S. 3571 would stimulate social policy and community environments to improve health by encouraging policies and programs to improve community health by policy and design.

== Detailed Summary ==

<summary>
(Log inHealth Impact Assessments Act of 2008 or the HIA Act of 2008 - Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study to editdetermine the wikibest practices, standardized tools, and bemodels for using health impact assessments as a method to promote health and reduce health disparities through social policy, land use, the firstbuilt environment, and other public policies and projects.

Requires the Comptroller General to providereview: (1) the positive and negative health consequences of federal policies and programs; and (2) how to consider health impact assessments for any federal, state, local project that involves federal funding or work performed by the federal government.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to award a detailed summarygrant to an institution of higher education to: (1) provide for expertise on health impact assessment to states, local health departments, metropolitan planning organizations, and local planning departments; (2) collect and disseminate best practices and provide technical assistance and training about the bill!)scope and uses of health impact assessments related to community planning and policy making; (3) develop necessary data and evidence to inform health impact assessments and land use and community design and other broad policy decisions; and (4) carry out a demonstration project to establish and implement effective processes and models for designing and administering health impact assessments.

Requires the Director to expand CDC's capacity to promote the health impact assessment processes, including by developing guidance for assessing the public participation and potential health effects of social policy decisions.
</summary>

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== Status of the Legislation ==

<status>
(Log inLatest Major Action: 9/24/2008: Referred to edit the wikiSenate committee. Status: Read twice and be the firstreferred to update the status of the bill!)Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
</status>

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== Points in Favor ==

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== Points Against ==

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