Gallego Calls Out Administration for Insufficient Extreme Heat Response
PHOENIX – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) released the following statement in response to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra's visit to Phoenix to discuss extreme heat:
“Once again, the Administration is all talk, no action when it comes to extreme heat in Arizona – calling on Arizonans to do more, yet refusing to take an active role or acknowledging the work that Arizona’s federal leaders, including myself, have already done. When hurricanes or tornadoes hit, federal officials offer resources, but with heat they just offer advice.
“For years, I’ve been leading the way on extreme heat. I was the first to introduce legislation to add extreme heat to FEMA’s list of major disasters and have written legislation to fund urban heat mitigation projects. And, I have repeatedly voted for more LIHEAP funding to help pay for AC bills while also pushing for a formula that is more fair to Arizona. I’m doing everything I can to ensure Congress does its part, it’s past time the Administration does theirs.”
Background on Rep. Gallego’s Work on Extreme Heat:
In Congressional testimony, Federal Emergency Mangement Acency (FEMA) leaders have said that the Stafford Act does not need to be updated in order for extreme heat to be declared an emergency. Despite this, FEMA has never declared extreme heat an emergency, even as death tolls rise each summer, which is why Rep. Gallego has introduced the Extreme Heat Emergency Act to add extreme heat to FEMA’s list of major disaster qualifying events.
Rep. has also introduced the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act to help keep communities cool by funding tree planting, shade structures, cool roof and pavement technologies, and more.
Rep. Gallego has pushed to change appropriations language that has prevented Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds from reaching more eligible Arizona households. He has also repeatedly called for increased funding for LIHEAP.
Rep. Gallego is a cosponsor of the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act to require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish a permanent, federal standard to protect workers against occupational exposure to excessive heat. In July, in response ??to the White House's actions to protect workers and communities from extreme heat, he released a statement and called for further action.
You can read more in Rep. Gallego’s report: COMBATING EXTREME HEAT.