[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3704 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3704
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, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 4, 2025
Ms. Ansari (for herself, Mr. Bell, Ms. Dexter, Mrs. Dingell, Mrs.
Foushee, Mr. Garcia of California, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Jayapal, Mr.
Landsman, Mr. Liccardo, Mr. Magaziner, Mrs. McClain Delaney, Mrs.
McIver, Mr. Mullin, Ms. Norton, Ms. Rivas, Mr. Stanton, Ms. Titus, Mrs.
Watson Coleman, Mr. Whitesides, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Ms. Wilson of
Florida, and Mr. Huffman) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
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, 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 ``Coordinated Federal Response to
Extreme Heat Act of 2025''.
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.
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