H.R. 4515 — Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025

This section defines terms used in the Act, including (1) Director, meaning the Director of the Office; (2) environmental justice community, meaning 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; (3) medically underserved community, having the meaning given the term in section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p); (4) national strategic action plan, meaning the plan published pursuant to section 4(b)(1); (5) Office, meaning the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity established by section 4(a)(1); and (6) Secretary, meaning the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

This section clarifies that nothing in the Act limits the authority or responsibilities of federal departments or agencies under other laws (including regulations) or authorizes violations of such laws, including those related to health, energy, environment, transportation, or other areas.

This section establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, to be headed by a Director reporting to the Secretary, with duties to address climate change health impacts through activities such as contributing to assessments; understanding needs of disproportionately affected populations (e.g., environmental justice and medically underserved communities); tracking data; modeling health effects; communicating risks; aligning federal services; developing resilience tools and response plans; reducing health sector emissions; providing leadership and partnerships; promoting workforce development; and other activities as determined appropriate by the Secretary. It further directs the Secretary, not later than one year after enactment of this Act and in consultation with specified federal agencies (e.g., EPA, NOAA, NASA), Tribal and state/local governments, and stakeholders (particularly representatives of at-risk communities), to publish a national strategic action plan assessing and improving health sector capacity to address climate change impacts, including by identifying and prioritizing at-risk communities and populations; addressing health disparities; remedying environmental injustice; promoting outreach; tracking federal research programs; assessing preparedness strategies; and prioritizing critical public health and health care infrastructure projects.

This section establishes a permanent science advisory board of not less than 10 and not more than 20 members, pursuant to chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must appoint members from recommendations by the President of the National Academy of Sciences or the President of the National Academy of Medicine, ensuring expertise in essential public health and health care services—including for diverse populations, climate change, environmental and climate justice, and related disciplines—and including members with practical or lived experience on these issues. The board must (1) provide scientific and technical advice to the Secretary on domestic and international climate change impacts on public health, disproportionately affected populations and regions, and related preparation and response strategies; (2) advise the Secretary on the best available science for the Office's activities and national strategic action plan; and (3) submit a report to Congress on its activities and recommendations within one year of enactment and annually thereafter. The Secretary must provide financial and administrative support to the board.

This section directs the Secretary to offer to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine—including providing necessary funding—under which the National Academies will prepare periodic reports to aid public health and health care professionals in preparing for and responding to the adverse health effects of climate change by (1) reviewing scientific developments on health impacts and health disparities of climate change; (2) evaluating measurable impacts of activities under the national strategic action plan; and (3) recommending changes to the plan. The first report must be submitted to Congress and the Secretary and made publicly available not later than one year after the first publication of the national strategic action plan, with subsequent reports every four years thereafter.

This section authorizes appropriations to the Secretary as follows: (1) $10 million for each of FY2026 through FY2031 for the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity to carry out section 4(a); (2) $2 million for FY2026, to remain available until expended, for the National Strategic Action Plan under section 4(b); and (3) $500,000 for FY2026, to remain available until expended, for the advisory board under section 5.