Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

June 22, 2022

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) led 12 of their colleagues in calling on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to address inconsistent implementation of the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption travel policy for breastmilk and formula at airport security checkpoints as well as ensure new moms and their infants can travel safely without fear of harassment.

“In several reported cases, individuals were forced to dispose of breast milk, cooling accessories or both in order to board their flights, others were harassed and humiliated, had expensive breast pumps destroyed, and even forced to undress,” wrote the lawmakers. “We need to understand why TSA’s policies are not being implemented properly, ensure that policies are clear and women can travel safely without fear of harassment and provide parents access to remedies for mistreatment.”

Under the TSA’s 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption, travelers are permitted to bring formula and breastmilk in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces in carry-on baggage on board an aircraft as well as ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to prevent formula and breastmilk from spoiling. However, the overly vague policy has been inconsistently interpreted and enforced, resulting in numerous reports of TSA officials harassing lactating individuals and destructing breastmilk and expensive breastfeeding equipment.

In their letter, the Senators asked for clarification on the 3-1-1 exemption policy and requested an outline of the TSA’s efforts to increase awareness about the agency’s established screening processes and procedures, investigate reports of mishandled screening processes and provide training and resources to help ensure that agents will consistently enforce these policies. The lawmakers also highlighted the potential dangers of delayed pumping for individuals who are breastfeeding, and the dangers to infants if freshly pumped breastmilk is not stored properly.

“Delayed pumping leads to painful swelling of the breasts that can become engorged, which can lead to plugged milk ducts,” the lawmakers continued. “This can lead to mastitis, a bacterial breast infection and even a breast abscess, which often requires hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics.”

The letter requests that the TSA provide a response to their questions by July 6, 2022.

Along with Duckworth and Hirono, the letter was co-signed by U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Alex Padilla (D-CA).

Last week, Duckworth pressed TSA Administrator David Pekoske for improved treatment of new mothers and Americans with disabilities from employees of the TSA. Duckworth has also championed several policies that help make air travel easier for new moms and Americans with disabilities, including her Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation ensuring that small airports across the country support new moms and promote breastfeeding-friendly environments, was signed into law in 2020. The legislation builds on Duckworth’s success in enacting a law that ensures all large and medium airports provide a clean, private space where moms can breastfeed or pump. Recently, O’Hare and Midway Airports both installed free-standing lactation pods for new mothers as a result of Duckworth’s FAM Improvement Act.

As a result of legislation that was passed by Duckworth, the Department of Transportation implemented a new rule requiring air carriers to disclose for the first time how many checked bags, wheelchairs and motorized scooters they damage or mishandle each month.

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

The Honorable David Pekoske

Administrator

Transportation Security Administration

6595 Springfield Center Drive

Springfield, VA 20598-6005

Dear Administrator Pekoske:

We write in response to multiple reports of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials improperly implementing the agency’s 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption travel policy for lactating individuals, putting infants and their mothers at risk. In several reported cases, individuals were forced to dispose of breast milk, cooling accessories, or both in order to board their flights, others were harassed and humiliated, had expensive breast pumps destroyed, and even forced to undress.

Under TSA’s 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption travelers are explicitly permitted to bring formula and breast milk in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces in carry-on baggage on board an aircraft. Under this exemption, travelers may also carry on ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to prevent formula and breast milk from spoiling. However, the policy has been interpreted and enforced inconsistently by TSA officials.

Numerous media reports have detailed this inconsistent and improper implementation and highlighted the challenges and harassment many women and parents are subject to. For example, one woman was traveling with a cooler of pumped breast milk in her carry-on and TSA called the bomb squad to inspect her milk. After 45 minutes, a full-pat down inspection, and complete disassembly of her breast pump she missed her flight and discovered that the pump was totally inoperable. In another case, TSA agents confiscated a mother’s freezer packs, refused to discuss the policy, and instructed her to repeatedly collect ice from a coffee shop for hours to keep her breast milk cool while waiting to board her flight.3 Another passenger was informed—contrary to TSA’s stated policy—that she could not travel with the ice packs unless it was accompanied by breast milk and directed her to a public restroom to pump into the bottles before she was allowed through. It is clear there are serious and persistent issues around the implementation of the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption travel policy among TSA security officials.

Depending on the age of their child, typically a breastfeeding parent needs to express milk every two to four hours to protect against health concerns and maintain milk supply. Given the total duration of air travel—from going to the airport, getting through security, and actually flying—a breastfeeding parent will most likely need to pump at least once. Delayed pumping leads to painful swelling of the breasts that can become engorged, which can lead to plugged milk ducts. This can lead to mastitis, a bacterial breast infection and even a breast abscess, which often requires hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics.7 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored at room temperature for up to 4 hours before the milk is considered dangerous to an infant and can lead to vomiting, fever, and diarrhea—meaning access to ice packs is a necessary and critical part of the process.

