WASHINGTON DC (KOLO) – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen is helping to introduce a bill that would declare extreme heat a major disaster.
She, Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) introduced the Extreme Heat Emergency Act would explicitly authorize extreme heat as being eligible for a Major Disaster Declaration by the President under the Stafford Act.
Rosen says the bill would help communities in Nevada access federal resources and funding to prepare for future heat waves.
“Last year, more than 500 people died in one single county in Nevada from heat-related illnesses,”said Senator Rosen.“Current federal policy ignores the physical and health risks that such extremely high temperatures have on our communities, which is why I’m introducing a bill to change that. By classifying extreme heat as a major disaster, our communities will be able to receive the federal funding needed to respond and prepare for future extreme heat events.”
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