A cadre of Democrats this week introduced bills to invest billions of dollars into climate-related improvements for hospitals and public schools.
The bills stand little chance of passage in Republican-controlled Washington, but they show that the Green New Deal — a collection of ideas focused on the environment and social justice championed since 2018 — still holds messaging weight among Capitol Hill progressives.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) introduced the Green New Deal for Health Act in both chambers Monday. The bill is meant to “equip our country’s healthcare system to respond to the growing impacts of climate change,” according to a news release.
“Every year that Washington waits to address the climate crisis, more people pay for it with their health,” Markey said. “The Green New Deal for Health is a blueprint for a healthcare system that can withstand the crisis we’re already living through, while putting patients and workers first.”
