H.R. 4493 — Climate Health Emergency Act of 2025

This section sets forth congressional findings on public health emergency declarations and renewals by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, totaling 120 over the past decade—including 66 related to extreme weather events, 14 to COVID-19, 32 to the opioid crisis, and others to earthquakes, Mpox, and Zika—and links climate change to more than half of them due to its role in exacerbating extreme weather and infectious disease transmission. The section further finds that U.S. public health infrastructure is unprepared for climate-related crises, which entities such as the World Health Organization have identified as the century's greatest health threat, and declares that the United States must urgently mobilize federal resources and coordination to build resilience.

This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to declare a public health emergency under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) in connection with health risks associated with climate change. (Thus, this activates the Secretary's authorities to respond, including grants, contracts, investigations, and access to the Public Health Emergency Fund, with the declaration terminating after 90 days unless renewed and requiring congressional notification within 48 hours.)