Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2373
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-22: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T22:03:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act," aims to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths among student athletes by requiring schools and universities to create and follow specific emergency plans. It is inspired by the 2018 death of University of Maryland football player Jordan McNair from exertional heatstroke during a workout, highlighting gaps in medical response and the need for better preparedness in hot environments.
Key Provisions
- Emergency Action Plans for Higher Education Institutions (Sec. 3): Institutions participating in federal student aid programs and belonging to athletic associations or conferences must, within one year of enactment:
- Develop and implement a venue-specific plan for heat-related illnesses, including use of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs, portable devices that deliver electric shocks to restore heart rhythm) and cold water immersion equipment (tubs or methods to rapidly cool the body).
- Consult local emergency responders.
- Submit annual compliance reports to the Secretary of Education and relevant congressional committees starting one year after initial implementation.
- Plans must include symptom identification (e.g., confusion, high fever, dizziness) and care coordination, be posted visibly in key athletic areas (locker rooms, training facilities, weight rooms, outdoor complexes), published on the institution's website at the start of each academic year, shared with local responders, and practiced in-person annually by student athletes, trainers, physicians, coaches, administrators, safety personnel, and legal counsel.
- Recommendations include using the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature index (a measure combining heat, humidity, and sun to assess risk) for activity guidelines, ensuring AEDs are within 3 minutes of venues, and listing AED locations.
- Adjustments allowed for facilities under major renovations.
- Emergency Action Plans for Secondary Schools (Sec. 4): Secondary schools receiving federal education funds and with athletics programs must follow similar requirements as higher education, including plan development within one year, annual reporting, posting, website publication, distribution to responders, and in-person practice. The list of participants includes the same groups plus "any other relevant individuals" as determined by the school.
- Promotion of Federal Grants (Sec. 5): The Secretary of Education must inform schools, local education agencies, state education agencies, and higher education institutions about available federal funds for heat illness prevention, such as training programs and equipment purchases for students and staff.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092) by adding a new subsection (n) to mandate heat-related emergency plans for qualifying colleges and universities, which previously lacked such specific federal requirements for athletic safety.
- Adds a new Section 8549D to Subpart 2 of Part F of Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.), imposing similar mandates on secondary schools as a condition of federal funding, extending protections beyond higher education to K-12 levels where no comparable nationwide standard existed.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Education will oversee compliance through annual reports and promote grants, potentially increasing administrative workload but also enabling better resource allocation for safety. Local emergency responders may see more coordination with schools.
- On Citizens: Student athletes, particularly in outdoor sports like football, will benefit from standardized prevention measures, reducing risks of heatstroke (a severe condition where body temperature rises rapidly, potentially causing organ damage or death). Families and communities gain from raised awareness via foundations like the Jordan McNair Foundation.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. education and athletics.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Student Athletes: Primary beneficiaries through improved safety protocols and training on heat illness symptoms.
- Educational Institutions: Colleges, universities, and secondary schools must invest time, resources, and potentially funds for equipment like AEDs and immersion tubs.
- Athletic and Medical Staff: Coaches, trainers, physicians, and administrators required to develop, practice, and follow plans, enhancing their roles in emergency response.
- Federal and State Agencies: Department of Education for oversight and grant promotion; state and local education agencies for implementation support.
- Local Emergency Responders: Involved in plan consultation and coordination.
- Families and Advocacy Groups: Such as the McNair family, who may see broader adoption of preventive tools they promote.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ties compliance to federal funding eligibility, creating enforceable conditions without new penalties; allows flexibility for renovations to avoid undue burdens. May reduce institutional liability in heat-related lawsuits by standardizing care, but requires institutions to demonstrate adherence.
- Constitutional: Aligns with federal spending power under the Constitution (Article I, Section 8), as mandates are conditioned on receiving federal education funds, respecting state and local autonomy in education.
- Political: Builds bipartisan support around public health and youth safety, named after a specific tragedy to honor a victim's legacy. Could influence broader climate adaptation policies given findings on rising temperatures, though it avoids partisan debates by focusing on practical, evidence-based reforms like CDC data on heat deaths.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-22: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-07-22: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act — issued 2025-07-22 — PDF (12 pages)