Michael Lawler (R-NY)
Heat Emergency Assessment and Tracking using AI Act
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The HEAT AI Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study heat-related illnesses and deaths in the United States. It establishes a pilot program that provides grants to between three and five eligible entities to develop and use AI tools for surveillance. These tools will analyze medical records, death certificates, and weather data to better identify heat-related cases. The bill also focuses on creating response protocols, training clinicians, and conducting community outreach. Finally, the CDC will issue national guidelines to standardize how heat-related illnesses are documented and reported.
Yes· 3 of 26
- Scored +6
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
Seniors are at high risk for heat-related illness; better tracking and response protocols directly benefit them.
- Scored +6
Would retired people be better off under this?
Retirees are high-risk for heat-related illness and benefit from improved surveillance.
- Scored +6
Does this put more money into medical research?
Provides funding for studies and AI tool development to track heat-related morbidity and mortality.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
Analyzing sensitive medical records with AI introduces potential privacy risks despite HIPAA compliance requirements.
- Scored -2
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
Use of AI to analyze sensitive clinical data poses a risk to individual medical privacy.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Public Awareness: The bill funds community outreach to increase awareness of heat-related illness symptoms, risk factors, and prevention and treatment resources (Section 4(c)(5)).
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Better Medical Care: The program provides for clinician training on how to identify, diagnose, and manage heat-related illnesses (Section 4(c)(4)).
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Reduced Deaths and Illness: Grants will be used to develop heat response protocols specifically designed to reduce and prevent heat-related illness and death (Section 4(c)(3)).
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More Accurate Health Tracking: By using AI to analyze unstructured clinical data and weather information, the program aims to identify heat-related cases that are currently missed by existing systems (Section 2(2) and Section 4(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Privacy Risks: The program involves the use of AI tools to analyze sensitive medical records, death certificates, and coroner reports, which requires strict compliance with HIPAA and Federal privacy laws (Section 4(b)(2)(D) and Section 4(f)(1)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — Retirees are high-risk for heat-related illness and benefit from improved surveillance. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors are at high risk for heat-related illness; better tracking and response protocols directly benefit them. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income populations often lack air conditioning and are more susceptible to heat illness. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural areas may have limited medical access; bill mandates rural community representation in grants. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban heat island effects increase risk; bill mandates urban community representation in grants. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Ensures equitable performance of AI models and targets diverse populations in grant selection. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Ensures equitable performance of AI models and targets diverse populations in grant selection. Would farmers be better off under this? — Farmers face high heat exposure; better surveillance and response protocols benefit outdoor workers. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Ensures equitable performance of AI models and targets diverse populations in grant selection. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Ensures equitable performance of AI models and targets diverse populations in grant selection. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — People with certain disabilities may be more susceptible to heat; improved protocols can increase safety. Would children be better off under this? — Children are vulnerable to heat; improved surveillance and response protocols can save lives. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Improved public health surveillance for heat-related illnesses benefits all age groups. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — General improvement in public health and emergency response for heat events. Would union members be better off under this? — Outdoor union workers (construction, etc.) benefit from improved heat illness management. Would white Americans be better off under this? — General improvement in national public health responses to heat. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Improved public health surveillance for heat-related illnesses benefits all age groups. Would high-income households be better off under this? — General improvement in public health and emergency response for heat events.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — Provides funding for studies and AI tool development to track heat-related morbidity and mortality. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Improves clinician training and response protocols for diagnosing and managing heat-related illnesses.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Develops heat response protocols to reduce deaths during heat-related emergencies. Does this invest in rural communities? — Specifically requires at least one grant recipient to be a rural community for heat surveillance.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Allocates $25 million annually for the development and testing of AI surveillance tools for public health. Does this give people more control over their personal data? — Analyzing sensitive medical records with AI introduces potential privacy risks despite HIPAA compliance requirements.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires an AI advisory board to ensure transparency and fairness in AI models. Does this give the federal government more power? — Directs the HHS Secretary and CDC to establish national guidelines and an AI surveillance program. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — Use of AI to analyze sensitive clinical data poses a risk to individual medical privacy.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Requires the AI advisory board to ensure equitable performance across demographic populations.
- 6/11/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Greg StantonDemocrat · Arizona