WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden is set to announce new measures Thursday to protect workers, improve weather forecasts and make drinking water more accessible as a heat wave sweeps across the United States. The White House announced that there is.
The announcement comes as nearly 40% of the U.S. population faces a heat advisory, according to the National Weather Service. The Southwest has already experienced high temperatures this month, and the Midwest and Northeast are expected to experience even hotter temperatures in the coming days. Washington is not immune either, with a heat index that could reach 110 on Friday.
This is a global problem, with scientists calculating that July will be the hottest month on record.
Biden’s plan represents an effort to address the immediate impacts of climate change in the face of pressure from Democrats and labor groups to step up efforts to protect vulnerable people. The move, which complements his long-term agenda of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and deploying clean energy technologies, may prove unprofitable for years to come as global temperatures continue to rise. It is policy.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described the heatwave as a “challenging time” and said Mr Biden was tackling climate change with “needed urgency”.
Biden has directed the Department of Labor to increase inspections of potentially dangerous workplaces such as farms and construction sites. He also called for stronger crackdowns on thermal safety violations.
As part of the effort, the department will issue a hazard alert to notify employers and employees on how to protect themselves from the heat wave that has killed 436 workers since 2011, according to federal statistics.
The Biden administration will spend $7 million to develop more detailed weather forecasts to predict extreme weather events such as heatwaves, and to strengthen drinking water infrastructure and climate resilience in California, Colorado and Washington. It plans to spend $52 million.
Biden is scheduled to meet with leaders of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday. The mayors of two heatwave-hit cities, Phoenix and San Antonio, are expected to attend the White House event virtually.
Phoenix has had temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) for at least 27 straight days. According to climate historian Christopher Bart, the major city, defined as the 25th most populous city in the United States, had as many periods of 110 degrees (43.3 degrees) during the day and 90 degrees (32.2 degrees) at night as Phoenix. It is said that there is no long city. of the weather company.
Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, recently reported 25 heat-related deaths between April 11 and July 22. A further 249 deaths are still under investigation. The county had 425 deaths from heatstroke last year.
Other parts of Arizona are also struggling. A 26-year-old farm worker died after collapsing in a field on July 20, as temperatures peaked at 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46.7 degrees Celsius), according to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.
San Antonio had temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) for at least 15 consecutive days. At least 13 people have died in Texas, blamed on the heatwave.
Thursday’s announcement follows other steps the Biden administration has taken to adapt to the growing threat of extreme heat. In doing so, it emphasizes:
The Department of Labor is developing standards on how to deal with heat in the workplace. A rule proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration would require employers to provide outdoor workers with adequate hydration and rest breaks, as well as medical services and training to deal with the signs and symptoms of heat stroke. . OSHA is holding a meeting this summer to get input on how heat standards will affect small businesses.
To keep low-income residents cool, the Department of Health and Human Services has expanded the Low-Income Residential Energy Assistance Program to increase access to air-conditioning and cooling centers such as libraries, seniors’ centers, and other public buildings. rice field. The Environmental Protection Agency also provides assistance to help communities develop cooling centers within schools.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is helping cities and towns map densely built, sparsely treed “heat islands,” and the USDA has issued guidance on increasing canopy coverage to help cool the environment. bottom.
Additionally, the government launched a website called heat.gov with interactive maps, weather forecasts and tips for staying cool in record heat.
More than 100 lawmakers, led by Democrats Greg Cassall and Sylvia Garcia (Texas) and Judy Chu (California), will implement new heat standards for outdoor workers as soon as possible. I asked the government to
“Climate change is proving that extreme weather events such as heat waves are becoming more frequent and more dangerous. Urgent action is needed to prevent further deaths,” lawmakers said in a Monday letter. Stated.
United Farm Workers and other groups have also called on OSHA to immediately enact national rules to protect outdoor workers following the deaths of farm workers in Florida and Arizona this month.
“Farm workers need and deserve shade, water and paid breaks,” UFW President Teresa Romero said. “How many more workers will we have to kill in unsafe heat and ruthless employers before this country takes action?”
Douglas Parker, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, said heat stroke prevention is a top priority. As OSHA works toward the final rule, OSHA is stepping up enforcement efforts to “ensuring employers and workers understand the dangers of heat stroke and how to prevent it,” Parker said in a statement. said in
Austin freshman Rep. Kasar on Tuesday threw a “cheers strike” outside the US Capitol to protest a new Texas law barring local governments from requiring water breaks and other safety measures for outdoor workers. , ignored water breaks for almost 9 hours. .
