,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ebc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #ad1 #bjai ,mr4 ,markey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,schatz1 ,mr4 ,whitehouse1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 and ,ms4 ,klobuchar7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to develop a national strategic action plan and program to assist health professionals and systems in preparing for and responding to the public health effects of climate change1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,climate ,change ,health ,protection and ,promotion ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,sense of congress on public health and climate change 7a7 ,findings ,the ,u4,s4 ,global ,change ,research ,program ,climate and ,health ,assessment states that-- 7#a7 the impacts of human-induced climate change are increasing nationwide2 7#b7 rising greenhouse gas concentrations result in increases in temperature1 changes in precipitation1 increases in the frequency and intensity of some extreme weather events1 and rising sea levels2 7#c7 these climate change impacts endanger our health by affecting our food and water sources1 the air we breathe1 the weather we experience1 and our interactions with the built and natural environments2 and 7#d7 as the climate continues to change1 the risks to human health continue to grow4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 climate change is real2 7#b7 human activity significantly contributes to climate change2 7#c7 climate change negatively impacts health2 7#d7 climate change disproportionately impacts communities of color and low-income communities2 and 7#e7 the ,federal ,government1 in cooperation with international1 ,state1 tribal1 and local governments1 concerned public1 private and ,native ,american organizations1 and citizens1 should use all practicable means and measures-- 7,a7 to assist the efforts of public health and health care professionals1 first responders1 health care systems1 ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 territories1 municipalities1 and ,native ,american and local communities to incorporate measures to prepare public health and health care systems to respond to the impacts of climate change2 7,b7 to ensure-- 7i7 that the ,nation's public health and health care professionals have sufficient information to prepare for and respond to the adverse health impacts of climate change2 7ii7 the application of scientific research in advancing understanding of-- 7,i7 the health impacts of climate change2 and 7,,ii7 strategies to prepare for and respond to the health impacts of climate change2 7iii7 the identification of communities and populations vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change1 including infants1 children1 pregnant women1 the elderly1 individuals with disabilities or pre-existing illnesses1 low-income populations1 and unhoused individuals1 and the development of strategic response plans to be carried out by public health and health care professionals for those communities2 7iv7 the improvement of health status and health equity through efforts to prepare for and respond to climate change2 and 7v7 the inclusion of health impacts in the development of climate change responses2 7,c7 to encourage further research1 interdisciplinary partnership1 and collaboration among stakeholders in order to-- 7i7 understand and monitor the health impacts of climate change2 7ii7 improve public health knowledge and response strategies to climate change2 7iii7 identify actions and policies that are beneficial to health and that mitigate climate health impacts2 and 7iv7 develop strategies to address water-1 food-1 and vector-borne infectious diseases and other public health emergencies2 7,d7 to enhance preparedness activities1 and health care and public health infrastructure1 relating to climate change and health2 7,e7 to encourage each and every community to learn about the impacts of climate change on health2 and 7,f7 to assist the efforts of developing nations to incorporate measures to prepare public health and health care systems to respond to the impacts of climate change4 #c4 ,relationship to other laws ,nothing in this ,act limits the authority provided to or responsibility conferred on any ,federal department or agency by any provision of any law 7including regulations7 or authorizes any violation of any provision of any law 7including regulations71 including any health1 energy1 environmental1 transportation1 or any other law or regulation4 #d4 ,national strategic action plan and program 7a7 ,requirement 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7referred to in this ,act as the ,secretary71 on the basis of the best available science1 and in consultation pursuant to paragraph 7#b71 shall publish a strategic action plan and establish a program to ensure the public health and health care systems are prepared for and can respond to the impacts of climate change on health in the ,united ,states and other nations4 7#b7 ,consultation ,in developing or making any revision to the national strategic action plan and program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 consult with the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 the ,undersecretary of ,commerce for ,oceans ,atmosphere1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 the ,director of the ,indian ,health ,service1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 the ,secretary of ,state1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 other appropriate ,federal agencies1 ,indian tribes1 ,state and local governments1 public health organizations1 scientists1 representatives of at-risk populations1 and other interested stakeholders2 and 7,b7 provide opportunity for public input and consultation with ,indian tribes and ,native ,american organizations4 7b7 ,activities 7#a7 ,national strategic action plan 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 and in collaboration with other ,federal agencies as appropriate1 shall1 on the basis of the best available science1 and in consultation with the entities described in subsection 7a77#b77;,a71 publish a national strategic action plan under subparagraph 7,b7 to guide the climate and health program and assist public health and health care professionals in preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate change on public health in the ,united ,states and other nations1 particularly developing nations4 7,b7 ,national strategic action plan components ,the national strategic plan shall include an assessment of the health system capacity of the ,united ,states to address climate change including-- 7i7 identifying and prioritizing communities and populations vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change2 7ii7 providing outreach and communication aimed at public health and health care professionals and the public to promote preparedness and response strategies2 7iii7 providing for programs across ,federal agencies to advance research related to the impacts of climate change on health2 7iv7 identifying and assessing existing preparedness and response strategies for the health impacts of climate change2 7v7 prioritizing critical public health and health care infrastructure projects2 7vi7 providing modeling and forecasting tools of climate change health impacts1 including local impacts1 where feasible2 7vii7 establishing academic and regional centers of excellence2 7viii7 providing technical assistance