Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2021

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement 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 change, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2021 2. Sense of Congress on public health and climate change (a) Findings The U.S. Global Change Research Program Climate and Health Assessment states that— (1) the impacts of human-induced climate change are increasing nationwide; (2) rising greenhouse gas concentrations result in increases in temperature, changes in precipitation, increases in the frequency and intensity of some extreme weather events, and rising sea levels; (3) these climate change impacts endanger our health by affecting our food and water sources, the air we breathe, the weather we experience, and our interactions with the built and natural environments; and (4) as the climate continues to change, the risks to human health continue to grow. (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) climate change poses threats to the United States and globally through its impacts on society, the economy, the physical environment, and national security; (2) climate change health threats are growing in scale and severity; (3) climate change disproportionately affects people of the United States who are economically disadvantaged, belong to communities of color, or have other social and health vulnerabilities; (4) climate change impacts anywhere in the world can threaten the health of people of the United States through such pathways as infectious disease pandemics, climate-driven migration and displacement, and social, economic, and political disruption; and (5) the Federal Government, in cooperation with international, State, Tribal, and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and individuals, should use all practicable means and measures— (A) to assist the efforts of public health and health care professionals, first responders, health care systems, States, the District of Columbia, territories, municipalities, and Native American and local communities to incorporate measures to prepare public health and health care systems to respond to the impacts of climate change; (B) to ensure— (i) 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 change; (ii) the application of scientific research in advancing understanding of— (I) the health impacts of climate change; and (II) strategies to prepare for and respond to the health impacts of climate change; (iii) the identification of communities and populations vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change, including infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, individuals with disabilities or pre-existing illnesses, low-income populations, communities of color, those who experience environmental injustices, and unhoused individuals; (iv) the development of strategic response plans to be carried out by public health and health care professionals for the communities described in clause (iii); (v) the improvement of health status and health equity through efforts to prepare for and respond to climate change; and (vi) the inclusion of health impacts in the development of climate change responses; (C) to encourage further research, interdisciplinary partnership, and collaboration among stakeholders in order to— (i) understand and monitor the health impacts of climate change, including mental health impacts; (ii) improve public health knowledge and response strategies to climate change; (iii) identify actions and policies that are beneficial to health and that mitigate climate health impacts; and (iv) develop strategies to address water-, food-, and vector-borne infectious diseases and other public health emergencies; (D) to enhance preparedness activities, and health care and public health infrastructure, relating to climate change and health; (E) to encourage each and every community to learn about the impacts of climate change on health; and (F) to assist the efforts of developing countries to incorporate measures to prepare public health and health care systems to respond to the impacts of climate change. 3. 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 (including regulations) or authorizes any violation of any provision of any law (including regulations), including any health, energy, environmental, transportation, or any other law or regulation. 4. National strategic action plan and program (a) Requirement (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the Secretary (2) Consultation In developing or making any revision to the national strategic action plan and program, the Secretary shall— (A) consult with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans & Atmosphere, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of the Indian Health Service, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, Tribal governments, and State and local government officials; and (B) provide meaningful opportunity for engagement, comment, and consultation with relevant public stakeholders, particularly representatives of at-risk populations, environmental justice communities, Tribal communities, public health organizations, and scientists. (b) Activities (1) National strategic action plan (A) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in collaboration with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall, on the basis of the best available science, and in consultation with the entities described in subsection (a)(2)(A), publish a national strategic action plan under subsection (a)(1) 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 countries, particularly developing countries. (B) National strategic action plan components The national strategic plan under subsection (a)(1) shall include an assessment of the health system capacity of the United States to address climate change, including— (i) identifying and prioritizing communities and populations vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change; (ii) 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 injustice; (iii) providing outreach and communication aimed at public health and health care professionals and the public to promote preparedness and response strategies; (iv) providing for programs across Federal agencies to advance research related to the impacts of climate change on health; (v) identifying and assessing existing preparedness and response strategies for the health impacts of climate change; (vi) prioritizing critical public health and health care infrastructure projects; (vii) providing modeling and forecasting tools of climate change health impacts, including local impacts, where feasible; (viii) establishing academic and regional centers of excellence; (ix) providing technical assistance and support for preparedness and response plans for the health threats of climate change in States, municipalities, territories, Indian Tribes, and developing countries; and (x) developing, improving, integrating, and maintaining domestic and international disease surveillance systems and monitoring capacity to respond to health-related impacts of climate change, including on topics addressing— (I) water-, food-, and vector-borne infectious diseases and climate change; (II) pulmonary effects, including responses to aeroallergens and toxic exposures; (III) cardiovascular effects, including impacts of temperature extremes; (IV) air pollution health effects, including heightened sensitivity to air pollution; (V) harmful algal blooms; (VI) mental and behavioral health impacts of climate change; (VII) the health of migrants, refugees, displaced persons, and vulnerable communities; (VIII) the implications for communities