On the heels of a heat wave-filled summer in California and the rest of the country, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) reintroduced a bill Friday that would designate $100 million in federal funding for projects that reduce the risk of extreme heat nationwide.
The Preventing Health Emergencies and Temperature-related (HEAT) Illness and Deaths Act prioritizes communities that are at a higher risk for heat-related illnesses and have historically had little to no access to heat mitigation tools like air conditioning.
Communities of color, low-income communities and Tribal communities are at increased risk for experiencing adverse health effects from extreme heat, according to a press release from Padilla’s office. This is due to the “urban heat island” phenomenon, in which neighborhoods in some cities can be up to 20 degrees warmer in part due to less tree coverage and more pavement due to historic practices of redlining.
Higher concentrations of pavement, buildings and other surfaces that retain heat increases energy costs for air conditioning, air pollution levels and heat-related illness and mortality, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The bill would also create a committee that would facilitate interagency collaboration for the purpose of better forecasting extreme heat events and assessing their health risks.
Some agencies represented in the committee include the Department of Commerce, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of the Interior, among others.
A study out of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine examining federal action on heat-health issues and response is also being commissioned by the bill.
The legislation comes as the climate crisis continues to mount, with extreme heat events becoming more frequent and severe.
In July, nearly one in three Americans were under an extreme heat advisory or warning, according to Padilla’s office. Multiple cities across the Bay Area faced heat waves and advisories earlier this month.
“As Americans continue to face extreme, record-breaking heat waves, we must do everything in our power to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths,” Padilla said. “This legislation will address the rising health risks of extreme heat by providing critical funding for community projects and enhancing interagency coordination so we can ensure our communities are prepared and protected — particularly low-income communities and communities of color who are bearing the brunt of this escalating crisis.”
Padilla is co-sponsoring the bill with U.S. senators Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Marilyn Strickland and Ruben Gallego.
25 comments
A $ 100 million here a $ 100 million there before you know it we’re bankrupt then what?
“Vulnerable communities”.. and “vulnerable people”.. that’s all we ever hear about now.
Under the leadership of this current president and vice president, and their bad economy we are all vulnerable! It’s so ironic because president Kamala Harris was complaining that most Americans are $400 away from bankruptcy now . Well she needs to pull out her mirror to see who’s to blame ! We’re now a vulnerable country now!
Another thing that gets me, and Channel 2 News does story about this, saying it’s so unfair that nicer communities like Walnut Creek Danville Lafayette I’ll have trees or places like Oakland and Richmond do not. Well you know it anybody can plan a tree in their yard. But the lazy people that don’t, will then complain about people that do. Same thing about trash and communities. In nicer communities the people themselves keep it clean and often pick up trash themselves! You go to the less desirable communities and people won’t lift a finger. We’re living in a crazy world now we’re blaming the good people for being competent.
Channel 2 bay area news is about as WOKE and racist as you can get, channel 4 is close behind..
DEMs have NEVER encounter a problem they couldn’t throw taxpayer dollars at.
“Higher concentrations of pavement, buildings and other surfaces that retain heat increases energy costs for air conditioning…” . . . . . Start tearing down vacant buildings in SF and plant trees.
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Far more electricity efficient than AC are old fashioned Swamp Coolers.
Use far less electricity and if correctly set up can achieve 20 – 25 degrees cooling below ambient outside air.
Water over pads filters out contaminants and with small bleed off system setup water in reservoir stays fresh and doesn’t build up salts. DEMs have sabotaged scalable electricity generation in CA, as more load comes online during hot days outages will become more frequent and buying power from outside CA will drive up monthly bills.
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Running 4600 CFM Swamp cooler for a four bedroom house using half horse motor and water pump only pulls about 8.5 amps 110Vac on high. Huge difference in electricity bill over central air.
Swamp cooler ..no thanks grew up on Gulf Coast with those POS things.
On Gulf Coast with high humidity they’d be pretty much useless.
Have to have low humidity for them to be effective.
Grandson up in Antioch has swamp cooler and it works well.
….and where is the $$ coming from? ….do we get to vote on any of this cxxx?
How about preventing blackouts?
Another grandstanding “look folks I’m doing something for you” but will it be winter before any of the money gets out?
CAPTAIN BEBOPS,
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This bill was reintroduced in the Senate, so it must’ve not passed the first time it was introduced. It likely won’t get 60 votes in the Senate and probably has little chance of passing the House.
Here we go with the race crap again.More for the lazy people.The politicians are like Robin Hood take from those who work hard or worked all there lives to have what we have.The politicians want all to be dependent on the government.They are creating a dictatorship a communist country.Wake up people and fight back.It might already be to late.Make America great again out with the Democratic’s.
Notice they didn’t mention the homeless. What population are more vulnerable to heat than people who live outdoors? None.
“Urban Heat Island”? How about “Living in a Cardboard Box Island.”
To quote John Wayne, these legislators are full of “Sheep Dip.”
Margaret Thatcher once said that “The trouble with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.”
My “bill” would plant trees and put tree houses in them. Cool everyone down and create housing at the same time. I see why I’m not a politician.
I am confused….has it been hotter this year? I remember a couple of years ago it was 80F in January and no one blinked then????? This year in the valley has been a very mild summer as well as across Ca. yet we see articles like this one https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4086841-were-experiencing-earths-hottest-weather-in-120000-years-and-its-just-getting-started/
I would like to see the weather report from 120000 years ago? “there is an entire college course that does this https://ltrr.arizona.edu/
Bristlecone pine rings ( Methuselah tree ) from before Jesus and warming has come and gone over a half dozen times…. we may not be helping but once again what melted the ice age????? and money will fix this?
When winter comes will the democrats, in their infinite wisdom, be providing millions for cold fighting efforts?
CAUTIOUSLY INFORMED,
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They’ll likely attempt to introduce a companion “Winter Cold Bill” too, but this “Summer Heat Bill” has only been reintroduced, it hasn’t passed the Senate, and likely won’t pass Houses, so you could probably conclude that a “Winter Cold Bill” will face the same fate.
More money being thrown away. The goverment in all branches should have to submit yearly accounts of all money they have spent in every department to its citizens. The amount of money being wasted should be voted on. Then go plant some trees.
Yet they want to convert the suburbs to high density “Transit Village” apartment buildings. So apparently the goal is for the entire middle class to also enjoy the “Urban Heat Island” experience.
More hot air in D.C. (Do you like my pun)?
And at the same time the “go Brandon administration “ is forcing companies to cut production of air conditioning coolant by 40 percent. It’s predicted to raise cost of installation by 1000.00 guess that will help.
Grampa worked like a dog to put an air contidioner in their little house for Grandma. Now Grandma cannot afford to run it. Thank you PG&E and the bureaucrats you palm-slime with.
And yet another slush fund
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