HR 4517 - Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act

Overview

Bill Number: HR 4517

Title: Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act

Status: Introduced in House

Introduced: July 17, 2025

Purpose and Intent

The Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act aims to establish national standards and requirements for the prevention of heat-related illnesses and fatalities among student athletes. The bill is named after Jordan McNair, a University of Maryland football player who died in 2018 due to complications from heat stroke sustained during a team workout. The legislation seeks to ensure student athletes across the country are protected from the dangers of extreme heat exposure during training and competition.

Key Provisions

• Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and publish national guidelines for the prevention, recognition, and treatment of exertional heat illnesses in student athletes
• Mandates that all secondary schools and colleges receiving federal funding implement comprehensive heat illness prevention programs aligned with the national guidelines
• Establishes minimum requirements for these programs, including:
  • Mandatory heat acclimatization protocols for athletes
  • Provision of cooling stations and cold water immersion tubs at all practice and competition sites
  • Certified athletic trainers or other qualified medical personnel on-site during all athletic activities
  • Detailed emergency action plans for responding to heat-related medical emergencies
• Authorizes grant funding to assist schools in implementing the required heat illness prevention measures

Affected Parties and Impacts

The bill would impact all secondary schools, colleges, and universities that receive federal funding and have student athletic programs. It aims to protect the health and safety of millions of student athletes nationwide by ensuring they are properly protected from the risks of exertional heat illness. Failure to comply with the new requirements could jeopardize a school's federal funding.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

The Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 17, 2025. It has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor for consideration. If passed by the House and Senate, and signed into law by the President, the Department of Health and Human Services would have 1 year to develop and publish the national heat illness prevention guidelines. Schools would then have 2 years to fully implement the required heat illness prevention programs on their campuses.