Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Senators Jacky Rosen and Ruben Gallego Introduce Bicameral and Bipartisan Bill to Declare Extreme Heat a Major Disaster

MEDIA CONTACT:
Joseph Guzman
202-355-8084
joseph.guzman@mail.house.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) and U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced bicameral, bipartisan legislation to declare extreme heat a major disaster, allowing communities to access federal aid when catastrophe strikes. The Extreme Heat Emergency Act would explicitly authorize extreme heat as eligible for a Major Disaster Declaration by the President under the Stafford Act, which currently recognizes fires, floods, explosions, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes as eligible disasters. This would help communities like those in Texas, Nevada, and Arizona access federal resources and funding to respond to these disasters and prepare for future extreme heat waves. 

"If you found out that thousands of Americans were dying every year from a single cause, you'd be shocked to learn that the federal government has no plan. But that's exactly what's happening with extreme heat. Without a disaster declaration, federal response teams and experts are forced to sit on the sidelines while people suffer and die. That's unconscionable and it needs to change," said Congresswoman Garcia. "I'm proud to sponsor the Extreme Heat Emergency Act with Senators Rosen and Gallego to ensure local and state governments don't have to face this challenge alone. Federal law must catch up to the reality we're living in." 

"Last year, more than 500 people died in one single county in Nevada from heat-related illnesses," said Senator Rosen. "Current federal policy ignores the physical and health risks that such extremely high temperatures have on our communities, which is why I'm introducing a bill to change that. By classifying extreme heat as a major disaster, our communities will be able to receive the federal funding needed to respond and prepare for future extreme heat events." 

"Each year, extreme heat kills more Americans than every other form of extreme weather combined. But still the federal government sits on the sideline, leaving state and local governments to drain their funds trying to keep people safe," said Senator Gallego. "By adding extreme heat to FEMA's list of major disasters, we can unlock the funds and support our communities desperately need." 

"It's only mid-July, and the Southwest, Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic, and New England have already experienced record high temperatures. Each year, extreme heat causes thousands of deaths and hundreds of billions of dollars in damages to critical infrastructure and economic productivity and overwhelms the capabilities of local governments," said Hannah Safford, Associate Director of Climate and Environment at the Federation of American Scientists(FAS)."The Extreme Heat Emergency Act recognizes extreme heat for what it is - an emergency - that the federal government needs to be ready to support response to before, during, and after the disaster. Recognizing extreme heat as an emergency is critical to a heat-ready nation, as FAS emphasizes in its 2025 Heat Policy Agenda."

Extreme heat is the leading weather-related killer in this country. Every year, extreme heat results in hundreds of thousands of ER visits, strains power grids, and contributes to more than $200 billion in lost labor productivity, making it a critical economic and national security concern deserving of the federal government’s immediate attention.

Given the threat extreme heat poses to the nation's long-term economic output, public health, and national security, Congresswoman Garcia has been working to secure additional federal funding to help all levels of government prepare for and respond to extreme heat weather events. Last year, she hosted then–Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su for a roundtable on extreme heat’s impact on workers, and led inquiries into how rising temperatures affect mail-order medications and how CenterPoint Energy failed to prepare for a hurricane and subsequent heat wave following Hurricane Beryl. The Congresswoman also previously led plans to reintroduce the Construction Injury Prevention Act this Congress to protect construction workers from injuries by requiring employers to offer at least one 15-minute paid rest break every four hours of work. This rest break law would also require employers to notify employees of their right to paid rest breaks at the start of employment.

Joining Congresswoman Garcia in cosponsoring the legislation in the House of Representatives are Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Raúl Ruiz (D-CA-25), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Shri Thaneder (D-MI-13). 

For the bill text, CLICK HERE.