We need to understand why TSA’s policies are not being implemented properly, ensure that policies are clear and women can travel safely without fear of harassment, and provide parents access to remedies for mistreatment. In light of these concerns, [we] ask that you please provide responses to the following:

1. TSA’s policy states that, “medically necessary gel ice packs are allowed regardless of their physical state of matter (e.g. melted or slushy) with or without the presence of breast milk”. But, on another page the website states, “Breast milk and formula are considered medically necessary liquids. This also applies to breast milk pumping equipment (regardless of presence of breast milk)” but makes no mention of ice packs.
1. Please detail and clarify TSA’s 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption for breast milk, formula, and related breast pumping equipment—including ice packs, freezer packs, and gel packs.
2. Please state if, under TSA’s current policy, ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool formula or breast milk are considered medically necessary.
2. Does TSA have procedures in place to receive, review, and act on reports of mishandled screening processes as it relates to the Liquids Rule Exemption travel policy?
1. If so, please describe these procedures, when they were implemented, and how frequently TSA acts to remediate misconduct.
2. When TSA is first notified of an incident what immediate steps—including timeline—does the agency take to address the situation?
3. What avenues of enforcement does the agency take when there are accusations of mishandling of the Liquids Rule Exemption policy?
4. Please provide a summary of TSA’s findings from after action review(s) of the incidents described above.
3. Please describe TSA’s efforts to identify the scope of impacted travelers, and efforts to increase awareness for the traveling public on its policies and procedures for screening of breastfeeding-related equipment.
4. Please outline TSA’s plans to investigate reports of agents not complying with the agency’s established policies.
5. Please describe the resources that TSA dedicates to ensuring agents are consistently enforcing the agency’s policies including any training, and retraining, efforts.

We respectfully request TSA respond no later than July 6, 2022. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.

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Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

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Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

June 22, 2022

Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act would help meet demand for accessible housing for Veterans, individuals with disabilities and aging Americans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, today introduced the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act to help ensure all newly constructed single-family homes built with federal funding include at least one accessible (or “zero step”) entrance, doorways wide enough for a wheelchair, one wheelchair accessible bathroom and light switches as well as thermostats at reachable heights from a wheelchair. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) on July 26, 2021. 

“It is unacceptable that over 15 percent of households are home to someone with a physical disability but only six percent of all homes actually meet accessibility standards,” said Duckworth. “Veterans, seniors and people with disabilities deserve to be able to move around their own homes and visit friends and family without worrying about architectural barriers, and I’m proud to introduce this bill to help make that a reality.”

“For too long, people with disabilities have faced barriers to traveling freely between friends’ and neighbors’ homes because of inaccessibility. They deserve to be full participants in their communities and neighborhoods. This bill would help fulfill the promise that the Americans with Disabilities Act made to people with disabilities and make many new homes physically accessible. We have a long way to go to make all aspects of our society accessible, and this bill helps us take a big step forward. I’m proud to introduce it with Senator Duckworth and Representative Schakowsky,” said Casey.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act made a commitment to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities. While the ADA has provided hope and opportunity for many Americans, there is still more work to be done. That is why I am proud to be the lead in the House on the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act,” said Schakowsky. “The Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act will make new-single family homes and townhouses built with federal dollars more accessible for people with disabilities, seniors, and veterans. This legislation would ensure new homes come equipped with zero-step entrances, doorways wide enough for wheelchairs, accessible bathrooms, and reachable light switches and thermostats. Building visitability features into new homes costs next to nothing and would allow more freedom for people with disabilities, seniors, and veterans. It is time we built on the promise of the ADA.”

Duckworth previously introduced the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act in the 116^th Congress. The legislation is named after Eleanor Smith, a leader in the thirty-year movement to ensure that all new homes are visitable by mobility-impaired individuals. Smith has successfully included accessibility features into local building codes across the country, however federal accessibility requirements are still nonexistent for privately-owned homes.

The National ADAPT, American Association of People with Disabilities, American Association of Interior Designers, Autism Society, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, Independence First, National Council on Independent Living, Paralyzed Veterans of America and The Arc of the United States all support the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act.

The copy of the bill text can be found here.

