This bill creates a new federal system to help communities prepare for and respond to extreme heat, which has become the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. The bill establishes two main things: a National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that will collect and share heat-related data and provide better forecasts and warnings, and an Interagency Committee made up of representatives from 20+ federal agencies that will coordinate a government-wide approach to tackling heat-related health risks.

The bill recognizes that extreme heat disproportionately affects vulnerable populations—including elderly people, pregnant women, low-income communities, communities of color, outdoor workers, and people without reliable air conditioning. It notes that heat-related health disparities are tied to historical patterns like segregation and redlining, where certain neighborhoods have fewer trees and green spaces, making them hotter. The bill requires the government to study gaps in heat preparedness and data collection, and it authorizes funding for communities to implement heat-reduction projects like planting trees, installing cool roofs and pavements, building cooling centers, and improving air conditioning access in public buildings like schools and prisons.

The bill allocates $20 million per year through 2030 for the federal coordination system and study, and $10-30 million per year for grants to help communities, nonprofits, and local governments carry out heat resilience projects. At least 40 percent of these funds must go to low-income communities and communities facing environmental justice concerns. Essentially, this bill aims to give communities better information about heat risks and financial support to protect their residents from dangerous heat waves.