The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking input on whether its latest environmental health proposal adequately addresses the risks posed by climate change to the health of underserved communities.

in a Notice Released Thursday, HHS outlines six strategies to address environmental health and climate-related issues harm in low-income and historically marginalized communities. These include expanding language and cultural competencies within the health care delivery system, developing community partnerships to coordinate social service organizations, funding research, and measuring impact.

HHS is also weighing more significant investments in areas most affected by extreme weather events and pollution. For example, the department recommends home air conditioning and financial assistance to alleviate high-cost energy bills.

The department also seeks to increase access to personnel entering environment-related occupations. The HHS program recruits candidates from underserved areas to work in environmental cleanup, hazardous waste removal, and emergency response. The department also aims to fund development projects related to climate, natural disasters and clean energy, transportation, housing and water infrastructure. Additionally, HHS intends to develop public health information guidance that states and tribes can use to educate people about environmental health risks.

HHS wanted to know whether stakeholders felt that the plan appropriately reflected the urgency of the environmental crisis and what other steps they felt should be taken. HHS specifically seeks feedback on how to eliminate environmental-related economic and racial health disparities.

President Joe Biden posted executive order On his first day in office last year, he directed federal agencies, including HHS, to develop an environmental health strategy. The latest HHS proposal builds on a plan released in 2012. HHS will accept comments until May 19.