Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 7 Democratic cosponsors · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
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 Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2025 proposes to amend the Clean Air Act. It seeks to establish a grant program to help local communities detect, prepare for, and mitigate the health and environmental impacts of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. The bill authorizes the EPA Administrator to provide grants to air pollution control agencies for various protective activities. Additionally, the legislation establishes four "Centers of Excellence" at higher education institutions to conduct research on these environmental threats. It also creates a competitive grant program to help States, local governments, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations develop community mitigation plans.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +7
Does this put more money into medical research?
The bill authorizes $30,000,000 annually for research through the establishment of Centers of Excellence and other research activities.
- Scored +7
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The legislation establishes dedicated funding for scientific research into the health and mitigation of smoke and heat.
- Scored +6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill funds community preparedness and mitigation of environmental threats from wildfire smoke and extreme heat.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Community Protection and Preparation: The bill allows for grants to help communities detect, prepare for, and communicate about the dangers of wildfire smoke and extreme heat (Section 3(b)).
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Improved Air Quality Monitoring and Communication: Funds can be used for monitoring and interpreting data regarding air quality, which helps people understand current and future conditions (Section 3(c)(1)).
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Enhanced Public Safety via Community Outreach: The bill supports outreach in areas prone to poor air quality caused by smoke and heat (Section 3(c)(2)).
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Cleaner Air in Public Spaces: Grants can equip public buildings with air filtration systems so they can serve as cleaner air spaces during smoke or heat events (Section s 3(c)(4)).
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Access to Protective Equipment: The legislation allows for the purchase and distribution of items like N-95 respirators and portable air filtration systems (Section 3(c)(5)).
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Financial Support for Protective Measures: The bill provides for subgrants to help private or public entities acquire protective gear or perform weatherization to prevent air infiltration (Section 3(c)(6)).
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Scientific Research and Health Insights: The establishment of "Centers of Excellence" will research the health effects of smoke and extreme heat, including the impact on outdoor workers (Section 4(a)(1)).
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Development of Better Response Tools: Research is intended to create better monitoring, prediction tools, and community-based interventions to reduce health risks (Section 4(b)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed within the provided text.
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 Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill specifically includes Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations as eligible entities for grants and research partnerships. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides financial support for weatherization and protective gear for entities with demonstrated financial need. Would children be better off under this? — Improving air quality in public buildings through filtration helps protect children in those spaces. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes communities economically or environmentally impacted by wildfire smoke and extreme heat.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill authorizes $30,000,000 annually for research through the establishment of Centers of Excellence and other research activities. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill provides for the distribution of N-95 respirators and air filtration systems to protect public health during smoke and heat events.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The legislation establishes dedicated funding for scientific research into the health and mitigation of smoke and heat. Does this make college cost less? — The bill directs research funding toward institutions of higher education through the creation of Centers of Excellence.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill funds community preparedness and mitigation of environmental threats from wildfire smoke and extreme heat. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The bill supports equipping public buildings with air filtration systems to serve as cleaner air spaces.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill allows for subgrants to help entities with demonstrated financial need acquire protective gear or weatherization measures.
- 7/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/30/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon