Climate and Health Protection Act
H.R. 1645, the Climate and Health Protection Act, would codify and continue the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Climate and Health program within the Public Health Service Act. The bill directs the Secretary, via the CDC Director, to keep implementing the program (originally run by the National Center for Environmental Health or its successor) with three core purposes: (1) translate climate change science to inform state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and communities; (2) develop decision-support tools to help communities and health systems prepare for climate-related risks; and (3) establish CDC as a credible leader in planning for the public health impacts of climate change. The bill also requires Congress to be notified in writing about any successor program or fund transfers, and it authorizes a dedicated funding level of $110 million annually beginning in FY2026, with a prohibition on using those funds for other Secretary-administered programs.
Key Points
- 1Creates Sec. 317W, “Climate and Health Program,” by adding it to the Public Health Service Act, and directs CDC to continue the program through its Director.
- 2Purposeful focus on translating climate science for governments and communities, building capacity with decision-support tools, and leading public health planning for climate impacts.
- 3Requires a written Congressional notification for any transfer or reprogramming of funds to establish a successor program.
- 4Authorizes $110,000,000 for each fiscal year starting with FY2026 to carry out the continued program.
- 5Contains a funding limitation: these funds may not be transferred or reprogrammed to fund another program administered by the Secretary.