GREEN Hospitals Act

What it does

• •Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize $100 billion in federal grants for hospital construction and modernization projects that increase climate resilience and reduce emissions, with priority given to projects including distributed renewable energy, high-efficiency HVAC systems, green infrastructure, and disaster-resistant access routes.
• •Establishes a Planning and Evaluation Grant Program to fund eligible entities (states, tribal governments, nonprofits) in developing sustainability and resiliency plans for medical facilities, with planning activities including climate-risk assessments, community engagement, and engineering studies.
• •Adds labor and collective bargaining requirements to grant applications, requiring facilities to either have a collective bargaining agreement with labor organizations or an explicit policy not to interfere with employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

Why it matters

• •Integrates climate change adaptation and emissions reduction into federal health infrastructure funding, addressing the stated need for medical facilities to remain operational and accessible during climate-related disasters and public health crises.
• •Prioritizes funding for hospitals serving Medicare/Medicaid populations and environmental justice communities, targeting resources toward facilities that serve vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by climate hazards and pollution.

Who is affected

• •Hospitals, public health centers, outpatient facilities, rehabilitation facilities, and long-term care facilities seeking federal construction or modernization grants.
• •State and tribal governments, political subdivisions, hospital district authorities, and nonprofit entities eligible to apply for planning and construction grants.
• •Workers employed by contractors and subcontractors on projects funded under the act, who must receive prevailing wages under the Davis-Bacon Act.

What happens next

The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 6, 2026, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, where it awaits committee action.