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Source: United States Senator for Delaware – Tom Carper

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after the bipartisan working group on gun reform legislation published text of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — a commonsense gun safety bill to end the nearly three decades-long congressional gridlock on gun legislation:

“The bipartisan gun safety deal reached this week by Senators Murphy and Cornyn breaks a nearly three-decade impasse in Congress and demonstrates that Democrats and Republicans can still work together to make progress on issues of critical importance, instead of accepting gridlock. Commonsense reforms to our nation’s gun laws are supported by an overwhelming majority of the American public — including gun owners — and this deal is an important first step after decades of inaction on this front. By strengthening the criminal background check system and making it harder for dangerous individuals to possess dangerous weapons, this bipartisan legislation will save lives.

“In addition, I’m grateful that this package includes bipartisan legislation that I’ve worked on for months with two of my Senate colleagues across the aisle — John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) — in order to make much needed investments in telehealth and school-based mental health care services. Ensuring that schools can provide critical services for students, like access to mental health care at school-based wellness centers, has been a priority of mine since I served as governor of Delaware and chairman of the National Governors Association. Now, as a member of the U.S. Senate, I’m delighted to join with two of my Republican colleagues in expanding and enhancing these services nationwide.

“While this bill doesn’t include everything we need to end the epidemic of gun violence, it’s a good start. Simply put, we cannot let this moment pass us by. And going forward, we must continue to work together in the days to come to ensure that this bill makes it to President Biden’s desk expeditiously, and then keep working together to further reduce gun violence and make our schools and communities safer still.”

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Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

WASHINGTON – The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence passed the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (IAA) today on a unanimous 16-0 vote. The bill authorizes funding, provides legal authorities, and enhances congressional oversight for the U.S. Intelligence Community.

 “The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 reflects the Senate Intelligence Committee’s bipartisan commitment to ensuring America’s intelligence agencies have the resources they need to protect our country,” said Committee Chairman Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA). “This year’s bill will enhance the country’s ability to confront our adversaries, including by providing support to Ukraine and strengthening sanctions against Russia.  It also takes significant steps to promote U.S. technology leadership and cybersecurity, increasing our ability to compete with China. Finally, I am pleased that this year’s bill drives serious improvement to the IC’s hiring and security clearance processes, so that the IC can attract and expeditiously on-board a talented, diverse, and trusted workforce.”

“This year’s Intelligence Authorization Act directs action and resources in the Intelligence Community where they are needed most – to counter the ever-increasing threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea as well as rogue states in our hemisphere including Cuba and Venezuela,” said Committee Vice Chairman Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). “Additionally, this bill protects America’s national security, technology, and innovation from multiple foreign adversaries, while increasing our foreign intelligence collection and analysis, as well as enhancing personnel talent and expertise.” 

Background:

The IAA for Fiscal Year 2023 authorizes funding and ensures that the Intelligence Community (IC) has the resources, personnel, and authorities it needs to protect our country and inform decision makers, while under robust Congressional oversight, including in the following key areas:

• Confronting the growing national security threat posed by China by increasing hard target intelligence collection and analysis, as well as by identifying and exposing China’s  online influence operations, leadership corruption, forced labor camps, and malign economic investments in telecommunications and semiconductors;

• Bolstering intelligence support for Ukraine as it fights to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty since Russia’s second unprovoked invasion, including by assessing the effects of sanctions on Russia and its allies and opportunities to mitigate threats to food security at home and abroad;

• Driving improvements to the IC’s hiring and security clearance processes by keeping the IC accountable for progress, including for timeliness in bringing cleared personnel on-board, ensuring that key management and contract oversight personnel in industry can obtain clearances, and assessing the utilization rates and accessibility of government and contractor secure facilities;

• Establishing counterintelligence protections for IC grant funding against foreign-based risks of misappropriation, theft, and other threats to U.S. innovation;

• Strengthening oversight of national security threats associated with the regimes in Cuba and Venezuela;

• Establishing an Office of Global Competition Analysis to ensure U.S. leadership in technology sectors critical to national security;

• Ensuring continued support to the victims of anomalous health incidents (“Havana Syndrome”) and maintaining continued oversight over the IC’s investigations into the causes of anomalous health incidents; 

• Maintaining strong congressional oversight of, and protections for, IC whistleblowers who come forward to report waste, fraud or abuse;

• Promoting cybersecurity enhancements and establishing cybersecurity minimum standards across the IC, including for classified systems;

• Enhancing oversight of IC and Department of Defense collection and reporting on Unidentified Aerospace-Undersea Phenomena; and

• Increasing transparency and promoting efforts to reform the declassification process.

