[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2645 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 720
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2645
To reduce the health risks of heat by establishing the National
Integrated Heat Health Information System within the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration and the National Integrated Heat Health
Information System Interagency Committee to improve extreme heat
preparedness, planning, and response, requiring a study, and
establishing financial assistance programs to address heat effects, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 27, 2023
Mr. Markey (for himself, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Wyden, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Whitehouse,
Mr. Kelly, and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; which was
read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
December 17 (legislative day, December 16), 2024
Reported by Ms. Cantwell, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reduce the health risks of heat by establishing the National
Integrated Heat Health Information System within the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration and the National Integrated Heat Health
Information System Interagency Committee to improve extreme heat
preparedness, planning, and response, requiring a study, and
establishing financial assistance programs to address heat effects, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Health
Emergencies And Temperature-related Illness and Deaths Act of 2023'' or
the ``Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2023''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In this Act:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Community with environmental justice
concerns.--The term ``community with environmental justice
concerns'' means a community with significant representation of
communities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal and
indigenous communities, that experiences, or is at risk of
experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or
environmental effects, as compared to other
communities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Extreme heat.--The term ``extreme heat'' means
heat that substantially exceeds local climatological norms in
terms of any combination of the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) Duration.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Intensity.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) Season length.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) Frequency.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Heat.--The term ``heat'' means any combination
of the atmospheric parameters associated with modulating human
thermal regulation, such as air temperature, humidity, solar
exposure, and wind speed.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Heat event.--The term ``heat event'' means an
occurrence of increased heat that may have heat-health
implications.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Heat-health.--The term ``heat-health'' means
health effects to humans from heat, during or outside of heat
events, including from vulnerability and exposure, or the risk
of such effects.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Planning.--The term ``planning'' means
activities performed across timescales (including days, weeks,
months, years, and decades) with scenario-based, probabilistic
or deterministic information to identify and take actions to
proactively mitigate heat-health risks from increased
frequency, duration, and intensity of heat waves and increased
ambient temperature.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) Preparedness.--The term ``preparedness'' means
activities performed across timescales (including days, weeks,
months, years, and decades) with probabilistic or deterministic
information to manage risk in advance of a heat event and
increased ambient temperature.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) Tribal government.--The term ``Tribal
government'' means the recognized governing body of any Indian
or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village,
community, component band, or component reservation,
individually identified (including parenthetically) in the list
published most recently as of the date of enactment of this Act
pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian
Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) Urban heat island.--The term ``urban heat
island'' means the phenomenon observed in urbanized areas in
which heat is more extreme than in the surrounding exurban
areas and heat is heterogeneously distributed within urbanized
areas, due to factors including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) low albedo and impervious
surfaces;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) low vegetation coverage; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) waste heat produced in urban
areas.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. FINDINGS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Congress makes the following findings:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Extreme heat events have been the leading
cause of weather-related death in the United States over the
last 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the National Weather Service.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) The fourth National Climate Assessment,
mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (15 U.S.C.
2921 et seq.), finds that during the next few decades, annual
average temperature over the contiguous United States is
projected to increase by a further 2.2F relative to current
temperatures, regardless of future scenarios. The National
Climate Assessment projects that the frequency and intensity of
extreme heat events will increase in the future as global
temperature increases.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Exposure to extreme heat can cause acute heat-
related illnesses, such as heat stroke, which already result in
more than 65,000 emergency room visits each year and exacerbate
respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Heat poses the greatest health risks for
adults older than 65 years of age, pregnant people, young
children, low-income communities, urban communities,
communities with low air conditioning prevalence, socially
isolated individuals, people with mental or physical
disabilities, people with underlying medical conditions,
agricultural or other outdoor workers, workers without
sufficient access to cooling, athletes, incarcerated
individuals, people experiencing homelessness, and military
personnel.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Extreme heat is significantly associated with
serious adverse pregnancy outcomes across the United States.
