Requires Secretary of Health and Human Services within 1 year to conduct a study of the health effects of fighting EV and hybrid battery fires, in cooperation with firefighters and standards experts, and to report to Congress and the public on the results.
Require HHS to study the health effects of fighting EV and hybrid battery fires and report the findings to Congress and the public.
Occurrences
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study on the health effects of electric and hybrid vehicle battery fires on first responders.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study on the health effects of electric and hybrid vehicle battery fires on first responders.
...and requiring a study by HHS on the health risks to firefighters.
Mr. Latimer introduced H.R. 6948, requiring a final motor vehicle standard for electric and hybrid vehicle battery fire risks, first responder guidance, mechanical door releases, and an HHS study on health effects for first responders.
Evidence
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
"Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services within 1 year to conduct a study of the health effects of fighting EV and hybrid battery fires, in cooperation with firefighters and standards experts, and to report to Congress and the public on the results."
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Section 2 requires HHS to "conduct a study on the health effects of electric and hybrid vehicle battery fires on first responders" and to "submit to Congress, and make publicly available on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report" with the findings.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Latest Action: House - 01/06/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The actions list shows only "Introduced in House" and "Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce."
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Latimer said H.R. 6948 "comes in response to" EV battery fire risks and included requiring "a study by HHS on the health risks to" first responders.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Congress.gov lists Rep. Latimer as sponsor, the bill status as Introduced, and the latest action as House referral to the Committee on Energy and Commerce on 01/06/2026. The all-actions table shows only Introduced in House and Referred to committee.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Section 2 of the introduced bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study health effects of electric and hybrid vehicle battery fires on first responders and submit a public report to Congress within 1 year after enactment.
Assessments
Latimer sponsored H.R. 6948 in the 119th Congress, and the introduced text contains the promised requirement for HHS to study health effects of EV and hybrid battery fires on first responders and report publicly to Congress. However, the official bill record still shows only introduction and referral to the House Energy and Commerce Committee on January 6, 2026, with no House passage, Senate passage, enactment, or HHS implementation. The promised requirement has therefore not been delivered, but Latimer made a serious same-term legislative attempt.
The evidence shows Latimer introduced and promoted H.R. 6948 with language that specifically would require HHS to study the health effects of fighting EV and hybrid battery fires and report the findings to Congress and the public. However, the official congressional actions cited indicate the bill was only introduced and referred to committee, with no passage, enactment, or implementation yet. Because the promise outcome has not been achieved but the legislative effort is active and recent rather than conclusively failed, this is best judged as unresolved rather than delivered or never.