HR 1126119th CongressIn Committee

East Palestine Health Impact Monitoring Act of 2025

Introduced: Feb 7, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The East Palestine Health Impact Monitoring Act of 2025 would require the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fund a long-term study on health effects related to the February 3, 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the subsequent venting and burning of chemicals. The bill authorizes the Secretary to award a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement to a consortium of colleges and universities (public or private) with expertise to conduct a longitudinal study—tracking health outcomes over time among people affected by the incident and its chemical releases. The act emphasizes selecting entities with established ties to the local community and requires regular reporting on progress and final study results, with funding available for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Key Points

1Purpose: Establish a longitudinal study to assess any human health effects resulting from the East Palestine derailment and the venting/burning of chemicals.
2Eligible entity: A consortium of higher education institutions (public or private) capable of conducting the study; additional preference given to groups with established relationships within the affected communities.
3Funding mechanism: The Secretary of Health and Human Services may provide a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement to fund the study.
4Reporting requirements:
5- Within 2 years after an award is made, the Secretary must submit a progress report to the Senate HELP Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee, describing study progress, challenges, and a timeline for completion/publication.
6- Within 1 year after publication of results, the Secretary must provide a final report detailing the results and any ongoing or planned follow-up research or actions.
7Authorization of appropriations: Funds are authorized as necessary for fiscal year 2026 and may be used until September 30, 2030.
8Official title: The act is to be cited as the “East Palestine Health Impact Monitoring Act of 2025.”

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Residents and others exposed or potentially exposed to the chemicals released during the East Palestine derailment and aftermath, within the East Palestine area and surrounding communities.Secondary group/area affected: Public health researchers and institutions of higher education collaborating on the study; local healthcare providers and state/federal health agencies coordinating with the research effort.Additional impacts: The study’s findings could inform public health responses, policy decisions, and long-term monitoring programs related to environmental incident health effects; the act also strengthens mechanisms for community-engaged research by prioritizing entities with established community ties.

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