Those adverse pregnancy outcomes disproportionately impact
Black mothers.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Heat exposure is an issue of environmental
justice, as people living in low-income communities,
communities of color, and Tribal nations face a number of
interacting factors that render them more vulnerable to extreme
heat.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) The impacts of heat on human health are more
severe in urban areas where land surface properties create an
urban heat island, particularly in neighborhoods with limited
availability of or access to green spaces, shade, and tree
cover, due to higher density of building structures and more
vehicular traffic.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) Limited availability of tree cover and higher
temperatures are correlated with low-income neighborhoods in
urban areas. In Richmond, Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland, and
Washington, DC, researchers found that risk of exposure to
extreme heat is disproportionately distributed to communities
of color in patterns associated with segregation and
redlining.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) Researchers have found that few communities in
the United States have sufficient climate and health
information, guidance, and resources for heat planning,
preparedness, and response.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (10) The risks associated with extreme heat have
complex interactions and impacts, and the management of those
risks requires a transdisciplinary approach.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (11) Regions, communities, and populations that
face the greatest health consequences of extreme heat often may
experience the lowest heat risk perceptions, have limited
incentives, or have access to the fewest resources for
responding to extreme heat, and as such, may be less likely to
take precautions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (12) Research on the impacts of extreme heat on
human health and the effectiveness of solutions under varying
climate, social, and other contexts is stymied by a lack of
access to reliable, timely health observations and surveillance
due to proprietary data rights, expense, privacy and security
concerns, inconsistent reporting of health outcomes and
contributory factors, poor data integration and
interoperability, few incentives and little systematic
coordination to address those problems, and a lack of adequate
climate observation, modeling, and assessment in rural, urban,
indoor, and occupational settings.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (13) Integrated climate and health research and
information, when developed in a collaborative,
transdisciplinary manner, can inform long- and medium-range
scenario-based planning and decision making to protect
vulnerable communities and populations from extreme heat,
reduce exposure to extreme heat, and address factors that
increase vulnerability.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (14) Increased heat can have cascading and
compounding impacts across and among sectors including energy,
food supply and quality, transportation, housing,
infrastructure, hospital and healthcare delivery, and
education, all of which affect health and well-being.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (15) Heat action plans and early warning systems
can reduce heat-related morbidity and mortality by clearly
identifying roles and responsibilities as well as evidence-
based actions and thresholds to enhance preparedness, and by
promoting behavior changes and actions taken by local
governments, communities, and individuals through awareness and
increased risk perception among those most vulnerable to the
health impacts of heat.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEAT HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM
INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Establishment of Committee.--There is established
within the Office of Science and Technology Policy an interagency
committee, to be known as the ``National Integrated Heat Health
Information System Interagency Committee'' (in this section referred to
as the ``Committee'').</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Purpose.--The Committee shall coordinate, plan, and
direct agencies represented on the Committee to execute, as
appropriate, activities across such agencies to ensure a united Federal
approach to reducing health risks from heat across timescales
(including days, weeks, months, years, and decades).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Membership.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--In order to carry out and achieve
the purpose described in subsection (b), the Committee shall
include the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) The Director of the National
Integrated Heat Health Information System.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Not fewer than 1 representative from
each of the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) From the Department of
Commerce, the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) From the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (aa) The National
Weather Service.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (bb) The Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (cc) The National
Environmental Satellite, Data,
and Information
Service.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) The National
Institute of Standards and
Technology.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (III) The Bureau of the
Census.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) From the Department of Health
and Human Services, the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention,
including the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and
Health.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) The Office of the
Assistant Secretary of Health and Human
Services for Preparedness and
Response.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (III) The Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services
Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (IV) The National
Institutes of Health.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (V) The Indian Health
Service.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) From the Department of the
Interior, the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) The Bureau of Indian
Affairs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) The Bureau of Land
Management.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (III) The National Park
Service.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) From the Environmental
Protection Agency, the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) The Office of
Environmental Justice.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) The Office of Air and
Radiation, if the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency
determines appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (III) The Office of
Research and Development, if the
Administrator determines
appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (IV) The Office of
International and Tribal
Affairs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) The Federal Emergency
Management Agency.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (vi) The Department of
Defense.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (vii) The Department of
Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (viii) The Department of Housing
and Urban Development.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ix) The Department of
Transportation.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (x) The Department of
Energy.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (xi) The Department of Labor,
including the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (xii) The Department of Veteran
Affairs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (xiii) Such other Federal agencies
