Gallego Releases Statement on New Heat Protections for Workers and Communities, Calls for Continued Action on Extreme Heat
Rep. Gallego has repeatedly called on the Administration to implement a federal workplace heat standard and respond to extreme heat emergencies
PHOENIX – Today, the White House announced new actions, including from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to protect workers and communities from extreme heat. In response, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) released the following statement:
“Any Arizonan who works outside knows how dangerous this time of year is, but for too long those dangers have been overlooked by the federal government. I am glad that the Administration is heeding my calls to finally enact workplace heat safety standards – it will save lives in Arizona.
“I am also glad that FEMA is finally including extreme heat in this round of Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities funding. For over a year, I have been calling on FEMA to treat extreme heat like the deadly and expensive emergency that it is. Today’s announcement proves that FEMA can act on matters of extreme heat, and I will continue pushing them to do more.”
There are currently no federal laws that specifically protect workers from extreme heat, which is why, last year, Rep. Gallego sent a letter calling on OSHA to implement a federal workplace heat standard. He is also a cosponsor of the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act to require OSHA to establish a permanent, federal standard to protect workers against occupational exposure to excessive heat.
In May, Rep. Gallego led a push 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.
In addition, Rep. Gallego has 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 Act to help keep communities cool through tree planting, shade structures, cool roof and pavement technology, and more.
You can read more in Rep. Gallego’s report: COMBATING EXTREME HEAT.