and support for preparedness and response plans for the health threats of climate change in ,states1 municipalities1 territories1 ,indian tribes1 and developing nations2 and 7ix7 developing1 improving1 integrating1 and maintaining domestic and international disease surveillance systems and monitoring capacity to respond to health-related impacts of climate change1 including on topics addressing-- 7,i7 water-1 food-1 and vector-borne infectious diseases and climate change2 7,,ii7 pulmonary effects1 including responses to aeroallergens and toxic exposures2 7,,iii7 cardiovascular effects1 including impacts of temperature extremes2 7,,iv7 air pollution health effects1 including heightened sensitivity to air pollution2 7,v7 harmful algal blooms2 7,,vi7 mental and behavioral health impacts of climate change2 7,,vii7 the health of migrants1 refugees1 displaced persons1 and vulnerable communities2 7,,viii7 the implications for communities and populations vulnerable to the health effects of climate change1 as well as strategies for responding to climate change within these communities2 7,,ix7 tribal1 local1 and community-based health interventions for climate-related health impacts2 7,x7 extreme heat and weather events1 including drought2 7,,xi7 decreased nutritional value of crops2 and 7,,xii7 disruptions in access to routine and acute medical care4 7#b7 ,climate and health program ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 and in collaboration with other ,federal agencies1 as appropriate1 shall ensure that the climate and health program established under this section addresses priority health actions including the following3 7,a7 ,serve as a credible source of information on the physical1 mental1 and behavioral health consequences of climate change for the ,united ,states population and globally4 7,b7 ,track data on environmental conditions1 disease risks1 and disease occurrence related to climate change4 7,c7 ,expand capacity for modeling and forecasting health effects that may be climate-related4 7,d7 ,enhance the science base to better understand the relationship between climate change and health outcomes4 7,e7 ,identify locations and population groups at greatest risk for specific health threats and effects1 such as increased heat stress1 degraded air and water quality1 food or water-related infections1 vector-borne illnesses1 pulmonary and cardiovascular effects1 mental and behavioral health effects and food1 water1 and nutrient insecurity4 7,f7 ,communicate the health-related aspects of climate change1 including risks and associated costs and ways to reduce them1 to the public1 decisionmakers1 public health professionals1 and health care providers4 7,g7 ,develop partnerships with other government agencies1 the private sector1 nongovernmental organizations1 universities1 and international organizations to more effectively address domestic and global health aspects of climate change4 7,h7 ,provide leadership to ,state and local governments1 community leaders1 health care professionals1 nongovernmental organizations1 environmental justice networks1 faith-based communities1 the private sector and the public1 domestically and internationally1 regarding health protection from climate change effects4 7,i7 ,develop and implement preparedness and response plans for health threats such as heat waves1 severe weather events1 and infectious diseases4 7,j7 ,provide technical advice and support to ,state and local health departments1 the private sector1 and others in developing and implementing national and global preparedness measures related to the health effects of climate change4 7,k7 ,promote workforce development by helping to ensure the training of a new generation of competent1 experienced public health and health care professionals to respond to the health threats posed by climate change4 7c7 ,periodic assessment and revision ,not later than #d years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #d years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall periodically assess1 and revise as necessary1 the national strategic action plan under subsection 7b77#a7 and the climate and health program under subsection 7b77#b71 to reflect new information collected pursuant to the implementation of the national strategic action plan and program and otherwise1 including information on-- 7#a7 the status of critical environmental health indicators and related human health impacts2 7#b7 the impacts of climate change on public health2 and 7#c7 advances in the development of strategies for preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate change on public health4 7d7 ,implementation 7#a7 ,implementation through ,,hhs ,the ,secretary shall exercise the ,secretary's authority under this ,act and other ,federal statutes to achieve the goals and measures of the national strategic action plan and climate and health program4 7#b7 ,other public health programs and initiatives ,the ,secretary and ,federal officials of other relevant ,federal agencies shall administer public health programs and initiatives authorized by laws other than this ,act1 subject to the requirements of such laws1 in a manner designed to achieve the goals of the national strategic action plan and climate and health program4 #e4 ,advisory board 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall1 pursuant to the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app471 establish a permanent science advisory board to be comprised of not less than #aj and not more than #bj members4 7b7 ,appointment of members ,the ,secretary shall appoint the members of the science advisory board from among individuals who-- 7#a7 are recommended by the ,president of the ,national ,academy of ,sciences and the ,president of the ,national ,academy of ,medicine2 and 7#b7 have expertise in essential public health and health care services1 including those related to vulnerable populations1 climate change1 and other relevant disciplines4 ,the ,secretary shall ensure that the science advisory board includes members with practical or lived experience with relevant issues4 7c7 ,functions ,the science advisory board shall-- 7#a7 provide scientific and technical advice and recommendations to the ,secretary on the domestic and international impacts of climate change on public health1 populations and regions particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change1 and strategies and mechanisms to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change on public health2 and 7#b7 advise the ,secretary regarding the best science available for purposes of issuing the national strategic action plan and conducting the climate and health program4 #f4 ,climate change health protection and promotion reports 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall offer to enter into an agreement with the ,national ,academies of ,sciences1 ,engineering1 and ,medicine1 under which such ,national ,academies will prepare periodic reports to aid public health and health care professionals in preparing for and responding to the adverse health effects of climate change that-- 7#a7 review scientific developments on health impacts of climate change2 and 7#b7 recommend changes to the national strategic action plan and climate and health program4 7b7 ,submission ,the agreement under subsection 7a7 shall require a report to be submitted to ,congress and the ,secretary and made publicly available not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #d years thereafter4