,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bcdj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ag1 #bjbe ,mr4 ,markey 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,blunt ,rochester1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 and ,mr4 ,booker7 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 and implement a program and national strategic action plan to prepare and empower the health care sector to protect the health and well-being of our workers1 our communities1 and our planet in the face of the climate crisis1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,climate ,change ,health ,protection and ,promotion ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,office4 7#b7 ,environmental justice community ,the term environmental justice community means a community with significant representation of communities of color1 low-income communities1 or ,tribal and ,indigenous communities that experiences1 or is at risk of experiencing1 higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects4 7#c7 ,medically underserved community ,the term medically underserved community has the meaning given such term in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep74 7#d7 ,national strategic action plan ,the term national strategic action plan means the national strategic action plan published pursuant to section #d7;b77#a74 7#e7 ,office ,the term ,office means the ,office of ,climate ,change and ,health ,equity established by section #d7;a77#a74 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 #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 ,office of ,climate ,change and ,health ,equity2 national strategic action plan 7a7 ,office of ,climate ,change and ,health ,equity 7#a7 ,establishment 7,a7 ,in general ,there is established within the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services the ,office of ,climate ,change and ,health ,equity4 7,b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the ,office shall be to facilitate a robust1 ,federal response to the impact of climate change on the health of the ,american people and the health care system4 7,c7 ,director ,there is established the position of ,director of the ,office1 who shall be the head of the ,office1 and who shall report to the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,activities ,the duties of the ,office shall be to address priority health actions relating to the health impacts of climate change1 including by doing each of the following1 in collaboration with other ,federal agencies1 as the ,director determines appropriate3 7,a7 ,contribute to assessments of how climate change is affecting the health of individuals living in the ,united ,states4 7,b7 ,understand the needs of the populations most disproportionately affected by climate-related health threats1 including environmental justice communities and medically underserved communities4 7,c7 ,serve as a credible source of information on the physical1 mental1 and behavioral health consequences of climate change4 7,d7 ,track data on environmental conditions1 disease risks1 and disease occurrence related to climate change4 7,e7 ,expand capacity for modeling and forecasting health effects that may be climate-related4 7,f7 ,enhance the science base to better understand the relationship between climate change and health outcomes4 7,g7 ,communicate the health-related aspects of climate change1 including risks and associated costs and ways to reduce them1 to the public1 decision-makers1 public health professionals1 and health care providers4 7,h7 ,align ,federal efforts to deploy climate-conscious human services and direct services to support and protect populations disproportionately affected by climate change1 including environmental justice communities and medically underserved communities4 7,i7 ,develop and distribute tools and resources to support climate resilience for the health sector1 community-based organizations1 and individuals4 7,j7 ,develop and implement preparedness and response plans for health threats1 such as heat waves1 severe weather events1 and infectious diseases4 7,k7 ,lead efforts to reduce the greenhouse gas and environmental impacts of the health sector1 including by developing and distributing tools and resources to support health sector efforts to track and decrease sectoral greenhouse gas emissions4 7,l7 ,provide leadership to ,state and local governments1 community leaders1 health care professionals1 nongovernmental organizations1 environmental justice networks1 faith-based communities1 the private sector1 and the public1 regarding health protection from climate change effects4 7,m7 ,develop partnerships with other government agencies1 the private sector1 nongovernmental organizations1 and institutions of higher education1 to more effectively address the health aspects of climate change4 7,n7 ,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 7,o7 ,carry out other activities1 as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7b7 ,national strategic action plan 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 on the basis of the best available science1 and in consultation pursuant to paragraph 7#b71 shall publish a national strategic action plan to coordinate effective deployment of ,federal efforts to ensure that public health and health care systems are prepared for and can respond to the impacts of climate change on health in the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,consultation ,in developing or making any revision to the national strategic action plan1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 consult with the ,director1 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 the ,under ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 the ,director of the ,indian ,health ,service1 the ,secretary of ,labor1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 the ,secretary of ,state1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 and the heads of other appropriate ,federal agencies1 ,tribal governments1 and ,state and local government officials2 and 7,b7 provide meaningful opportunity for engagement1 comment1 and consultation with relevant public stakeholders1 particularly representatives of populations disproportionately affected by climate change1 including environmental justice communities1 medically underserved communities1 ,tribal communities1 health care providers1 public health organizations1 and scientists4 7#c7 ,national strategic action plan components ,the national strategic action plan shall include an assessment of1 and strategies to improve1 the health sector capacity of the ,united ,states to address the impacts of climate change1 including-- 7,a7 identifying1 prioritizing1 and engaging communities and populations who are disproportionately affected by1 or at greatest risk for1 exposures to climate hazards2 7,b7 addressing mental and physical health disparities exacerbated by climate impacts to enhance community health resilience2 7,c7 identifying the link between environmental injustice and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and prioritizing those who have been harmed by environmental and climate injustice2 7,d7 providing outreach and communication aimed at public health and health care professionals and the public to promote