as the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy considers
appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Selection of representatives.--The head of an
agency specified in paragraph (1)(B) shall, in appointing
representatives of the agency to the Committee, select
representatives who have expertise in areas relevant to the
responsibilities of the Committee, such as weather and climate
prediction, health impacts, environmental justice, behavioral
science, public health hazard preparedness and response, or
mental health services.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Co-chairs.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--The members of the
Committee shall select 2 individuals from among such
members to serve as co-chairs of the Committee, subject
to the approval of the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Selection.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) Initial selection.--Of the co-
chairs first selected, one co-chair shall be
from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and one co-chair shall be from
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) Subsequent selection.--
Subsequent co-chairs shall be selected from
among the members of the Committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) Terms.--Each co-chair shall serve for
a term of not more than 5 years.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) Responsibilities of co-chairs.--The
co-chairs of the Committee shall work with the Director
of the National Integrated Heat Health Information
System--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) to determine the agenda of the
Committee, in consultation with other members
of the Committee;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) to direct the work of the
Committee; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) to convene meetings of the
Committee not less frequently than once each
fiscal quarter.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Responsibilities of Committee.--The Committee shall
promote an integrated, Federal Government-wide approach to reducing
health risks and impacts of heat, including by--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) developing the strategic plan required by
subsection (e);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) coordinating across Federal agencies on heat-
health communication, research, service delivery, and workforce
development; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) building capacity and partnerships with
Federal and non-Federal entities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Strategic Plan.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Committee shall submit
to Congress and make available on a public website a 5-year
integrated strategic plan that outlines the goals and projects
of the Committee, including how the Committee will improve
coordination and integration of interagency Federal actions to
address health risks of heat, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) a strategy for improving and
coordinating existing Federal data collection and data
management to include sharing of data and statistics on
heat-related illnesses and mortalities and other
impacts to inform heat-related activities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) a strategy for improving and
coordinating Federal activities to understand user gaps
and needs, conduct research, foster innovative
solutions, and provide actionable information and
services; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) mechanisms for financing heat
preparedness within such agencies as the Committee
considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Implementation plans.--The head of an agency
represented on the Committee may implement the portions of the
strategic plan required by paragraph (1) that are relevant to
that agency by developing and implementing a multi-year
implementation plan.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Updates.--Not later than 5 years after the
submission of the strategic plan required by paragraph (1), and
every 5 years thereafter, the Committee shall submit to
Congress an update of the plan, which shall include progress
made toward goals outlined in the plan and new priorities that
emerge.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Administrative Support.--The Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall provide technical
and administrative support to the Committee, using amounts authorized
to be appropriated to the Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (g) Consultation.--In carrying out the responsibilities of
the Committee, the Committee shall consult with relevant regional,
State, Tribal, and local governments, international organizations and
partners, research institutions, nongovernmental organizations and
associations, and medical experts with expertise in emergency response,
environmental health, economic or business development, or community
engagement.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 5. NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEAT HEALTH INFORMATION
SYSTEM.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Establishment.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for
Oceans and Atmosphere shall establish within the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration a system, to be known as the ``National
Integrated Heat Health Information System'' (NIHHIS) (in this section
referred to as the ``System'').</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the System is to improve the
capacity of weather, subseasonal, and seasonal forecasts for the United
States to allow the Federal Government and stakeholders to plan,
prepare for, adapt to, and mitigate health risks of extreme heat across
multiple timescales.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Director.--The System shall be headed by a
Director.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Responsibilities.--In carrying out the purpose
described in subsection (b), the Director shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) develop and sustain robust relationships with
Federal and non-Federal partners and decisionmakers--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to respond to the demand for
actionable weather- and climate-related information
that reduces health risks on multiple
timescales;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to conduct research and scientific
innovation; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) to develop and deliver timely and
accessible decision support services, solutions, tools,
and information to inform planning, preparedness, and
risk-reducing actions across timescales;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) coordinate and collaborate with the
international community and global partners to conduct research
and learn from, leverage, and contribute to global knowledge as
it pertains to predicting and preventing the impacts of
increased heat;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) enhance observations, surveillance,
monitoring, and analysis necessary for the activities described
in paragraphs (1) and (2); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) communicate, educate, and build awareness
regarding the risks and impacts of increased heat and extreme
heat events to communities, educational and economic sectors,
Tribal governments, and other relevant stakeholders.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Data Management.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Availability.--The Director shall coordinate
with interagency partners to ensure that data and metadata
associated with the System is fully and openly available,
within the legal right to redistribute, in accordance with
chapter 31 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as
the ``Federal Records Act of 1950''), and the Federal Evidence-
Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-435;132 Stat.
