Amid Historic Heat, Gallego, Bonamici, Markey Announce Legislation to Direct $100 Million to Combat Health Risks of Extreme Heat

PHOENIX, AZ – Reps. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today reintroduced the Preventing Health Emergencies And Temperature-related (HEAT) Illness and Deaths Act to address the rising health risks of extreme heat. The announcement follows Earth’s hottest day on record, the predicted hottest day in the past 125,000 years, and new national and local responses to extreme heat.

Prolonged exposure to this kind of heat can have dangerous consequences for human health, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death. With so many deaths from the extreme heat, the Maricopa County Medical Examiner is at 106% capacity. The facility has brought in 10 coolers to handle the increase in the number of deaths.

Additionally, recent reporting from the Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Health revealed that all the beds at the burn centers are full, and nearly one-third of patients are Arizonans who burned themselves from the ground.

The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act would improve and expand interagency efforts, provide $100 million in financial assistance for community projects to reduce exposure to extreme heat, and issue recommendations for federal action on heat-health issues.

“This summer’s rising temperatures underscore the pressing need to assist our communities in reducing heat-related emergencies,” said Rep. Gallego. “Combatting extreme heat remains one of my top priorities, and that’s why I’m proud to co-lead the Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act. This bill builds on my continued efforts to keep Arizonans cool and safe.”

“Heat-related deaths are preventable, tragic, and too common,” said Rep. Bonamici. “July is on track to be the hottest month ever recorded. Many states are seeing record temperatures, and the Pacific Northwest is experiencing unseasonably warm weather and bracing for the possibility of another deadly heat dome. We can save lives, and we must do so quickly. The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act would strengthen interagency response efforts to address extreme heat and protect Oregonians and Americans, especially workers, seniors, and marginalized groups who are at the greatest risk from these heat emergencies.”

“It’s no coincidence that we’ve seen back-to-back record-breaking heat this summer—it’s the climate crisis announcing it’s at our doorstep. We need to take bold and aggressive action to combat the climate crisis, but we also need to act fast to protect Americans from the health risks of extreme heat that we are experiencing right now,” said Sen. Markey. “My legislation would direct $100 million in federal funding to help local communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis stave off the worst outcomes of heat-related illness. As unprecedented waves of sweltering heat persist, I will keep calling on my colleagues in Congress to pass the Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act and create a national response to save lives.”

Specifically, the Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act would:

1. Create the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) Interagency Committee to enhance interagency efforts to address extreme heat;
2. Formalize and expand the existing NIHHIS within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which was initiated under President Barack Obama;
3. Commission a National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine study on federal action on heat-health issues and response; and,
4. Establish and authorize a $100 million financial assistance program to provide federal funding to community projects that reduce the health impact of extreme heat events, prioritizing projects in historically disadvantaged communities, communities with significant heat disparities associated with race or income, and communities with large gaps in heat preparedness.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act is part of Gallego’s extensive effort to keep Arizonans safe and cool during heat waves.

He has also introduced the Extreme Heat Emergency Act to add extreme heat to FEMA’s list of major disaster qualifying events and the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation and SHADE Acts to help keep communities cool through tree planting, shade structures, cool roof and pavement technology, and more.

Earlier this week, he sent a letter to Acting U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Julie Su and Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas L. Parker to establish an enforceable federal standard to ensure workers and employers can recognize and respond to the signs of heat stress.

Gallego recently called on House leadership to pass emergency funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to lower AC costs for Arizonans.