Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Statement on Biden-Harris Administration’s New Actions to Protect Workers and Communities from Extreme Heat

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29) today issued the following statement in response to the Biden-Harris administration's new actions to protect workers and communities from extreme weather:

"I applaud the Administration for taking decisive action to protect workers and families from the dangers of extreme heat events. Whether in fields, on roofs, at the docks and warehouses, or in back kitchens and on factory floors, our workers risk their lives in the heat to keep our country running. They deserve protections and today’s announcement is a necessary step towards that goal.

 “This announcement mirrors funding requests I have made, and legislation that I have authored or been championing, to give our communities the resources they need to combat extreme heat. I would also note this funding was made available through the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I voted for in the House.

"I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and with the Administration to urge Acting Secretary Su and the Labor Department to get to a final rule. Even still, we must continue the fight to bring attention and resources to the communities most affected by heat, many of which have been overlooked and overburdened for decades.”

Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia has been a leader on legislation to combat extreme heat, especially as it impacts worker safety. On February 8, 2023, Congresswoman Garcia introduced the Construction Injury Prevention Act 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 also requires the employer to notify the employee of their right to their paid rest breaks at the start of employment. The bill was inspired by the working community in her district. According to the Census Bureau Texas’ 29th district has over 53,834 construction workers, the most of any in the country.

Extreme heat is the leading weather-related killer in this country. Every year, extreme heat contributes to more than $100 billion dollars in lost labor productivity, making it a critical economic and national security concern deserving of the federal government’s immediate attention. It is why 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.

For media inquiries, please contact Brytan Mendes (Rep. Sylvia Garcia) at 202-227-0330 or via email at brytan.mendes@mail.house.gov.

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