5529) and the amendments made by that Act, to maximize use of
such data to support the goals of the System.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) National centers for environmental
information.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere shall manage, maintain, and steward archival data
and metadata associated with the System within the National
Centers for Environmental Information.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Research Program.--The Director shall develop and
implement a climate and health research grant program, in coordination
with the financial assistance program under section 7 and other Federal
programs--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) to improve understanding of--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the climate epidemiology and social,
behavioral, and economic drivers of heat-health
vulnerability and risk;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the drivers of climate variability,
predictability, and changes in extreme heat;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the impacts of extreme heat, compound
hazards, and cascading impacts across
timescales;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) to investigate and evaluate the effectiveness
of risk management actions, interventions, policies, standards,
codes, and guidelines; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) to address other topics as appropriate,
including topics outlined in the strategic plan required by
section 4(e)(1) and the financial assistance program under
section 7.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (g) Additional Activities.--The Director shall carry out
such other activities as the Committee considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 6. STUDY ON EXTREME HEAT INFORMATION AND
RESPONSE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Study.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, in consultation with the
National Integrated Heat Health Information System Interagency
Committee and the individuals and entities described in section
4(g), shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a
study on extreme heat information and response, to be completed
not later than 3 years after such date of enactment.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Elements.--The study described in paragraph
(1) shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) identify policy and research gaps,
which may include--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) regions of the United States
with the largest gaps between awareness,
preparedness, and capacity to address extreme
heat; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) heat-related gaps in data,
such as--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) the number of schools,
prisons, and other public facilities
that lack air conditioning;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) the demographic
breakdown of people affected by heat
events, including by race, age, gender,
occupation, and income;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (III) medical coding in
health care facilities (such as
hospitals, emergency rooms, and health
centers) that indicate heat-related
illnesses (such as kidney failure,
dehydration, and fainting spells);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (IV) with respect to
public policy at the State and
community level that enhance
vulnerabilities to extreme heat (such
as outdoor working conditions and
thresholds to protect workers, animals,
and others susceptible to heat-related
illness);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) provide recommendations for addressing
gaps with respect to policy, research, operations,
communications, and data, including the gaps identified
under subparagraph (A), affecting heat-health planning,
preparedness, response, resilience, adaptation, and
environmental justice and equity;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) provide such other recommendations as
the Director considers appropriate, which may include
strategies for--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) communicating warnings to and
providing impact-based decision support to
promote preparedness actions and resilience of
populations vulnerable to extreme
heat;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) understanding compound and
cascading risks, and implementing alternative
heat-health risk reduction interventions to
manage those risks collectively, such as
reducing risk of the transmission of infectious
diseases during heat waves by creating outdoor
cooling locations or increasing ventilation and
filtration in indoor cooling centers;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) promoting community
resilience to heat events and incorporating
principles of environmental justice in
community response to heat waves;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) addressing the impacts of
extreme heat on energy cost, affordability, and
reliability for residential and commercial
infrastructure (such as weatherization, energy
costs, electric power systems, and water supply
and treatment systems); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) establishing labor and other
standards for workers and heat; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) consider such other subjects as the
Committee considers appropriate, which may include--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) the feasibility of enhancing
and standardizing existing nationwide data
collection on heat-related illnesses and
mortalities to improve and ensure consistent
collection of national-level heat illness data
across all 50 States, territories, and local
jurisdictions of the United States;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) mechanisms for financing heat
preparedness; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) the effectiveness of county-
or local-level heat awareness and communication
approaches, heat action, and tools,
preparedness plans, or mitigation.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Development of definitions.--Following the
study described in paragraph (1), the Committee shall work with
heat experts across disciplines to comprehensively identify
impacts of increased heat to inform consistent and agreed upon
definitions for heat events, heat waves, and other relevant
terms.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after completing the
study described in subsection (a)(1), the Committee shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) make available to the public on a Federal
internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration a report on the findings and conclusions of the
study; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) submit the report to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce
of the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) the Committee on Education and Labor
of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 7. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RESILIENCE IN ADDRESSING
EXTREME HEAT AND HEALTH RISKS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the
National Integrated Heat Health Information System may, in
