STATEMENT: Rep. Gallego on White House’s Actions to Combat Extreme Heat

PHOENIX, AZ – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) released the following statement in response to President Biden’s newly announced measures to protect workers and communities from extreme heat.

Statement from Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03):

“Far too many people are dying or falling ill from these extreme temperatures. For months, Mayor Gallego and I have asked for federal officials to step in and provide assistance. I am thankful the administration is listening to our call with today’s actions. This is a meaningful step in protecting Arizonans from extreme heat. But more must be done. We need a swift, immediate deployment of resources, and that requires FEMA declaring extreme heat an emergency. I will continue pushing the administration and Congress to get that done.”

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are the most common heat-related illnesses workers are facing, but in Arizona, temperatures have gotten so high emergency rooms are also seeing people with significant burns from falling on scorching asphalt.

Rep. Gallego this week 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.

The letter reflects Rep. Gallego’s leadership in combatting extreme heat.

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

In addition, Gallego 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.