Constitutional: The advisory board complies with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Chapter 10), which governs such bodies to ensure balanced representation and public input, avoiding undue delegation of authority.
- Political: Emphasizes equity and justice in addressing climate health burdens, potentially advancing bipartisan environmental goals but highlighting priorities like emission reductions and vulnerable populations, which may influence future legislation or funding debates. Annual reporting to Congress enables ongoing oversight and adjustments based on emerging science.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-17 — PDF (16 pages)