 

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Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

WASHINGTON – The Senate Finance Committee today voted 28-0 to advance the Enhancing American Retirement Now (EARN) Act. The legislation includes a bipartisan proposal from Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) to make it easier for tens of thousands of retired firefighters and police officers like Wally Bunker from Culpeper to get a tax benefit to pay for health coverage they’ve earned. Warner introduced the measure, which has been endorsed by the National Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, and International Association of Fire Fighters, with Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Thune (R-SD) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) last month.

“Virginia’s first responders put themselves at risk every day to protect our communities – the least we can do is ensure that they are taken care of in retirement,” said Sen. Warner, a member of the Finance Committee, after voting to approve the legislation today. “This commonsense bill will make it easier for retired fire fighters and police officers to access quality healthcare after a career of working to keep our communities and our families safe.”  

Many public safety officers retire early because of the unique physical demands and hazards they face on the job. As a result, many lose access to their employer-sponsored health coverage but are still years away from being eligible for Medicare. To alleviate the burden of paying out-of-pocket for health insurance, Congress included in the Healthcare Enhancement for Local Public Safety (HELPS) Retirees Act a provision that allows retired public safety officers to withdraw $3,000 tax-free from their pension plan annually to pay health or long-term care insurance premiums. The 2006 law required that pension plans pay the $3,000 directly to the insurer — but many smaller pension plans in Virginia and other states use a third-party system for disbursing payments, therefore preventing many retirees from accessing the benefit.

The Warner-Brown-Thune-Grassley proposal, which would eliminate the “direct pay” provision and ensure that retired first responders in Virginia can access the benefit, was incorporated into a larger package of retirement reforms passed by the Senate Finance Committee today as part of the EARN Act. The EARN Act is expected to be combined with a related set of proposals that were approved earlier this month by the HELP Committee, and the comprehensive package will be put before the full Senate sometime in the coming weeks.

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Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

Watch Video of Senator Rosen’s Remarks Here

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, spoke in favor of the Preventing Health Emergencies and Temperature-related (HEAT) Illness and Deaths Act, legislation she co-sponsored, as it advanced out of committee.

“Extreme heat events have caused hundreds of deaths and devastated communities across the country; especially in Nevada. Reno and Las Vegas are two of the fastest-warming cities in the country, and we have seen significant public health effects related to the increase in temperature,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m glad to see this bill move forward. It will strengthen and expand interagency efforts to address extreme heat, provide financial assistance to communities for projects that would help reduce extreme heat exposure, and offer recommendations for federal action on heat-health-related issues.”

The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act would:

• Establish the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) Interagency Committee and enhance interagency efforts to address extreme heat;
• Require the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on extreme heat and issue recommendations for policy, research, operations, communications, and data gaps affecting heat-health planning, preparedness, response, resilience, adaptation, and impacts to vulnerable populations; and
• Establish a $7.5 million financial assistance program to provide federal funding to community projects that reduce the health impact of extreme heat events, prioritizing projects in historically disadvantaged communities 

This legislation is endorsed by the Union of Concerned Scientists, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Physicians for Social Responsibility, American Public Health Association, Climate Psychiatry Alliance, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, and Climate for Health.

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Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

Legislation Would Expand Combat Zone Tax Exclusion Status to Crews Operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft in Combat Zones 

The Majority of the Air Force’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft are Flown Out of Creech Air Force Base in Nevada

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation that would expand Combat Zone Tax Exclusion eligibility to remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) crews who are operating missions in combat zones. Congressman Steven Horsford (D-NV), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Despite RPA crews conducting combat missions and experiencing many of the stressors of combat, they are not currently eligible to earn the same tax-free income as those who are physically in a combat zone. This would particularly benefit Airmen in Nevada, with the majority of the Air Force’s RPA missions being flown out of Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs. 

“This bipartisan legislation would ensure that servicemembers at Creech Air Force Base conducting remotely piloted aircraft operations in combat zones are eligible for the same tax benefit as others serving in combat zones,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m pleased to be building on the bipartisan provision I helped secure in this year’s national defense bill to support these crews’ mental health and improve their quality of life, and will always fight to make sure that our servicemembers in Nevada and across our country receive the benefits they deserve.”

“Twenty-first Century warfare is increasingly conducted stateside, yet drone crews engaged in active combat situations are not recognized as having served in combat by the military and therefore do not receive benefits or care commensurate with their service,” said Senator Blackburn. “These servicemembers experience similar stressors to their colleagues who are physically overseas and see similar horrific events play out, and deserve to be treated as such. This legislation will provide drone crews with a combat zone tax exemption while they are actively supporting combat operations from domestic locations. This is a debt we owe to our servicemembers who are in the fight every day, which is why Senator Rosen and I continue to champion these members.”

