Underwood Introduces Climate and Health Protection Act to Help Local Governments Respond to Climate Crisis

WASHINGTON— Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced the Climate and Health Protection Act to strengthen the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Climate and Health Program. The CDC’s Climate and Health Program has historically been the only federal program that directly funds the state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments on the front lines of addressing climate change. Underwood has led efforts to protect and support the program since 2019, most recently securing $10 million in the FY 2023 omnibus.

CDC’s Climate and Health Program plays a critical role in addressing public health issues that stem from climate change and provides communities the resources they need to identify and address emerging health threats brought on by climate change. Underwood’s legislation would permanently codify the core functions of the Program and authorize increased funding for its work to protect communities across the country.

“Climate change is a public health crisis, and local communities in Illinois need federal resources to keep our families safe and healthy. The CDC’s leadership, exemplified by the Climate and Health Program, is an essential part of our climate strategy,” said Underwood. “The Climate and Health Protection Act will support this critical program and make sure that our state, local, and tribal public health leaders have access to the data, expertise, and resources they need to protect our communities from the health impacts of climate change."

The Climate and Health Protection Act would:

• Amend the Public Health Service Act to explicitly authorize the Climate and Health Program.
• Support the program’s core functions by:
  • Providing State, local, and tribal communities with understandable and informative data on climate change science;
  • Providing resources to create tools that will help in addressing climate change
  • Supporting health departments and communities as they plan and lead in addressing the public health impacts of climate change.
• Authorize $110 million in annual appropriations to complete the Program's essential work and prohibit transferring or reprogramming these funds.

 The Climate and Health Protection Act is supported by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Environmental Defense Fund Action, the League of Conservation Voters, the Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

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