coordination with the National Integrated Heat Health
Information System Interagency Committee, establish and
administer a community heat resilience program to provide
financial assistance to eligible entities to carry out projects
described in subsection (e) to ameliorate human health impacts
of extreme heat events.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Revision.--Upon completion of the strategic
plan required by section 4(e)(1), the Committee may revise the
community heat resilience program to ensure the program aligns
with the strategic plan and is administered in accordance with
the plan.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the financial assistance
provided under this section is to improve community resilience to heat
and heat-health impacts and further scientific research to address
adaptation gaps and priorities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Forms of Assistance.--Financial assistance provided
under this section may be in the form of prizes, contracts, grants, or
cooperative agreements.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Eligible Entities.--Entities eligible to receive
financial assistance under this section to carry out projects described
in subsection (e) include--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) nonprofit entities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) States;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Tribal governments;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) local governments;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) local workforce development boards;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) academic institutions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Eligible Projects.--Projects described in this
subsection include the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Projects to reduce heat-health risks,
including sustainable heat reduction and mitigation solutions
such as for cool roofs, cool pavements, urban forestry or tree
plantings and maintenance, the provision of shade, cooling and
resilience centers, retrofitting buildings for cooling,
improving the resilience of the power grid to ensure reliable
air conditioning, energy efficiency, acquisitions or upgrades
of filtration systems or high-efficiency air conditioning
systems, and strategies to improve community level response
before and during a heat event.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Training programs to support the development
and integration of education and training programs for
identifying and addressing risks associated with climate change
for vulnerable individuals.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Projects focusing on being responsive to heat-
related needs from communities heard from engagements at
different geographic scales (national to regional to local)
including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to expand public awareness of heat
risks;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to conduct community-based climate and
health observational campaigns;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) to conduct scientific research to
assess gaps and priorities regarding the risks of
extreme heat in communities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) to communicate risks and warnings to
isolated communities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) to support the establishment of
workplace policies and practices to reduce the risk of
extreme heat illness among workers;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) to educate such communities about how
to respond to extreme heat events; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (G) to establish local, city, and county
heat planning and heat-related emergency action
plans.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Other projects that the Director determines
will achieve a significant reduction in heat exposure or
increased resilience to increased heat or extreme heat
events.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Priorities.--In selecting eligible entities to receive
financial assistance under this section, the Director shall prioritize
entities that will carry out projects that provide benefits for
historically disadvantaged communities and communities with significant
heat disparities associated with race, ethnicity, or income.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (g) Distribution of Assistance.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Communities with environmental justice
concerns and low income communities.--Not less than 40 percent
of the amount of financial assistance provided under this
section in any fiscal year shall be provided to eligible
entities to implement projects described in subsection (e) in
communities with environmental justice concerns or low-income
communities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Equitable distribution.--The Director shall
seek to equitably distribute financial assistance provided
under this section based on geographic location or such other
factors as the Director determines appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) National Integrated Heat Health Information System
Interagency Committee; National Integrated Heat Health Information
System.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration to carry out sections 4 and 5, including
for any administrative costs for the National Integrated Heat Health
Information System Interagency Committee and the National Integrated
Heat Health Information System, the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) For fiscal year 2024, $20,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) For fiscal year 2025, $20,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) For fiscal year 2026, $20,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) For fiscal year 2027, $20,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) For fiscal year 2028, $20,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Study on Extreme Heat Information and Response.--There
is authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to contract with the National Academies of
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to carry out section 6 $500,000 for
each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Financial Assistance for Resilience in Addressing
Extreme Heat and Health Risks.--There is authorized to be appropriated
to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out
section 7 the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) For fiscal year 2024, $10,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) For fiscal year 2025, $10,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) For fiscal year 2026, $20,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) For fiscal year 2027, $30,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) For fiscal year 2028, $30,000,000.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Health Emergencies And
Temperature-related Illness and Deaths Act of 2024'' or the
``Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Extreme heat.--The term ``extreme heat'' means heat
that substantially exceeds local temperature norms in terms of
any combination of the following:
(A) Duration.
