Children’s Health Protection Act of 2025
The Children’s Health Protection Act of 2025 would place a dedicated Office of Children’s Health Protection within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Office would be headed by a Director (appointed by the EPA Administrator, with input from a new advisory committee) who would also serve as Co-Chair of the President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children established by Executive Order 13045. The bill directs the Office to identify and address environmental health and safety risks that disproportionately affect infants, children, and adolescents, coordinate federal research and programs, advise other agencies, and carry out a range of national activities—such as promoting safe chemicals management, supporting school environmental health programs, and increasing environmental health literacy among healthcare providers. It also establishes a permanent Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee to guide EPA activities, and authorizes ongoing funding (starting at $7.842 million in 2026 for the Office, plus $13.2 million annually through 2030 to carry out the Act).
Key Points
- 1Creation and placement of the Office of Children’s Health Protection within the EPA, headed by a Director who reports to the EPA Administrator and is chosen with input from the new advisory committee.
- 2The Director would serve as Co-Chair of the President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children (per Executive Order 13045).
- 3The Office must identify and assess environmental health and safety risks that disproportionately affect children and adolescents, ensure federal policies address these disproportionate risks (including environmental justice considerations), and coordinate federal research and programs.
- 4The Office’s duties include advising other federal offices, promoting safe chemicals management, supporting community-based programs, increasing environmental health literacy among health care providers, evaluating trends in environmental contaminants, and providing resources to local educational agencies for school environmental health programs.
- 5Establishment of the Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee to advise EPA on programs, regulations, research, and communications related to child health, with a permanent status and applicability of FACA (with special transition provisions from EO 13045).
- 6Transition provisions to integrate the new Office into the EPA’s structure as of enactment.
- 7Authorization of appropriations: $7,842,000 for fiscal year 2026 for the Office, and $13,200,000 per year for 2026–2030 to carry out the Act.