Coordinated Federal Response to Extreme Heat Act of 2025

Bill Number: S. 325
Origin Chamber: Senate
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Health
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-01-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Last Updated: 2026-04-10T16:23:01Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Coordinated Federal Response to Extreme Heat Act of 2025 aims to lower health risks from extreme heat—periods of unusually high temperatures that can last for days and affect human health—by creating a coordinated federal system. It establishes a new information system and an interagency committee within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to enhance forecasting, planning, preparedness, and response to heat events, ultimately supporting better decision-making to protect lives, property, and the economy.

Key Provisions

Definitions: The bill defines key terms, such as "extreme heat" (heat exceeding local norms in duration, intensity, season length, or frequency), "heat event" (extreme heat lasting 2 or more days with potential health effects), "heat-health" (health impacts or risks from heat exposure), "planning" (long-term activities to mitigate risks using forecasts), and "preparedness" (short- and long-term actions to manage risks before heat events). It also defines "Tribal government" as recognized Native American or Alaska Native governing bodies.

National Integrated Heat Health Information System Interagency Committee:
Established within NOAA to coordinate federal agencies for a unified approach to reducing heat-related health risks.
Membership: Includes the Director of the new information system and at least one expert representative from agencies like NOAA (including its Weather Service, research office, and satellite/data service), the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Census Bureau, Department of Health and Human Services (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Indian Health Service), Department of the Interior (e.g., Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service), Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and others (e.g., Defense, Agriculture, Labor, State, Veterans Affairs).
Leadership: Three co-chairs (initially one each from NOAA, Health and Human Services, and FEMA) selected by members and approved by NOAA's Under Secretary; they set agendas, direct work, and hold quarterly meetings. Terms last up to 5 years, with NOAA guaranteed a co-chair spot ongoing.
Responsibilities: Develop a 5-year strategic plan (due within 2 years of enactment, with updates every 5 years); coordinate federal efforts on communication, research, service delivery, and workforce training; and build partnerships with non-federal entities.
Strategic Plan Details: Focuses on improving data sharing on heat illnesses and deaths; addressing user needs through research and tools; and funding mechanisms for planning. Agencies implement relevant parts, and the plan is submitted to Congress and posted publicly.
Consultation: The committee must engage regional, state, Tribal, and local governments; international partners; research institutions; nongovernmental organizations; medical experts; and stakeholders in environmental health or economic development.

National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS):
Established within NOAA to deliver better data, forecasts, warnings, and projections on heat and its impacts.
Core Functions: Enhance temperature and heat-related information; develop science-based tools (via NOAA's research office) for decision-making on health, property, and economic effects; and support heat-health research in coordination with the committee.
Data Management: All data and related descriptions (metadata) must be publicly available (subject to legal limits on sharing); archived and maintained by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, following federal records and evidence-based policymaking laws. At least one "warning coordination meteorologist" (a specialist in linking weather forecasts to emergency responses) will be assigned there.

Funding: Authorizes $5 million annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to NOAA for the committee, NIHHIS, and related administrative costs.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces entirely new federal structures—the interagency committee and NIHHIS—without directly amending prior laws. It builds on existing frameworks, such as NOAA's weather forecasting authorities (e.g., under the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017) and data management rules (e.g., Federal Records Act and Federal Evidence-Based Policymaking Act), by mandating their expansion to specifically address heat-health integration. No repeals or overrides of current laws are specified, but it requires new coordination and data-sharing protocols across agencies.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Promotes interagency collaboration, potentially streamlining operations but adding administrative burdens (e.g., committee meetings, plan development). NOAA gains a lead role in heat management, while agencies like Health and Human Services and FEMA must integrate heat data into health and emergency responses, possibly requiring new resources or staff training.
Citizens: Improves access to heat forecasts, warnings, and health guidance, benefiting vulnerable groups (e.g., elderly, outdoor workers, low-income communities) by reducing heat-related illnesses, deaths, and economic losses. Public data availability could enable better personal planning, such as during heat waves.
International Relations: Encourages consultations with global partners, which may foster U.S. leadership in heat-health strategies and data sharing, but has minimal direct impact on foreign policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Agencies: NOAA (central role), Health and Human Services, Interior, EPA, FEMA, and others listed, who must participate and align programs.
State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Consulted for input and partnerships; Tribal governments explicitly included to address unique vulnerabilities in Native communities.
Citizens and Communities: Especially those at high risk from heat (e.g., urban residents, farmers, construction workers), through enhanced warnings and planning tools.
Research and Nongovernmental Entities: Universities, medical experts, environmental groups, and businesses involved in consultations, research, and innovation.
International Partners: Organizations and governments for global coordination on heat data and responses.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Strengthens federal data transparency under existing laws but imposes no new enforcement mechanisms or penalties; relies on voluntary agency implementation of the strategic plan. It aligns with broader climate adaptation efforts without creating enforceable rights for individuals.
Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; enhances executive branch coordination (Article II) and congressional oversight via reports, while respecting federalism by consulting state and Tribal entities without overriding their authority.
Political: Addresses rising extreme heat linked to climate change, potentially bridging partisan divides on environmental health. It signals a proactive federal stance on public health emergencies, but funding limits ($5 million/year) may constrain scope, inviting debates on adequacy amid growing heat risks. The bill's referral to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee underscores its focus on science-driven policy.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

Cosponsors (2)

Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

Recent Actions

2025-01-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
2025-01-29: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

Coordinated Federal Response to Extreme Heat Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-29 — PDF (14 pages)