Coordinated Environmental Health Network Act of 2004

The Coordinated Environmental Health Network Act of 2004 (H.R. 5335) proposes the creation of a national system to track and analyze the relationship between environmental factors and chronic health conditions. Managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this network would provide a public database to help identify patterns of illness and environmental hazards, while establishing a rapid response service to investigate sudden spikes in disease within specific communities.

For citizens, this bill aims to provide clearer information on how local environments—such as air and water quality—might be impacting public health issues like asthma, cancer, or birth defects. By funding state-level tracking programs and offering scholarships for public health professionals, the legislation seeks to improve the government’s ability to detect environmental health risks early and develop more effective prevention strategies.