Markey, Khanna Announce Green New Deal for Health to Tackle Intersecting Climate and Public Health Crises

Green
New Deal for Health embeds health, labor and climate justice in systems of
care, authorizing $130 billion to support community health centers; reviving
New Deal-era program to boost climate mitigation efforts while preserving
affordable, accessible care 

Bill
Text (PDF) | One-Pager
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Washington (April 20, 2023) – Today, Senator Edward J. Markey
(D-Mass.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security and chair of the Senate
Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear
Safety, today joined Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17), Pramila Jayapal
(WA-07), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) in introducing the Green
New Deal for Health, legislation that will enable the U.S. health care
system to respond to climate change by improving sustainability and supporting
patients, providers and communities.  

Today, an estimated 100
million Americans lack access to primary care. Ninety percent
of Americans live in counties that have been hit with a climate disaster in the
last decade, 40
percent live in counties that faced a climate disaster in 2021 alone,
and more than 600
hospitals face the risk of closure across the country. Inequities in
health care access among communities at the frontlines of our nation’s dual
climate and public health crises have worsened in
recent years, primarily impacting fenceline communities, rural communities, and
Black, Brown, and immigrant communities. At the same time, the health care
sector currently accounts for 8.5 percent of
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions — compounding these crises and undermining health
outcomes and our nation’s climate goals. 

“The American health care system is broken–from the exorbitant medical bills
and outlandish insurance premiums, to maxed out emergency rooms and shuttering
hospitals. With climate disasters on the rise, the health and safety of
frontline environmental justice communities is more precarious than
ever,” said Senator Markey. “We urgently need to invest in a
more sustainable system, one that is resilient to the impacts of climate
change, supports its workers, and doesn’t rely on fossil fuels. We can’t have a
health care system that makes us sicker while health care providers work to
make us well.”

“Across the world, hundreds of millions of people are already feeling the
effects of climate change and the health consequences that often follow. From
increased cases of asthma due to air pollution to disruptions at care
facilities after extreme weather events, it’s clear we need to take steps now
to protect public health,” said Representative Khanna. “I’m
incredibly proud to join Senator Markey in introducing the Green New
Deal for Health, a sweeping bill that reimagines what our health care
system can look like when we prioritize our people and our planet.”

The Green New Deal for Health boldly reimagines a health care
system that is prepared and empowered to protect the health and well-being of
our workers, our communities, and our planet: 

• To foster health care access, the Green New
  Deal for Health would invest $130 billion over five years in
  community health centers through the Community Health Center Fund.
• To prioritize climate resiliency and mitigation in our
  nation’s health care sector, the Green New Deal for Health would
  revive the landmark New Deal-era Hill-Burton program by authorizing $100
  billion in federal grants to be awarded to public and nonprofit medical
  facilities seeking to improve their climate resilience and disaster
  mitigation efforts. This measure would ensure people have uninterrupted
  access to care, including in the wake of climate disasters and extreme
  weather events, while guaranteeing workers are paid a prevailing wage and
  facilities are equipped to meet their obligation to serve neighboring
  communities.
• The Green New Deal for Health would
  further require hospitals that receive Medicare payments to notify the
  Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) at least 180 days prior to a
  full hospital closure or the discontinuation of its services to ensure
  frontline communities are not stranded in health deserts and left without
  adequate care facilities. 
• The legislation directs HHS to establish a task force
  to develop policies and procedures for the mandatory public disclosure of
  emissions and climate risk of FDA-approved drugs, devices, and biologics
  in an effort to establish a transparent, resilient, and green medical
  supply chain. 
  
  The Green New Deal for Health invests in the backbone of
  our health care system—the workers who make high-quality health care
  possible—by directing federal dollars toward climate and health education,
  building a robust community health workforce, prioritizing grants to
  facilities that collectively bargain with their workers, and providing
  hazard pay to the workers who show up to care for us after a crisis.   

Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders
(I-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representatives Jamaal Bowman
(NY-16), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Jesús “Chuy” García
(IL-04), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jill Tokuda
(HI-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Ayanna Pressley
(MA-07), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Robert Garcia (CA-42),
Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Raul M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Sydney
Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) are cosponsors.

The Green New Deal for Health is endorsed by the American
Federation of Teachers, Alliance of Nurses for a Healthy Environment, American
College of Nurse-Midwives, Boston Medical Center, Center for Biological
Diversity, Climate and Community Project, Committee of Interns and
Residents—SEIU Healthcare, Earthjustice, Family Health Center of Worcester,
Green New Deal Network, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Health Care
Without Harm, International Transformational Resilience Coalition, Moms Clean
Air Force, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Massachusetts
Nurses Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Partnership
for Women & Families, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Nurses
United, People’s Action, Sierra Club, Sunrise Movement, Transhealth, Tufts
Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice, Union of Concerned
Scientists, and Zero Hour.

Today, Senator Markey also joined with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
(NY-14) to reintroduce the Green New Deal Resolution, a comprehensive framework
for taking on the intersecting economic, social, racial, health and climate
crises facing the nation with a 10-year mobilization of the economy.

