H.R.3704 - Coordinated Federal Response to Extreme Heat Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3704, the Coordinated Federal Response to Extreme Heat Act of 2025, aims to reduce health risks associated with extreme heat by establishing the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It also creates the NIHHIS Interagency Committee to improve preparedness, planning, and response to extreme heat events. The bill defines key terms like 'extreme heat,' 'heat event,' and 'heat-health' to provide a clear framework for addressing the issue.
The Act mandates the creation of a strategic plan outlining goals and projects for improving interagency coordination and data collection related to heat-related illnesses and mortalities. It also authorizes appropriations of $5,000,000 annually from 2025 through 2029 to NOAA for carrying out the provisions of the Act.
Ultimately, the bill seeks to establish a coordinated federal approach to mitigate the health impacts of extreme heat through improved data, research, and interagency collaboration.
Expected Effects
The bill's enactment would lead to the establishment of a formal structure for addressing extreme heat-related health risks at the federal level. This includes improved data collection, research, and coordination among various federal agencies.
The NIHHIS and its Interagency Committee would be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to reduce the health impacts of heat events. This will likely result in better public awareness, preparedness, and response to extreme heat.
Furthermore, the authorized appropriations would provide funding for these activities, potentially leading to the development of new tools and resources for communities to mitigate heat-related risks.
Potential Benefits
- Improved public health outcomes through better preparedness and response to extreme heat events.
- Enhanced coordination among federal agencies in addressing heat-related health risks.
- Development of science-based solutions and tools to improve decision support services related to heat impacts.
- Increased availability of data and information related to temperature and extreme heat.
- Support for research on heat health and its impacts on human life, property, and the economy.
Potential Disadvantages
- The bill's effectiveness depends on the actual implementation and coordination efforts of the Interagency Committee.
- The authorized funding may be insufficient to fully address the complex challenges of extreme heat.
- There may be challenges in coordinating data collection and sharing among different federal agencies.
- The bill primarily focuses on federal action, potentially overlooking the importance of state and local initiatives.
- The strategic plan's success hinges on accurate assessment of user needs and effective translation into actionable information.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the US Constitution, particularly the General Welfare Clause (Preamble), which allows Congress to enact laws that 'promote the general Welfare.' The establishment of NIHHIS and the Interagency Committee can be seen as an effort to protect public health and safety, which falls under the umbrella of general welfare.
Furthermore, the bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific individual rights or liberties protected by the Constitution or its amendments. It primarily focuses on data collection, research, and interagency coordination, which are within the purview of the federal government.
However, the implementation of the Act should ensure that data collection and sharing practices comply with privacy laws and do not violate individual privacy rights, as potentially protected by the Fourth Amendment.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).