US Codex
Bill
Notes

Title I — Heat Emergency

H.R. 9021 · 119th Congress · May 22, 2026 · Lineage

I Heat Emergency

Sec. 101 National Integrated Heat Health Information System

(a)
Interagency committee— The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall maintain an interagency committee to be known as the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (in this section referred to as “NIHHIS”).
(b)
Membership— The membership of NIHHIS shall include the following:
(1)
The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or a representative thereof).
(2)
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (or a representative thereof).
(3)
The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or a representative thereof).
(4)
The Director of the National Weather Service (or a representative thereof).
(5)
Such other Federal officials as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration determines appropriate.

Sec. 102 National ranking system

(a)
In general— The Director of the National Weather Service shall establish a national ranking system pilot program to evaluate and communicate to the public the severity and risk of extreme heat based on human health outcomes (mortality and morbidity).
(b)
Report— Not later than 1 year after the establishment of such program, the Director of the National Weather Service shall submit to Congress a report providing recommendations and evaluating the impact of the national ranking system for extreme heat on public preparedness and response.

Sec. 103 Study on naming heat waves

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Weather Service shall—
(1)
complete a study on the impact that naming heat waves has on public preparedness and response; and
(2)
submit to the Congress a report containing the results of such study.

Sec. 104 Grants for checking on seniors during extreme heat events

(a)
In general— The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with area agencies on aging, may award grants to eligible entities to develop and implement a program under which each grant recipient—
(1)
operates a registry of seniors who are in the target population of, or who reside in the jurisdiction of, the grant recipient;
(2)
includes seniors in such registry only if they opt into being included; and
(3)
during periods of extreme heat, provides for checks on the health and well-being of seniors in the registry—
(A)
by telephone; or
(B)
by other means approved by the senior involved.
(b)
Priority— In awarding grants under the program under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that describe how they will identify and reach seniors who are vulnerable to extreme heat events due to factors such as low income, limited English proficiency, or identity as a racial minority or member of a State-recognized Indian Tribe.
(c)
Definitions— In this section:
(1)
The term area agency on aging has the meaning given to that term by section 102(6) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002(6)).
(2)
The term eligible entity means—
(A)
a State, Territory, or Tribal agency;
(B)
a local governmental entity;
(C)
an Indian Tribe; or
(D)
a nonprofit organization, community group, clinic, or other entity engaged in providing outreach and services to seniors.
(3)
The term local governmental entity means any municipal government or county government with jurisdiction over local land use decisions.
(4)
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(5)
The term senior has the meaning given to that term by the Secretary for purposes of this section.
(d)
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035.

Sec. 105 Study for improved tracking of data on deaths related to heat or other environmental factors

The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, acting through the National Vital Statistics System of the National Center for Health Statistics, in consultation with the National Integrated Heat Health Information System, shall—
(1)
conduct a study on the impact of extreme heat exposure on all-cause mortality;
(2)
as part of such study, develop recommendations for revising the United States standard certificate of death to collect information on deaths that are related to heat or other environmental factors; and
(3)
not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, complete such study and submit a report on the results of such study to the Congress.