[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1807 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1807
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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 14, 2017
Mr. Markey (for himself, Mr. Schatz, and Mr. Whitehouse) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, 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 in preparing for and responding to the public health
effects of climate change, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Climate Change Health Protection and
Promotion Act of 2017''.
SEC. 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 is real;
(2) human activity significantly contributes to climate
change;
(3) climate change negatively impacts health.
(4) the Federal Government, in cooperation with
international, State, tribal, and local governments, concerned
public, private and Native American organizations, and
citizens, should use all practicable means and measures--
(A) to assist the efforts of public health and
health care professionals, first responders, States,
tribes, 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 utility and value 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, and
low-income populations, the development of
strategic response plans to be carried out by
public health and health care professionals for
those communities;
(iv) the improvement of health status and
health equity through efforts to prepare for
and respond to climate change; and
(v) 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;
(ii) improve public health knowledge and
response strategies to climate change; and
(iii) identify actions and policies that
are beneficial to health and contribute to
climate solutions;
(D) to enhance preparedness activities, and health
care and public health infrastructure, relating to
climate change and health;
(E) to encourage each and every American to learn
about the impacts of climate change on health; and
(F) 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 change.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN AND PROGRAM.
(a) Requirement.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary''), on the basis of
the best available science, and in consultation pursuant to
paragraph (2), 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
Nations.
(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 Energy, other appropriate Federal
agencies, Indian tribes, State and local governments,
public health organizations, and scientists, and other
interested stakeholders; and
(B) provide opportunity for public input and
consultation with tribes and Native American
organizations.
(b) Activities.--
(1) National strategic action plan.--Not later than 2 years
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), publish a national strategic action plan under
paragraph (2) 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 nations, particularly
developing nations.
(2) National strategic plan.--The national strategic plan
shall include an assessment of the health system capacity of
the United States to address climate change including--
(A) the identification and prioritization of
communities and populations vulnerable to the health
impacts of climate change;
(B) providing outreach and communication aimed at
public health and health care professionals and the
public to promote preparedness and response strategies;
(C) providing for programs across Federal agencies
to advance research related to the impacts of climate
change on health;
(D) the identification and assessment of existing
preparedness and response strategies for the health
impacts of climate change;
(E) the prioritization of critical public health
and health care infrastructure projects;
(F) providing modeling and forecasting tools of
climate change health impacts;
(G) establishing academic and regional centers of
excellence;
(H) providing technical assistance and support for
preparedness and response plans for the health threats
of climate change in States and developing nations; and
(I) 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;
(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 these
communities; and
(ix) tribal, local and community-based
health interventions for climate-related health
impacts; and
(x) extreme heat and weather events;
(3) 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 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, such as
increased heat stress, 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 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 United States
and global health aspects of climate change.
(H) Provide leadership to State and local
governments, community leaders, health care
professionals, nongovernmental organizations, the
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 4 years after
the date of enactment of this Act, and every 4 years thereafter, the
Secretary shall periodically assess, and revise as necessary, the
national strategic action plan under subsection (b)(1) and the climate
and health program under subsection (b)(2), 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 critical environmental health parameters
and related human health impacts;
(2) the impacts of climate change on public health; and
(3) advances in the development of strategies for preparing
for and responding to the impacts of climate change on public
health.
(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.
SEC. 5. ADVISORY BOARD.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall, pursuant to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92-463), 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 (referred to in this subsection
as the ``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 those related to vulnerable
populations, climate change, and other relevant disciplines.
(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;
and
(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.
SEC. 6. CLIMATE CHANGE HEALTH PROTECTION AND PROMOTION REPORTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall offer to enter into an
agreement with the National Research Council, under which the National
Research Council 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 2 years after the date of enactment of this
Act, and every 4 years thereafter.
<all>