(B) Intensity.
(C) Season length.
(D) Frequency.
(2) Heat.--The term ``heat'' means any combination of the
atmospheric parameters associated with modulating human
thermoregulation, such as air temperature, humidity, solar
exposure, and wind speed.
(3) Heat event.--The term ``heat event'' means an
occurrence of extreme heat of 2 days or more that may have
heat-health implications.
(4) Heat-health.--The term ``heat-health'' means health
effects to humans from heat, during or outside of heat events,
including from vulnerability and exposure, or the risk of such
effects.
(5) Planning.--The term ``planning'' means activities
performed across timescales (including days, weeks, months,
years, and decades) with scenario-based, probabilistic or
deterministic information to identify and take actions to
proactively mitigate heat-health risks.
(6) Preparedness.--The term ``preparedness'' means
activities performed across timescales with decision support
tools to manage risk in advance of a heat event and increased
ambient temperature.
(7) Tribal government.--The term ``Tribal government''
means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska
Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community,
component band, or component reservation, individually
identified (including parenthetically) in the list published
most recently as of the date of enactment of this Act pursuant
to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List
Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).
SEC. 3. NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEAT HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM INTERAGENCY
COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment of Committee.--There is established within the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an interagency
committee, to be known as the ``National Integrated Heat Health
Information System Interagency Committee'' (in this section referred to
as the ``Committee'').
(b) Purpose.--The Committee shall coordinate agencies represented
on the Committee to execute, as appropriate, activities across such
agencies to ensure a united Federal approach to reducing health risks
from heat.
(c) Membership.--
(1) In general.--In order to carry out and achieve the
purpose described in subsection (b), the Committee shall
include the following:
(A) The Director of the National Integrated Heat
Health Information System.
(B) Not fewer than 1 representative from each of
the following:
(i) From the Department of Commerce, the
following:
(I) From the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the
following:
(aa) The National Weather
Service.
(bb) The Office of Oceanic
and Atmospheric Research.
(cc) The National
Environmental Satellite, Data,
and Information Service.
(II) The National Institute of
Standards and Technology.
(III) The Bureau of the Census.
(ii) From the Department of Health and
Human Services, the following:
(I) The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, including the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health.
(II) The Office of the Assistant
Secretary of Health and Human Services
for Preparedness and Response.
(III) The Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration.
(IV) The National Institutes of
Health.
(V) The Indian Health Service.
(iii) From the Department of the Interior,
the following:
(I) The Bureau of Indian Affairs.
(II) The Bureau of Land Management.
(III) The National Park Service.
(IV) The Office of Hawaiian
Relations.
(iv) From the Environmental Protection
Agency, the following:
(I) The Office of Air and
Radiation, if the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency
determines appropriate.
(II) The Office of Research and
Development, if the Administrator
determines appropriate.
(III) The Office of International
and Tribal Affairs.
(v) The Federal Emergency Management
Agency.
(vi) The Department of Defense.
(vii) The Department of Agriculture.
(viii) The Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
(ix) The Department of Transportation.
(x) The Department of Energy.
(xi) The Department of Labor, including the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
(xii) The Department of Veteran Affairs.
(xiii) The Department of Education.
(xiv) The Department of State.
(xv) The United States Agency for
International Development.
(xvi) Such other Federal agencies as the
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere considers appropriate.
(2) Selection of representatives.--The head of an agency
specified in paragraph (1)(B) shall, in appointing
representatives of the agency to the Committee, select
representatives who have expertise in areas relevant to the
responsibilities of the Committee, such as weather prediction,
health impacts, behavioral science, public health hazard
preparedness and response, or mental health services.
(3) Co-chairs.--
(A) In general.--The members of the Committee shall
select 3 individuals from among such members to serve
as co-chairs of the Committee, subject to the approval
of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere.
(B) Selection.--
(i) Initial selection.--Of the co-chairs
first selected, one shall be from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, one
shall be from the Department of Health and
Human Services, and one shall be from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(ii) Subsequent selection.--Subsequent co-
chairs shall be selected from among the members
of the Committee, except the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration shall have the
opportunity to maintain a co-chair position.
