I

115TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION

H. R. 3782

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a national
strategic action plan and program to assist health professionals in preparing for and responding to the public health effects of climate change,
and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
Mr. CARTWRIGHT (for himself, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. SCHNEIDER,
Ms. BARRAGÁN, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. COHEN,
Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. EVANS, Mr. GRIJALVA,
Mr. HECK, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. KILMER, Mr. LANGEVIN,
Ms. LEE, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. NORTON, Mr. POLIS, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr.
RASKIN, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. TONKO, Ms. TSONGAS, Ms. WASSERMAN
SCHULTZ, and Ms. HANABUSA) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to
develop a national strategic action plan and program
to assist health professionals in preparing for and responding to the public health effects of climate change,
and for other purposes.
1

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-

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2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

2

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Climate Change Health

3 Protection and Promotion Act of 2017’’.
4

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND CLI-

5
6

MATE CHANGE.

(a) FINDINGS.—The United States Global Change

7 Research Program Climate and Health Assessment states
8 that—
9
10

(1) the impacts of human-induced climate
change are increasing nationwide;

11

(2) rising greenhouse gas concentrations result

12

in increases in temperature, changes in precipitation,

13

increases in the frequency and intensity of some ex-

14

treme weather events, and rising sea levels;

15

(3) these climate change impacts endanger our

16

health by affecting our food and water sources, the

17

air we breathe, the weather we experience, and our

18

interactions with the built and natural environments;

19

and

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(4) as the climate continues to change, the risks

21

to human health continue to grow.

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(b) SENSE

OF

CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-

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23 gress that—
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(1) climate change is real;

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(2) human activity significantly contributes to

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climate change;
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(3) climate change negatively impacts health;
and

3

(4) the Federal Government, in cooperation

4

with international, State, Tribal, and local govern-

5

ments, concerned public, private and Native Amer-

6

ican organizations, and citizens, should use all prac-

7

ticable means and measures—

8

(A) to assist the efforts of public health

9

and health care professionals, first responders,

10

States,

11

American and local communities to incorporate

12

measures to prepare public health and health

13

care systems to respond to the impacts of cli-

14

mate change;

15

Tribes,

and

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(i) that the Nation’s public health and

17

health care professionals have sufficient in-

18

formation to prepare for and respond to

19

the adverse health impacts of climate

20

change;
(ii) the utility and value of scientific

22

research in advancing understanding of—

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(I) the health impacts of climate

24

change; and

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(B) to ensure—

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municipalities,

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(II) strategies to prepare for and

2

respond to the health impacts of cli-

3

mate change;

4

(iii) the identification of communities

5

and populations vulnerable to the health

6

impacts of climate change, including in-

7

fants, children, pregnant women, the elder-

8

ly, individuals with disabilities or pre-

9

existing illnesses, and low-income popu-

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lations, the development of strategic re-

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sponse plans to be carried out by public

12

health and health care professionals for

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those communities;

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(iv) the improvement of health status

15

and health equity through efforts to pre-

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pare for and respond to climate change;

17

and

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(v) the inclusion of health impacts in

19

the development of climate change re-

20

sponses;

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(C) to encourage further research, inter-

22

disciplinary

23

among stakeholders in order to—

24

partnership,

and

collaboration

(i) understand and monitor the health

25

impacts of climate change;

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(ii) improve public health knowledge

2

and response strategies to climate change;

3

and

4

(iii) identify actions and policies that

5

are beneficial to health and contribute to

6

climate solutions;

7

(D) to enhance preparedness activities, and

8

health care and public health infrastructure, re-

9

lating to climate change and health;

10

(E) to encourage each and every American

11

to learn about the impacts of climate change on

12

health; and

13

(F) to assist the efforts of developing na-

14

tions to incorporate measures to prepare public

15

health and health care systems to respond to

16

the impacts of climate change.

17

SEC. 3. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.

18

Nothing in this Act limits the authority provided to

19 or responsibility conferred on any Federal department or
20 agency by any provision of any law (including regulations)
21 or authorizes any violation of any provision of any law (in22 cluding regulations), including any health, energy, envi-

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23 ronmental, transportation, or any other law or regulation.

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SEC. 4. NATIONAL STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN AND PRO-

2
3

GRAM.

(a) REQUIREMENT.—

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4

(1) IN

GENERAL.—The

Secretary of Health and

5

Human Services (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Sec-

6

retary’’), on the basis of the best available science,

7

and in consultation pursuant to paragraph (2), shall

8

publish a strategic action plan and establish a pro-

9

gram to ensure the public health and health care

10

systems are prepared for and can respond to the im-

11

pacts of climate change on health in the United

12

States and other nations.