“As our military technology advances, so must the policy that impacts the men and women who serve in our armed forces,” said Congressman Horsford. “While the remote situations of these combat operations provide greater security and safety for the members of our military, the mental impact and stress remain the same. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan proposal in the House and work with my colleagues to swiftly advance this legislation. Our troops deserve access to the same benefits for the same type of work, and I will always advocate for their needs.”

Senator Rosen has consistently advocated for Nevada’s servicemembers. In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA), which Senators Rosen and Blackburn voted for and helped advance out of committee, servicemembers received a much-needed 4.6% pay increase. Senators Rosen and Blackburn also secured a bipartisan amendment that directs the Secretary of the Air Force to report to Congress on the feasibility of establishing a program to help improve the quality of life for RPA crews, who face a retention and mental health crisis due to the stressors and intensity of their occupation.

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Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

WASHINGTON, DC – Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, to help recruit, develop, and retain highly skilled cybersecurity professionals in the federal workforce has been signed into law. Agencies across the federal government face growing cyber threats, but struggle to hire and retain qualified cybersecurity employees.

“As a former computer programmer, I know how important it is to take action to expand and strengthen our nation’s federal cyber workforce,” said Senator Rosen. “This bipartisan law will help fill the gaps in our cyber workforce and better protect us against potentially debilitating cyberattacks, and I am proud to have helped introduce it.”

“A strong national security posture is impossible without a strong cyber workforce. To effectively combat ongoing threats we must have highly skilled, federal IT professionals who can safeguard our networks,” said Senator Peters. “This new law will help ensure there is a pipeline of talented and qualified cybersecurity professionals who can protect our systems and prevent bad actors from stealing sensitive data and compromising national security.” 

“Cyber-attacks targeting our nation continue to grow in frequency and complexity, and it is essential that we stay ahead of our adversaries and others who seek to illegally access and disable critical systems, including those run by federal agencies,” said Senator Hoeven. “That’s why we advanced this legislation to improve career opportunities for cybersecurity professionals, including those in the private sector, who want to bring their expertise to the federal government. The personnel rotation program created by our bill will help ensure federal agencies can recruit and retain a skilled workforce that is better able to protect against and counter the threats we face.” 

Government agencies often cannot compete with the salaries and other benefits offered by tech giants in Silicon Valley, but they provide valuable opportunities to serve the country and defend against cyber threats. The Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act creates a civilian personnel rotation program for cybersecurity professionals at federal agencies. This legislation provides opportunities to help attract and retain cybersecurity experts in the federal government by offering civilian employees opportunities to enhance their careers, broaden their professional experience, and foster collaborative networks by experiencing and contributing to the cybersecurity mission beyond their home agencies.

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Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Senator Markey’s Preventing Health Emergencies And Temperature-related (HEAT) Illness and Deaths Act is favorably reported out of committee as the U.S. braces for more dangerously high temperatures this summer

Washington (June 22, 2022) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, today applauded the Committee’s bipartisan vote to move forward a version of his legislation, the Preventing Health Emergencies And Temperature-related (HEAT) Illness and Deaths Act. This legislation, reintroduced in July 2021, would address the rising health risks of extreme heat by strengthening and expanding interagency efforts to address extreme heat, commissioning a National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine study on heat-related health issues and federal responses, and providing $7.5 million in funding for research and resilience in addressing extreme heat risks.

“Just as the climate crisis poses risks to the health of our planet, it poses risks to the health of our communities,” said Senator Markey. “Extreme heat is a national problem, and it requires a national response. I am glad that the Commerce Committee has voted today to report out my Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act to fortify our federal efforts to address extreme heat and keep Americans safe. As we address this dangerous symptom of our warming planet, I am resolute in my commitment to fight for comprehensive action so that we can cure the disease of climate change — saving our planet and even more lives.”

While most heat-related deaths and illness are preventable through outreach and intervention, extreme heat events kill more Americans than any other weather event. In the United States, an average of 700 Americans die and more than 67,000 are rushed to emergency rooms each year due to extreme heat.

As climate change worsens, extreme heat events in the United States are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting, and more severe. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can have dangerous consequences for human health, such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death. According to one study, more than a third of heat-related deaths in many parts of the world can be attributed to climate change.

People living in low-income communities, communities of color, and Tribal communities are at greater risk of serious health consequences from extreme heat. Residents of urban areas are particularly vulnerable due to the “urban heat island” phenomenon, which can cause some neighborhoods in cities to be more than 20°F warmer than the surrounding area. As a result, in part, from the practice of historic redlining, these communities have been found to have less tree cover, more pavement, and consequently higher temperatures. Residents of these communities may also lack access to air conditioning, health care, and other tools to cope with extreme heat.

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