(C) Terms.--Each co-chair shall serve for a term of
not more than 5 years.
(D) Responsibilities of co-chairs.--The co-chairs
of the Committee shall, in consultation with the
Director of the National Integrated Heat Health
Information System--
(i) determine the agenda of the Committee,
in consultation with other members of the
Committee;
(ii) direct the work of the Committee; and
(iii) convene meetings of the Committee not
less frequently than once each fiscal quarter.
(d) Responsibilities of Committee.--The Committee shall coordinate
an integrated, Federal Government-wide approach to reducing health
risks and impacts of heat, including by--
(1) developing the strategic plan required by subsection
(e);
(2) coordinating across Federal agencies on heat-health
communication, engagement, research, service delivery, and
workforce development; and
(3) building capacity and partnerships with Federal and
non-Federal entities.
(e) Strategic Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Committee shall submit to
Congress and make available on a public website a 5-year
strategic plan that outlines the goals and projects of the
Committee, including how the Committee will improve
coordination and integration of interagency Federal capacity
and capabilities to address health risks of heat, including--
(A) a strategy for improving and coordinating
existing Federal data collection and data management to
include sharing of data and statistics on heat-related
illnesses and mortalities and other impacts to inform
heat-related activities;
(B) a strategy for improving and coordinating
Federal activities to understand user gaps and needs,
conduct research, foster innovative solutions, and
provide actionable information and services; and
(C) mechanisms for financing heat planning and
preparedness within such agencies as the Committee
considers appropriate.
(2) Implementation.--The head of an agency represented on
the Committee may implement the portions of the strategic plan
required by paragraph (1) that are relevant to that agency.
(3) Updates.--Not later than 5 years after the submission
of the strategic plan required by paragraph (1), and every 5
years thereafter, the Committee shall brief Congress on an
update of the plan, which shall include progress made toward
goals outlined in the previous plan and new priorities that
emerge.
(f) Consultation.--In carrying out the responsibilities of the
Committee, the Committee shall consult with relevant--
(1) regional, State, Tribal, and local governments;
(2) international organizations and partners;
(3) research institutions;
(4) nongovernmental organizations and associations;
(5) medical experts with expertise in emergency response;
and
(6) environmental health, economic or business development,
or other stakeholders.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEAT HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM.
(a) Establishment.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere shall establish within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration a system, to be known as the ``National Integrated Heat
Health Information System'' (NIHHIS) (in this section referred to as
the ``System'').
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the System is to reduce heat-related
impacts by--
(1) improving the delivery of data, information, forecasts,
warnings, predictions, and projections related to temperature
and extreme heat and related impacts;
(2) through the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research,
developing science-based solutions and tools to improve impact-
based decision support services for heat impacts to human life,
property, and the United States economy; and
(3) supporting a research program on heat health, in
coordination with the agencies represented on the National
Integrated Heat Health Information System Interagency
Committee.
(c) Data Management.--
(1) Availability.--The data and metadata associated with
the System shall be fully and openly available, within the
legal right to redistribute, in accordance with chapter 31 of
title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Federal
Records Act of 1950''), and the Federal Evidence-Based
Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-435;132 Stat. 5529)
and the amendments made by that Act, to maximize use of such
data to support the goals of the System.
(2) National centers for environmental information.--
(A) In general.--The Under Secretary of Commerce
for Oceans and Atmosphere shall manage, maintain, and
steward archival data and metadata associated with the
System within the National Centers for Environmental
Information.
(B) Warning coordination meteorologist.--The Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall
designate at least one warning coordination
meteorologist, as described in section 405 of the
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017
(15 U.S.C. 8545), at the National Centers for
Environmental Information.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to carry out sections 3 and 4, including for
any administrative costs for the National Integrated Heat Health
Information System Interagency Committee and the National Integrated
Heat Health Information System, $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2025 through 2029.
Calendar No. 720
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2645
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reduce the health risks of heat by establishing the National
Integrated Heat Health Information System within the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration and the National Integrated Heat Health
Information System Interagency Committee to improve extreme heat
preparedness, planning, and response, requiring a study, and
establishing financial assistance programs to address heat effects, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 17 (legislative day, December 16), 2024
Reported with an amendment