and populations vulnerable to the health effects of climate change, as well as strategies for responding to climate change within such communities; (IX) Tribal, local, and community-based health interventions for climate-related health impacts; (X) extreme heat and weather events, including drought; (XI) decreased nutritional value of crops; and (XII) disruptions in access to routine and acute medical care. (2) Climate and health program The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in collaboration with other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall ensure that the climate and health program established under this section addresses priority health actions, including by doing each of the following: (A) Serve as a credible source of information on the physical, mental, and behavioral health consequences of climate change for the United States population and globally. (B) Track data on environmental conditions, disease risks, and disease occurrence related to climate change. (C) Expand capacity for modeling and forecasting health effects that may be climate-related. (D) Enhance the science base to better understand the relationship between climate change and health outcomes. (E) Identify locations and population groups at greatest risk for specific health threats and effects, such as increased heat-related illnesses and injuries, degraded air and water quality, food or water-related infections, vector-borne illnesses, pulmonary and cardiovascular effects, mental and behavioral health effects, and food, water, and nutrient insecurity. (F) Communicate the health-related aspects of climate change, including risks and associated costs and ways to reduce them, to the public, decision-makers, public health professionals, and health care providers. (G) Develop partnerships with other government agencies, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, universities, and international organizations to more effectively address domestic and global health aspects of climate change. (H) Provide leadership to State and local governments, community leaders, health care professionals, nongovernmental organizations, environmental justice networks, faith-based communities, the private sector and the public, domestically and internationally, regarding health protection from climate change effects. (I) Develop and implement preparedness and response plans for health threats, such as heat waves, severe weather events, and infectious diseases. (J) Provide technical advice and support to State and local health departments, the private sector, and others in developing and implementing national and global preparedness measures related to the health effects of climate change. (K) Promote workforce development by helping to ensure the training of a new generation of competent, experienced public health and health care professionals to respond to the health threats posed by climate change. (c) Periodic assessment and revision Not later than 1 year after the date of first publication of the national strategic action plan under subsection (a)(1), and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall periodically assess, and revise as necessary, the national strategic action plan under subsection (a)(1) and the climate and health program under subsection (a)(1), to reflect new information collected pursuant to the implementation of the national strategic action plan and program and otherwise, including information on— (1) the status of and trends in critical environmental health indicators and related human health impacts; (2) the trends in and impacts of climate change on public health; (3) advances in the development of strategies for preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate change on public health; and (4) the effectiveness of the implementation of the national strategic action plan in protecting against climate change health threats. (d) Implementation (1) 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 program. (2) 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 Act, subject to the requirements of such laws, in a manner designed to achieve the goals of the national strategic action plan and climate and health program. (3) Health impact assessment The heads of all Federal agencies shall, on a regular basis, assess the impacts that proposed and current laws, policies, and programs in their jurisdiction have or may have on protection against climate change health threats and shall assist State, Tribal, local, and territorial governments to conduct such assessments. 5. Advisory board (a) Establishment The Secretary shall, pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), establish a permanent science advisory board to be comprised of not less than 10 and not more than 20 members. (b) Appointment of members The Secretary shall appoint the members of the science advisory board from among individuals who— (1) are recommended by the President of the National Academy of Sciences and the President of the National Academy of Medicine; and (2) have expertise in essential public health and health care services, including with respect to vulnerable populations, climate change, environmental and climate justice, and other relevant disciplines. The Secretary shall ensure that the science advisory board includes members with practical or lived experience with relevant issues. (c) Functions The science advisory board shall— (1) provide scientific and technical advice and recommendations to the Secretary on the domestic and international impacts of climate change on public health, populations, and regions particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and strategies and mechanisms to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change on public health; (2) advise the Secretary regarding the best science available for purposes of issuing the national strategic action plan and conducting the climate and health program; and (3) submit a report to Congress on its activities and recommendations not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and not later than every year thereafter. (d) Support The Secretary shall provide financial and administrative support to the board. 6. Climate change health protection and promotion reports (a) In general The Secretary shall offer to enter into an agreement, including the provision of such funding as may be necessary, with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 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— (1) review scientific developments on health impacts of climate change; and (2) recommend changes to the national strategic action plan and climate and health program. (b) Submission The agreement under subsection (a) shall require a report to be submitted to Congress and the Secretary and made publicly available not later than 1 year after the first publication of the national strategic action plan, and every 4 years thereafter.

Summary: Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take a series of actions to address the potential impacts of climate change on public health. Specifically, HHS must develop a strategic action plan and a climate and health program to ensure the public health and health care systems in the United States and other nations are prepared for, and can respond to, the impacts of climate change on health. HHS must revise the plan periodically to reflect new scientific developments and information. Additionally, HHS must establish a permanent science advisory board to provide (1) scientific and technical recommendations on the impacts of climate change on public health, and (2) advice for purposes of issuing the plan and conducting the program.