Senator Markey has led on several major pieces of legislation to address the
intersecting climate and health care crises, introducing the Protecting
Moms and Babies against Climate Change Act with Representative
Lauren Underwood (IL-04), the Preventing
Heat Illness and Deaths Act with Representative Charlie Crist
(FL-13), the Community
Mental Wellness and Resilience Act with Representative Paul Tonko
(NY-20) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and the Climate
Change Health Promotion and Protection Act with Representative
Matt Cartwright (PA-08). In December 2022, Senator Markey wrote to
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra requesting HHS modernize current Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations that require certain health
care facilities to adhere to outdated electrical standards requiring the use of
fossil-fueled-based generators, often powered by diesel fuel, as the emergency
power source for their buildings. In March, CMS heeded the call by issuing
a new waiver to allow U.S. health care facilities to transition to
safer, cheaper, and more reliable clean energy infrastructure in the form of
renewable-powered microgrids or independent electric grids.

Senator Markey has led calls to urge the delay and reconsideration of hospital
closures across Massachusetts. In December
2022, he led his colleagues Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) and
Representatives James P. McGovern (MA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Jake
Auchincloss (MA-04), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna
Pressley (MA-07), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), and Bill Keating (MA-09), members
of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, in a letter to Secretary Becerra
to express concern over closures, service reductions, mergers, and for-profit
acquisitions of hospitals across the United States. 

“There is no one simple solution to the climate or healthcare crisis, solutions
must be crafted to reflect how these crises play out in our communities. They
are often compounding; the same communities impacted by pollution and rising
temperatures also face barriers to accessing affordable, high-quality
healthcare, and their local hospitals are understaffed and overworked- making
it even harder for our nurses and healthcare professionals to respond to and
treat the mounting health impacts of the climate crisis. We must act boldly to
address these challenges and improve the lives of workers and families across
the country. Senator Markey’s Green New Deal for Health does
just that—it is a critical investment that addresses the nexus of healthcare
and climate change and meets communities where they are with solutions that
invest in our workers, environmental justice, and equitable, accessible
healthcare,” said Randi Weingarten, President of American Federation of
Teachers.

“The Green New Deal is the first bill of its kind to tackle the question of
‘what does community and healthcare system-level preparation for climate change
look like?’ From adaptive emphasis on decarbonization in hospitals, to
supporting climate-ready medical facilities, and investments in community
health centers the Green New Deal for Health not only focuses
on educating, training and building a robust community health workforce ready
to meet the climate crisis, but bolsters and expands climate resilience by
helping prepare communities often hardest hit by climate disasters,” said
Katie Huffling, DNP, RN, CNM, FAAN, Executive Director of the Alliance of
Nurses for Healthy Environments. 

“Climate change is enabling extreme weather events such as intense heat waves
and larger wildfires, and these extremes often have serious implications for
human health. This timely legislation will help protect patients and empower
health care workers by building just, equitable, climate-aware health care
systems in which people—particularly those in marginalized, low-income
communities—will be able to thrive in spite of our changing climate,” said
Dr. Kristina Dahl, Principal Climate Scientist of the Climate & Energy
Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

“It can’t be underemphasized that the nature and scale of the response to the
climate crisis today will determine the health of communities for generations
to come,” said Batul Hassan, Policy Manager of the Climate and
Community Project. “From investments in decarbonizing the US
healthcare system to increasing access to care and ensuring workplace safety,
Senator Markey’s Green New Deal for Health takes the
multi-level approach needed to make the US health system more healthy, just,
and climate-prepared.”

“As Congress deals with broader questions about what a full and equitable clean
energy transition entails, we need to ensure the conversation includes a focus
on the value of human health,” said Raul Garcia, Vice President of
Policy and Legislation at Earthjustice. “It is an honor to stand with
Senator Markey and support the creation of a healthcare system that serves
those most at risk from the health impacts of climate change and that is both
resilient and mindful of its own emissions reductions.” 

“Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, worsening wildfires, heat waves, flooding and
other disasters, we’ve seen communities all across the United States bearing
the brunt of climate change impacts on health. Low-income communities,
communities of color, the young, the elderly and those with pre-existing
conditions all face distinct challenges and so do the health workers who serve
them,” said Ella Mendonsa, Health Equity Manager at the Environment,
Equity, and Justice Center of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “This
historic bill coordinating key agencies and offices directs much-needed
resources to building more resilient, healthy, and autonomous communities
through direct funding for health centers, mental health support, and heat
resiliency programming while expanding the workforce, providing well-paying
jobs, and supporting climate-focused education for those health workers who
are, and have been, on the frontlines of our health and climate crisis.”

