Two U.S. senators are pushing to make extreme heat eligible for federal disaster declarations, citing a rising death toll and growing strain on state and local resources.
Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced the Extreme Heat Emergency Act, which would amend the Stafford Act to allow the president to declare extreme heat a major disaster — unlocking FEMA funding and support, The Center Square reported.
“Extreme heat kills more Americans every year than any other kind of extreme weather,” Gallego said in a press release. “But still, the federal government sits on the sidelines, leaving state and local governments to drain their funds trying to keep people safe.”
“By adding extreme heat to FEMA’s list of major disasters, we can unlock the funds and support our communities desperately need,” he added.
The legislative push comes as left-wing Democrats continue to tout “climate change” as their basis for demanding more regulations and taxpayer funds for various “green” initiatives.
Rosen echoed the urgency, citing that more than 500 people died in one Nevada county last year due to heat. In 2025, at least 29 heat-related deaths have already been reported in southern Nevada.
“Current federal policy ignores the physical and health risks that such extremely high temperatures have on our communities,” Rosen said. “By classifying extreme heat as a major disaster, our communities will be able to receive the federal funding needed to respond and prepare.”
In Arizona, the problem is even worse, the lawmakers say. Gallego’s office reported 608 heat-related deaths in Maricopa County alone in 2024, with another 275 already under investigation this year — a jump from the same time last year.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) has introduced a companion bill in the House, the outlet said.
The legislation is drawing praise from public health and climate officials, including Arizona chief health officer Dr. Eugene Livar, Federation of American Scientists climate expert Hannah Safford, and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.
“This reform will save lives across the country, and I commend the sponsors of this bill for championing this effort,” said Mayor Gallego, per the outlet.
Sen. Gallego has also introduced several other heat-focused bills. His Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act would fund projects to reduce urban heat island effects. The Extreme Heat Economic Study Act calls for federal research into how heat affects health, infrastructure, and the economy. And his LIHEAP Parity Act would direct more federal energy aid to hot-weather states like Arizona.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up challenges of state and local lawsuits against oil companies that seek to compel them to compensate for alleged climate change-related damages.
Energy-producing states, oil companies, and industry groups filed two challenges to waves of climate lawsuits. Critics assert that the states are using these lawsuits to impose anti-fossil fuel policies. Oil companies will pay them billions of dollars if they succeed, which they will then pass on to customers.
“Consumers are not helped by these cases, which seek to wipe products from store shelves and funnel money to left-wing causes,” said O.H. Skinner, executive director of the Alliance for Consumers, a consumer advocacy nonprofit.
“Here is hoping the targets of these lawsuits continue to fight these cases, as they have consistently prevailed in the final stages of review, and that is the only way for consumers not to be sacrificed before the left-wing onslaught here,” Skinner added.
The Alliance for Consumers released a report last year that exposed the extensive dark money campaign liberal advocacy groups were using to finance the lawsuits. The report’s conclusions are consistent with those of other studies.
In December, Skinner told Just the Newsthat if these lawsuits, which target energy companies using state-level nuisance laws, are successful, oil companies will have to either cease oil production or take expensive steps to reduce emissions.