13

(2) CONSULTATION.—In developing or making

14

any revision to the national strategic action plan and

15

program, the Secretary shall—

16

(A) consult with the Director of the Cen-

17

ters for Disease Control and Prevention, the

18

Administrator of the Environmental Protection

19

Agency, the Director of the National Institutes

20

of Health, the Undersecretary of Commerce for

21

Oceans and Atmosphere, the Administrator of

22

the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-

23

tration, the Director of the Indian Health Serv-

24

ice, the Secretary of Energy, other appropriate

25

Federal agencies, Indian Tribes, State and local

26

governments, public health organizations, and
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scientists, and other interested stakeholders;

2

and

3

(B) provide opportunity for public input

4

and consultation with Tribes and Native Amer-

5

ican organizations.

6

(b) ACTIVITIES.—

7

(1) NATIONAL

8

later than 2 years after the date of enactment of

9

this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Director

10

of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

11

and in collaboration with other Federal agencies as

12

appropriate, shall, on the basis of the best available

13

science, and in consultation with the entities de-

14

scribed in subsection (a)(2), publish a national stra-

15

tegic action plan under paragraph (2) to guide the

16

climate and health program and assist public health

17

and health care professionals in preparing for and

18

responding to the impacts of climate change on pub-

19

lic health in the United States and other nations,

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particularly developing nations.

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STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN.—Not

(2) NATIONAL

STRATEGIC PLAN.—The

22

strategic plan shall include an assessment of the

23

health system capacity of the United States to ad-

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dress climate change including—

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(A) the identification and prioritization of

2

communities and populations vulnerable to the

3

health impacts of climate change;

4

(B) providing outreach and communication

5

aimed at public health and health care profes-

6

sionals and the public to promote preparedness

7

and response strategies;

8

(C) providing for programs across Federal

9

agencies to advance research related to the im-

10

pacts of climate change on health;

11

(D) the identification and assessment of

12

existing preparedness and response strategies

13

for the health impacts of climate change;

14

(E) the prioritization of critical public

15

health and health care infrastructure projects;

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(F) providing modeling and forecasting

17

tools of climate change health impacts;

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(G) establishing academic and regional

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centers of excellence;

20

(H) providing technical assistance and sup-

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port for preparedness and response plans for

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the health threats of climate change in States

23

and developing nations; and

24

(I) developing, improving, integrating, and

25

maintaining domestic and international disease

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surveillance systems and monitoring capacity to

2

respond to health-related impacts of climate

3

change, including on topics addressing—

4

(i) water-, food-, and vector-borne in-

5

fectious diseases and climate change;

6

(ii) pulmonary effects, including re-

7

sponses to aeroallergens;

8

(iii) cardiovascular effects, including

9

impacts of temperature extremes;

10

(iv) air pollution health effects, includ-

11

ing heightened sensitivity to air pollution;

12

(v) harmful algal blooms;

13

(vi) mental and behavioral health im-

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pacts of climate change;

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(vii) the health of migrants, refugees,

16

displaced persons, and vulnerable commu-

17

nities;

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(viii) the implications for communities

19

and populations vulnerable to the health

20

effects of climate change, as well as strate-

21

gies for responding to climate change with-

22

in these communities;

23

(ix) Tribal, local and community-

24

based health interventions for climate-re-

25

lated health impacts; and

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(x) extreme heat and weather events.

2

(3) CLIMATE

HEALTH

PROGRAM.—The

3

Secretary, acting through the Director of the Cen-

4

ters for Disease Control and Prevention, and in col-

5

laboration with other Federal agencies, as appro-

6

priate, shall ensure that the climate and health pro-

7

gram established under this section addresses pri-

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ority health actions including the following:

9

(A) Serve as a credible source of informa-

10

tion on the physical, mental, and behavioral

11

health consequences of climate change for the

12

United States population and globally.

13

(B) Track data on environmental condi-

14

tions, disease risks, and disease occurrence re-

15

lated to climate change.

16

(C) Expand capacity for modeling and

17

forecasting health effects that may be climate-

18

related.

19

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AND

(D) Enhance the science base to better un-

20

derstand

21

change and health outcomes.

the

relationship

between

22

(E) Identify locations and population

23

groups at greatest risk for specific health

24

threats, such as increased heat stress, degraded

25

air and water quality, food, or water-related in-

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fections, vector-borne illnesses, pulmonary and

2

cardiovascular effects, mental and behavioral

3

health effects and food, water, and nutrient in-

4

security.

5

(F) Communicate the health-related as-

6

pects of climate change, including risks and

7

ways to reduce them, to the public, decision-

8

makers, public health professionals, and health

9

care providers.

10

(G) Develop partnerships with other gov-

11

ernment agencies, the private sector, non-

12

governmental organizations, universities, and

13

international organizations to more effectively

14

address United States and global health aspects

15

of climate change.

16

(H) Provide leadership to State and local

17

governments, community leaders, health care

18

professionals, nongovernmental organizations,

19

the faith-based communities, the private sector

20

and the public, domestically and internationally,

21

regarding health protection from climate change

22

effects.

23

(I) Develop and implement preparedness

24

and response plans for health threats such as

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heat waves, severe weather events, and infec-

2

tious diseases.

3

(J) Provide technical advice and support to

4

State and local health departments, the private

5

sector, and others in developing and imple-

6

menting national and global preparedness meas-

7

ures related to the health effects of climate

8

change.

9

(K) Promote workforce development by

10

helping to ensure the training of a new genera-

11

tion of competent, experienced public health

12

and health care professionals to respond to the

13

health threats posed by climate change.

14

(c) PERIODIC ASSESSMENT

AND

REVISION.—Not

15 later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act,
16 and every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary shall periodi17 cally assess, and revise as necessary, the national strategic
18 action plan under subsection (b)(1) and the climate and
19 health program under subsection (b)(2), to reflect new in20 formation collected pursuant to the implementation of the
21 national strategic action plan and program and otherwise,
22 including information on—

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23
24

(1) the status of critical environmental health
parameters and related human health impacts;

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(2) the impacts of climate change on public

2

health; and

3

(3) advances in the development of strategies

4

for preparing for and responding to the impacts of

5

climate change on public health.

6

(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—

7

(1) IMPLEMENTATION

THROUGH

HHS.—The

8

Secretary shall exercise the Secretary’s authority

9

under this Act and other Federal statutes to achieve

10

the goals and measures of the national strategic ac-

11

tion plan and climate and health program.

12

(2) OTHER

PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS AND

13

INITIATIVES.—The

14

other relevant Federal agencies shall administer

15

public health programs and initiatives authorized by

16

laws other than this Act, subject to the requirements

17

of such laws, in a manner designed to achieve the

18

goals of the national strategic action plan and cli-

19

mate and health program.

20

Secretary and Federal officials of

SEC. 5. ADVISORY BOARD.

21

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall, pursuant

22 to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92–

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23 463), establish a permanent science advisory board to be
24 comprised of not less than 10 and not more than 20 mem25 bers.

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(b) APPOINTMENT

OF

MEMBERS.—The Secretary

2 shall appoint the members of the science advisory board
3 (referred to in this subsection as the ‘‘Board’’) from

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4 among individuals who—
5

(1) are recommended by the President of the

6

National Academy of Sciences and the President of

7

the National Academy of Medicine; and

8

(2) have expertise in essential public health and

9

health care services, including those related to vul-

10

nerable populations, climate change, and other rel-

11

evant disciplines.

12

(c) FUNCTIONS.—The science advisory board shall—

13

(1) provide scientific and technical advice and

14

recommendations to the Secretary on the domestic

15

and international impacts of climate change on pub-

16

lic health, populations and regions particularly vul-

17

nerable to the effects of climate change, and strate-

18

gies and mechanisms to prepare for and respond to

19

the impacts of climate change on public health; and

20

(2) advise the Secretary regarding the best

21

science available for purposes of issuing the national

22

strategic action plan and conducting the climate and

23

health program.

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SEC. 6. CLIMATE CHANGE HEALTH PROTECTION AND PRO-

2
3

MOTION REPORTS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall offer to enter

4 into an agreement with the National Research Council,
5 under which the National Research Council will prepare
6 periodic reports to aid public health and health care pro7 fessionals in preparing for and responding to the adverse
8 health effects of climate change that—
9
10

(1) review scientific developments on health impacts of climate change; and

11

(2) recommend changes to the national stra-

12

tegic action plan and climate and health program.

13

(b) SUBMISSION.—The agreement under subsection

14 (a) shall require a report to be submitted to Congress and
15 the Secretary and made publicly available not later than
16 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every
17 4 years thereafter.

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Æ

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