preparedness and response strategies2 7,e7 tracking and assessing programs across ,federal agencies to advance research related to the impacts of climate change on health2 7,f7 identifying and assessing existing preparedness and response strategies for the health impacts of climate change2 7,g7 prioritizing critical public health and health care infrastructure projects2 7,h7 providing modeling and forecasting tools of climate change health impacts1 including local impacts1 where feasible2 7,i7 establishing academic and regional centers of excellence2 7,j7 recommending models for maintaining access to health care during extreme weather2 7,k7 providing technical assistance and support for preparedness and response plans for the health threats of climate change in ,states1 municipalities1 territories1 and ,indian ,tribes2 7,l7 addressing the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on the health of individuals living in the ,united ,states2 7,m7 tracking health care sector contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and identifying actions to reduce those emissions2 7,n7 recommending new regulations or policies to address identified gaps in the health system capacity to effectively reduce emissions1 reduce environmental impact1 and address climate change2 and 7,o7 developing1 improving1 integrating1 and maintaining disease surveillance systems and monitoring capacity to respond to health-related impacts of climate change1 including on topics addressing-- 7i7 water-1 food-1 and vector-borne infectious diseases and climate change2 7ii7 pulmonary effects1 including responses to aeroallergens1 infectious agents1 and toxic exposures2 7iii7 cardiovascular effects1 including impacts of temperature extremes2 7iv7 air pollution health effects1 including heightened sensitivity to air pollution such as wildfire smoke2 7v7 reproductive health effects1 including access to reproductive health care2 7vi7 harmful algal blooms2 7vii7 mental and behavioral health impacts of climate change2 7viii7 the health of migrants1 refugees1 displaced persons1 environmental justice communities1 medically underserved communities1 and other communities disproportionately affected by climate change2 7ix7 the implications for communities and populations vulnerable to the health effects of climate change1 as well as strategies for responding to climate change within such communities2 7x7 ,tribal1 local1 and community-based health interventions for climate-related health impacts2 7xi7 extreme heat and weather events2 7xii7 decreased nutritional value of crops2 and 7xiii7 disruptions in access to routine and acute medical care1 public health programs1 and other supportive services for maintaining health4 7c7 ,periodic assessment and revision ,not later than #a year after the date of first publication of the national strategic action plan1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall periodically assess1 and revise as necessary1 the national strategic action plan1 to reflect new information collected1 including information on-- 7#a7 the status of and trends in critical environmental health indicators and related human health impacts2 7#b7 the trends in and impacts of climate change on public health2 7#c7 advances in the development of strategies for preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate change on public health2 and 7#d7 the effectiveness of the implementation of the national strategic action plan in protecting against climate change health threats4 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 ,office and the national strategic action plan4 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 ,office and the national strategic action plan4 7#c7 ,health impact assessment 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall identify proposed and current laws1 policies1 and programs that are of particular interest for their impact in contributing to or alleviating health burdens and the health impacts of climate change4 7,b7 ,assessments ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the head of each relevant ,federal agency shall-- 7i7 assess the impacts that the proposed and current laws1 policies1 and programs identified under subparagraph 7,a7 under their jurisdiction have or may have on protection against the health threats of climate change2 and 7ii7 assist ,state1 ,tribal1 local1 and territorial governments in conducting such assessments4 #e4 ,advisory board 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall1 pursuant to chapter #aj of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 establish a permanent science advisory board to be composed of not less than #aj and not more than #bj members4 7b7 ,appointment of members 7#a7 ,in general ,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 or the ,president of the ,national ,academy of ,medicine2 and 7,b7 have expertise in essential public health and health care services1 including with respect to diverse populations1 climate change1 environmental and climate justice1 and other relevant disciplines4 7#b7 ,requirement ,the ,secretary shall ensure that the science advisory board includes members with practical or lived experience with relevant issues described in paragraph 7#a77;,b74 7c7 ,functions ,the science advisory board shall-- 7#a7 provide scientific and technical advice and recommendations to the ,secretary on the impacts of climate change on public health and populations and regions disproportionately affected by climate change1 and strategies and mechanisms to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change on public health2 7#b7 advise the ,secretary regarding the best science available for purposes of carrying out the activities of the ,office and issuing the national strategic action plan2 and 7#c7 submit a report to ,congress on its activities and recommendations not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act and not less frequently than every year thereafter4 7d7 ,support ,the ,secretary shall provide financial and administrative support to the board4 #f4 ,climate change health protection and promotion reports 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall offer to enter into an agreement1 including the provision of such funding as may be necessary1 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 and health disparities of climate change2 7#b7 evaluate the measurable impacts of activities undertaken at the directive of the national strategic action plan2 and 7#c7 recommend changes to the national strategic action plan4 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 #a year after the first publication of the national strategic action plan1 and every #d years thereafter4 #g4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,office of climate change and health equity ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out section #d7;a7 #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjca4 7b7 ,national strategic action plan ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out section #d7;b7 #b1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbf1 to remain available until expended4 7c7 ,advisory board ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out section #e #ejj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbf1 to remain available until expended4