Gallego issued a statement saying that the Biden 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.”
“When hurricanes or tornadoes hit, federal officials offer resources, but with heat they just offer advice,” the lawmaker added.
A Gallego spokesperson pointed to past comments by Federal Emergency Management Agency officials indicating the agency already has the power to add extreme heat to its list of qualifying events.
His comments come the day after Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra called extreme heat a “public health crisis” in Phoenix before meeting with Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D).
The administration has moved toward more protections for workers from extreme heat, proposing protections that would mandate employers provide indoor or shaded rest areas, drinking water and breaks. However, it appears unlikely that those protections will be finished by the time Biden leaves office and may or may not continue under the next administration.
Read more at TheHill.com.
