Congressional Hispanic Caucus Applauds President Biden's Decisive Actions to Protect Workers and Communities from Extreme Weather

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Nanette Barragán (CA-44), issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s executive actions to protect Americans from the devastating effects of climate change. 

“The CHC commends President Biden for taking decisive actions to protect Americans from the threats of extreme weather. His comprehensive strategy addresses the urgent need to protect the lives of everyday people working jobs or living in communities where they are vulnerable to the dangers of longer and hotter stretches of extreme heat due to climate change. These initiatives will safeguard the health and safety of millions, particularly those in disadvantaged communities, and will create jobs and bolster energy security.

President Biden's commitment to climate resilience extends beyond these new measures. He continues to push policies to combat extreme heat, manage wildfires, reduce flood risk, secure water resources, and promote climate-smart infrastructure. I applaud his leadership and look forward to the White House Summit on Extreme Heat, where we will hear about additional actions that we can take to strengthen our national resilience. This announcement is a pivotal step toward a safer, more sustainable future for all Americans.”

CHC Members have advocated for federal workplace heat safety standards and urge the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to implement these protections swiftly. In 2021, CHC Senator Alex Padilla and Rep. Raul Grijalva worked with a coalition of Members to introduce the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act. The legislation would ensure the safety and health of workers who are exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace. 

The CHC has continued to champion those efforts, most recently, fighting for federal standards mandating water breaks for heat-exposed workers. In July 2023, as outdoor workers in Texas faced extreme heat, Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35) led a nine-hour “thirst strike” with Texas workers on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. He was joined by several members of the CHC throughout the day, where he called on President Biden and Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su to protect workers before Texas House Bill 2127 became law. This state law, supported by Governor Greg Abbott, removed local protections against extreme heat, such as ordinances in Austin and Dallas that required water breaks for workers. Rep. Casar led a letter with 112 bicameral Members of Congress, including 29 CHC members, advocating for federal workplace heat safety standards and urging OSHA to act swiftly.

As the weather becomes more and more extreme, all outdoor workers, from farmworkers to construction workers deserve to have protections in the workplace. The Biden-Harris Administration's actions to protect workers from extreme weather by requiring essential measures such as water breaks, shaded rest areas, and proper training is critically important.

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