New Bill to Fund Climate Change and Public Health Preparedness Praised by Environmental and Health Groups

H.R. 2323

Legislation will support research, surveillance, planning and interagency coordination

Posted: 08-May-2009

Print Send to friend + ShareThis FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Dr. John Balbus, 202-572-3316, jbalbus@edf.org
Jennifer Andreassen, 202-572-3387, jandreassen@edf.org

(Washington, DC – May 8, 2009) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Trust for America's Health (TFAH), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) praised legislation introduced late yesterday to improve the public health response to climate change. The bill is sponsored by the Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health, U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (CA/Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura County), and cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Doris Matsui (CA/Sacramento) and Tammy Baldwin (WI/Madison, Beloit).

The bill introduction follows the official finding in April by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that climate change endangers human health and welfare, and the introduction of draft climate legislation, "The American Clean Energy and Security Act," by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and House Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA). Global warming is expected to worsen many health problems, including heat-related illness, diarrheal and other infectious diseases, and respiratory illness associated with ozone and allergens in the air.

Climate change is a concern to most public health agencies, but few of them have resources to tackle the problem, according to a national survey conducted last year by Environmental Defense Fund, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and GeorgeMasonUniversity. Congress needs to provide $200 million to sponsor research for climate change and public health in federal agencies, according to a recent report in Environmental Health Perspectives, the peer-reviewed journal published by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

The bill, the Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act, would direct the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop, in consultation with other governmental and non-governmental partners, a national strategic action plan for addressing the impacts of climate change on public health. It would also authorize funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to research the health effects of climate change and identify greenhouse gas reduction behaviors that are health promoting, as well as bolster climate change preparedness planning around the country.

"As a nurse for two decades, Rep. Capps understands that climate change will be a life and death issue for many Americans if we don't prepare for its health impacts," said EDF Chief Health Scientist Dr.John Balbus, who is a member of the Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research and Medicine. "Reps. Matsui and Baldwin also deserve credit for cosponsoring this bill because it is a critical step in protecting public health from the varied threats posed by climate change."

"Reps. Capps, Matsui and Baldwin are providing invaluable leadership by recognizing and promoting new and innovative ways to prepare for the health risks of climate change," said Jeff Levi, PhD, Executive Director of TFAH. "We're already witnessing how climate change is leading to new health problems. This bill would help ensure that public health officials across the country -- who we rely on to protect us from infectious disease outbreaks and other health emergencies -- can meet the challenges we face."

"Children, the elderly, and people with many common medical conditions -- such as diabetes and asthma -- are especially at risk as the climate warms and health threats multiply," said Gina Solomon, M.D., M.P.H., Senior Scientist at NRDC. "We need to prepare today, so people don't suffer tomorrow."

The Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act also would authorize the CDC to:

Provide technical support to state, local, and tribal health departments in forecasting local effects, developing preparedness plans, and communicating with the public about the health effects of climate change;
Develop training programs for public health professionals on the health risks and interventions related to climate change;
Enhance domestic and international tracking capacity for infectious diseases and environmental health indicators;
Contract with the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine to prepare a report that assesses the needs for health professionals to prepare for and respond to climate change impacts on public health and recommends programs to meet those needs. The report would be due within 18 months after the bill becomes law.

###

Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org

Trust for America's Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.


Print Send to friend + ShareThis Rate: Avg: --, 0 votes
Our Most Popular Pages
Global Warming by the Numbers Ten chilling facts, 2007
Where we stand: A new deal for the environment
Acid Rain Q & A
Texas Ocelot: America's 'Little Leopard' The Texas ocelot fights for survival
Cars By The Numbers Statistics on automobiles and their global warming contribution
Blogs Linking To This Release
Here are some of the blogs who've linked to this press release:

To appear in this list, link to this url in your posts.

Views: 46

Comments are closed for this blog post

Comment by C on May 8, 2009 at 9:36pm
Well said Tara!
Comment by Tara on May 8, 2009 at 8:44pm
Wow and to think that it was just climate change that was effecting our health....not. With all the chemtrails being sprayed in the sky, GMO foods, contaminated water and the poison put into pharmaceuticals..... maybe, just maybe that is what is making so many people sick! But no it's climate change (global warming) that is the culprit and we need our govt. to be our saviours once again to save us from ourselves. What BS!!!
Comment by TheLasersShadow on May 8, 2009 at 7:53pm
I think I'm going to gather tires for a protest haha.

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Saint Quinn favorited Burbia's video
11 hours ago
Doc Vega posted blog posts
18 hours ago
Burbia commented on tjdavis's blog post The Jewish Couple That Taught Bob Dylan Hebrew and Introduced Him to Zionism
"Haaretz put this story behind a pay wall. Sali Ariel and Terry Noble were the names of the couple…"
yesterday
William Heckman is now a member of 12160 Social Network
yesterday
cheeki kea commented on tjdavis's photo
Wednesday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's video
Thumbnail

This Woman DESTROYED Harley-Davidson's Future Forever

"It's a sad day on the highway. But I guess the show must go on. Watch out for the ruination of…"
Wednesday
cheeki kea posted a video

This Woman DESTROYED Harley-Davidson's Future Forever

This Woman DESTROYED Harley-Davidson's Future ForeverWelcome to Ride Radar – Your Frontline Source for Motorcycle Deals, Trends & Market Mayhem.Looking for t...
Wednesday
tjdavis posted a photo
Wednesday
Burbia posted a status
"Who knew releasing the MLK files and literally deflecting, it ends up implicating himself with the Epstein Files."
Tuesday
Burbia posted a video

Dan Bilzerian DEMOLISHES MAGA Nutjob Patrick Bet-David on His Own Show

Watch as two powerhouse personalities collide in this no-holds-barred debate on one of the world’s most contentious issues. Patrick Bet-David, known for his ...
Monday
Doc Vega's 7 blog posts were featured
Sunday
tjdavis's 2 blog posts were featured
Sunday
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's blog post Track AIPAC
Sunday
FREEDOMROX's blog post was featured

MRNA VACCINES: Question

Hello my fellow sojourners,I know it has been five years since the Plandemic, but one question has…See More
Sunday
Less Prone favorited FREEDOMROX's blog post MRNA VACCINES: Question
Sunday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Jul 19
cheeki kea posted a photo
Jul 19
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Jul 18
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Marjory Taylor Green Proposes Bill Abolishing Geoengineering or Weather Modification
"cheeki kea Marjory is in a daily battle with Democrats on the hill constantly coming up with more…"
Jul 18
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Jul 16

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted