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H.R. 3702: Extreme Heat Economic Study Act of 2025

This legislation, known as the Extreme Heat Economic Study Act of 2025, aims to initiate a comprehensive economic study on the financial impacts of extreme heat events in the United States. The study will be conducted by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, through the Climate Program Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in collaboration with various member agencies involved in the National Integrated Heat Health Information System.

Key Objectives of the Study

The study will focus on several critical components related to extreme heat, including:

Health Impacts: It will assess the broad health consequences of extreme heat, including both mortality (deaths) and morbidity (illnesses), using established methodologies to evaluate the financial value of these impacts.
Property Damage: The study will evaluate property damage or loss that results from extreme heat events, whenever possible.
Medical Assistance Costs: It will account for the financial implications of increased medical assistance needed during extreme heat events, including expenses associated with emergency room visits, urgent care treatments, and hospitalizations, as well as relevant medications.
Insurance Claims: The study will review life and health insurance claims tied to extreme heat, along with workers' compensation data related to heat-related claims.
Productivity Losses: The effects of extreme heat on labor productivity and existing research in this field will be examined.
Business Disruption: The study will assess business interruption claims to evaluate how often businesses claim disruptions due to heat-related issues.
Infrastructure Impact: It will consider economic losses resulting from extreme heat's effects on critical infrastructure such as transportation and utilities.
Energy Costs: An assessment of increased energy costs associated with cooling during extreme heat will be conducted.
Agricultural Impact: The study will include analysis of crop and livestock insurance claims to determine the overall impact of extreme heat on agriculture.

Stakeholder Feedback

To ensure a comprehensive analysis, the Under Secretary is required to seek feedback from:

Federal agencies, including but not limited to:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Department of Agriculture
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
Non-federal entities and any other relevant stakeholders deemed necessary.

Recommendations for Future Actions

The study is expected to result in recommendations to develop a national system for:

Tracking healthcare costs related to extreme heat.
Improving the accuracy of heat-related death reporting.
Assessing measures of labor productivity losses associated with extreme heat.

Conducting the Study

The Under Secretary may carry out the study in collaboration with external organizations, such as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and will utilize existing databases and data sources as needed.

Report Publication

Within four years following the enactment of the law, a report containing the findings will be published on the HEAT.gov website. This report will be made publicly available, and the findings will also be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.