H.R. 568 IH: Recognizing that climate change poses a growing threat to public health
Introduced in the House of Representatives
July 10, 2025
- Mrs. Arrarga (for herself, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Kamalger-Dove, Ms. Norton, Ms. Casio-Cortez, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. Thaneder, Ms. Tlaib, and Mr. Orres of New York) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
RESOLUTION
Recognizing that climate change poses a growing threat to public health and necessitates coordinated action to mitigate its impacts and safeguard the health and well-being of all people in the United States.
- Whereas climate change is the most significant threat to human health in the 21st century, as affirmed by a broad scientific consensus, including more than 200 medical journals;
- Whereas climate change is driving illness, injury, displacement, and death across the United States, including—
- •HRES 568 IH (1) by worsening respiratory and allergy-related illnesses and contributing to an increase in cancer risks through climate change fueled-increases in air pollution, longer pollen seasons, and increased exposure to wildfire smoke, ground-level ozone, and fine particulate matter that threaten the health of over 150,000,000 people in the United States living in areas with unhealthy air;
- •HRES 568 IH (2) by increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes, often worsened by extreme heat waves;
- •HRES 568 IH (3) by increasing direct and indirect behavioral and mental health complications, including pre-disaster anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance use disorder, domestic violence, and suicidality, linked to climate-driven disasters with children, pregnant individuals, people living in high-risk zones, communities of color, and low-income communities bearing the brunt of long-term psychological and emotional harm;
- •HRES 568 IH (4) by disproportionately increasing the rates of homelessness and displacement among infants and young children;
- •HRES 568 IH (5) by failing to provide adequate funding for climate change research, health education, and community-based initiatives to address the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations.
Section 1
The Congress finds that—
- (A) climate change poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of all people in the United States;
- (B) there is a growing body of scientific evidence confirming the link between climate change and human health;
- (C) the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations, including low-income communities and children, are of particular concern;
Therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives (2) That the Congress recognizes that climate change poses a growing threat to public health and necessitates coordinated action to mitigate its impacts and safeguard the health and well-being of all people in the United States.