This bill is designed to help protect people from the dangerous health effects of extreme heat. It creates a coordinated government effort to tackle heat-related illnesses and deaths by bringing together different federal agencies to work on research, partnerships, and training programs focused on heat safety.

The bill gives NOAA (the National Weather Service's parent agency) two main jobs: first, to build a better system for predicting extreme heat so people get more accurate warnings, and second, to hire experts to study what we're missing in our current approach to heat safety—like gaps in data collection or research that could help us do better.

The bill also sets aside money that communities can apply for to protect themselves from extreme heat. This funding can go to nonprofits, universities, and local or state governments to pay for practical solutions like upgrading buildings to stay cooler or running public education campaigns to teach people how to stay safe during heat waves. Essentially, it's a multi-level approach that combines better forecasting, research, and direct support to help communities prepare for and respond to dangerous heat.

Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2023

Bonamici, Suzanne

Preventing Health Emergencies And Temperature-related Illness and Deaths Act of 2023 or the Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2023This bill establishes several programs to address the adverse health effects of extreme heat.For example, the bill establishes an interagency committee in the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy to address the health risks of extreme heat through coordinated research, strategic partnerships, and workforce development. It also requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to (1) establish a heat health information system to improve forecasts of extreme heat, and (2) contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study policy, data, and research gaps relating to extreme heat.&nbsp;NOAA may also, in coordination with the interagency committee, award financial assistance to nonprofits, academic institutions, and state, local, and tribal governments to support the ability of communities to mitigate the health effects of extreme heat (e.g., building modifications and educational campaigns).