“As a safety-net trauma center in a coastal city, which serves the area’s most
vulnerable patient population, going green and building for campus resiliency
is critical to Boston Medical Center (BMC) delivering on its mission. In order
to care for patients and maintain emergency access to critical care services
during a natural disaster, BMC has proactively made changes to increase
resiliency of critical care hospital infrastructure. BMC applauds Senator
Markey for his leadership and vision in introducing the “Green New Deal for
Health” and wholeheartedly supports the bill’s proposed all-hands-on-deck
approach from the federal government to bolster the health sector’s role in
mitigating the climate crisis,”’ said Bob Biggio, Senior Vice President
of Facilities and Support Services.

“Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC), operating seven sites in the
home state of Senator Markey, wholeheartedly endorses the Green New
Deal for Health. GLFHC recognizes the urgent action we all must take
examining our carbon footprint and making major adjustments, while
simultaneously becoming resilient and assisting our communities in resiliency
in the face of climate change. The funding, representation, and action plans of
this bill are essential for securing the health and wellbeing of our patients
and fellow citizens, particularly in the marginalized communities we
serve,” said Dr. Guy Fsh, CEO and President of the Greater Lawrence
Family Health Center.

“Senator Markey’s Green New Deal for Health addresses an issue
that we have always known to be true: climate change uniquely impacts the health
and well-being of pregnant and postpartum people, particularly pregnant and
postpartum people of color,” said Sinsi Hernández Cancio, Vice
President for Health Justice of National Partnership for Women &
Families. “We applaud Senator Markey for introducing an inclusive bill
that recognizes health care and the climate crisis are deeply connected and
that seeks to transform our health care system to serve those most directly
impacted by climate change.”

“The Green New Deal for Health is urgently needed to prepare
our nation’s physical and mental health systems for the climate
emergency,” said Bob Doppelt, Coordinator of the International
Transformational Resilience Coalition. “We sincerely thank Senator Ed
Markey for his leadership in putting together this extremely important
legislation. Among other important actions, it will begin to expand the way our
nation prevents and heals mental health problems by funding and supporting
communities that use a public health approach to help all adults, adolescents,
and young children strengthen their capacity for mental wellness and resilience
for climate stresses and disasters.”

“We are grateful to Senator Markey for his leadership on one of the most
critical issues of our time,” said Michael Curry, President and CEO of
the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. “By addressing
jobs, justice, and climate, the Green New Deal will be a major step forward for
the vulnerable residents who are most impacted by these issues, many of whom
are health center patients. This comprehensive bill and proposed grant funding
will go far in ensuring that health equity is front and center in policies and
programs from curbing emissions and coping with extreme weather to providing
good, high-wage jobs and protecting essential workers.”

“People’s Action welcomes the introduction of Senator Markey and Representative
Khanna’s Green New Deal for Health. The bill addresses our climate
crisis and environmental injustice as a central component to improving people’s
health in this country,” said Sulma Arias, Executive Director of
People’s Action. “The legislation centers poor and working people and
communities of color, who are disproportionately impacted by the intersection
of climate and health, in creating a path to a green transition for the
healthcare sector with good jobs while also preparing for climate change
related disasters. This bill is an important step in the right direction and we
urge Congress to take it up as soon as possible.” 

“Stopping the climate crisis will require us to transform every aspect of our
society, our economy and especially our health care system, to work for people
and the planet. Senator Markey’s Green New Deal for Health finally
addresses the staggering, often-overlooked costs to our health from fossil-fuel
generated air pollution and climate change, and begins to build a system where
people and workers are taken care of. If our generation is going to have a shot
at a livable future, we must pass it as we strive towards our vision of a Green
New Deal,” said Varshini Prakash, Executive Director of Sunrise
Movement.

“The current healthcare system in the United States not only falls short of
providing accessible, comprehensive care to all, but also is dangerously
unprepared for changes due to the climate crisis,” said Hebah Kassem,
Director of the Living Economy Program at the Sierra Club. “Senator Ed
Markey’s proposed Green New Deal for Health would provide
crucial funding for life-saving services such as community health centers and
resiliency measures for both home infrastructure and medical facilities. It
would also ensure that our health facilities do not contribute further to the
climate crisis, by modernizing and weatherizing healthcare infrastructure along
with strengthening green healthcare manufacturing. We must engage community
members in the futures of their own health systems as we also create more good
union healthcare jobs and support this vital workforce.”

“As we strive towards a healthier future, it is our shared responsibility to
come together, face the challenges of the climate crisis head-on, build
resilient communities, and ensure that essential healthcare remains accessible
to all. Transhealth is happy to fully support the Green New Deal for
Health. With this bold piece of legislation, we have the opportunity to
embrace a whole-of-government approach, paving the way for a truly
transformative healthcare system,” said Dallas Ducar, CEO of
Transhealth.

“Health Care Without Harm is pleased to endorse the Green New Deal for
Health Act. The Act will provide much-needed support for
the health care sector’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve
public health and resilience in the communities its hospitals serve,
prioritizing those being disproportionately impacted by climate change. We have
both an obligation and opportunity to accelerate the just transition to a
low-carbon and resilient economy, with health care leading the transformation
and modeling broader climate action,” said Emily Mediate, Director of
U.S. Climate & Health Program at Health Care Without Harm.

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