This bill establishes a new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate the federal government's response to climate change's effects on public health. The office, headed by a director reporting to the Health and Human Services Secretary, will assess climate-related health threats, expand disease forecasting capabilities, and help the health care sector reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Within one year of enactment, the Secretary must publish a comprehensive national strategic action plan that coordinates federal efforts to prepare public health and hospital systems for climate impacts, with particular attention to vulnerable populations including low-income communities, communities of color, and tribal nations. The bill also creates a science advisory board to provide expert guidance and requires periodic assessments of the plan's effectiveness. The legislation authorizes $10 million annually from 2026 through 2031 for the office, $2 million in 2026 for developing the action plan, and $500,000 in 2026 for the advisory board.
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