Markey, Jayapal Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Health Facilities from Climate Disaster

Bill Text (PDF)

Washington (August 6, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and author of the Green New Deal for Health, and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) today reintroduced the Granting Resources for Eliminating Emissions Now in (GREEN) Hospitals Act. The legislation would provide $105 billion to revive a New Deal-era program to modernize and weatherize health facilities in order to reduce emissions, protect public health, and ensure that more Americans have access to healthcare before, during, and after climate disasters and extreme weather events. Already this year, the U.S. has experienced 12 climate disasters, costing more than a billion dollars and putting healthcare facilities, patients, and workers at risk.

"Climate change is a public health emergency. Power outages, floods, fires, and extreme temperatures threaten hospitals' ability to care for patients in a disaster. Meanwhile, outdated infrastructure contributes to the pollution causing this climate emergency," said Senator Markey. "Through the GREEN Hospitals Act, we will ensure our country's hospitals are prepared for the future. This bill will help hospitals become more resilient, lower energy costs, reduce pollution, protect workers, and ensure patients can continue to receive care when they need it the most. We cannot build a healthier future without a health system that recognizes that climate justice is health justice."

"As wildfires, storms, and severe weather conditions become more common because of climate change, our hospitals need to be ready and resilient," said Congresswoman Jayapal. "During public health and climate emergencies, Americans depend on reliable healthcare infrastructure that can withstand tough conditions. This legislation gives our hospitals the funding and resources they need to be prepared for extreme climate events, expand their ability to provide essential healthcare, and improve overall sustainability for the future."

As the climate crisis brings stronger storms, hotter heat waves, and more severe wildfires to communities, the United States' aging medical infrastructure is increasingly at risk. Specifically, the GREEN Hospitals Act would invest $100 billion to revive the New Deal's Hill-Burton grant program to fund capital projects that increase capacity to provide essential healthcare and update facilities to become more resilient to climate disasters and public health crises. In exchange for Hill-Burton funding, medical facilities would commit to a community service obligation to provide a specific amount of free or below-cost health care services to qualified individuals unable to pay. The legislation would also provide $5 billion for planning grants to support pre-development planning needs, such as community assessments and engineering evaluations, so sustainability and resiliency projects for medical facilities meet the needs of patients and the surrounding communities.

The legislation is endorsed by Boston Medical Center.

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