[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 165 (Thursday, September 23, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE THREAT OF EXTREME HEAT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
threat of extreme heat in the United States and applaud the action of 
President Biden in mobilizing an all-of-government effort to protect 
our vulnerable populations from this increasingly common disaster.
  Climate change threatens everyone on this planet, and it will 
continue to do so for generations. While some regions will experience 
scorching droughts and wildfires, others will experience catastrophic 
hurricanes and flooding.
  Environmental activist Wendell Berry said, ``The world is not given 
by our fathers, but borrowed from our children.'' The consequences of 
our past and present decisions are creating a dismal and desolate 
future for our children and for our children's children.
  Unfortunately, even if we rapidly reduce our carbon emissions today, 
our planet will continue to warm for some time.
  Heat threatens the lives of children, the elderly, outdoor workers, 
and more, as prolonged exposure leads to health risks, such as heat 
cramps, heat stroke, and of course death.
  This summer we experienced this new, hotter than normal heat across 
this country. In late June, the Pacific Northwest region experienced an 
abnormal heat wave that led to unprecedented numbers of deaths and 
hospitalization.
  July was the Earth's hottest month on record.
  In early August, over 80 million people across 20 States, from 
Washington to Florida, were under excessive heat warnings and 
advisories. Simultaneously, States along the East Coast experienced 
triple-digit heat indexes as a combination of heat and humidity created 
hazardous and deadly situations.
  Most recently, following Hurricane Ida, 10 people died from heat in 
New Orleans after vulnerable residents lost power, and temperatures 
climbed to over 90 degrees.
  Disadvantaged communities suffer the most from these frequent heat 
occurrences. Communities of color and low-income communities 
disproportionately experience higher temperatures than their White and 
wealthier counterparts.
  Decades of discriminate urban planning, like reducing tree cover or 
increasing hard surfaces, have led to temperature disparities in our 
most vulnerable communities.
  Moreover, in many of these communities residents struggle with 
significant preexisting and chronic illnesses, like heart disease, 
diabetes, and high blood pressure, which become fatal in extreme heat.
  For some Americans, higher temperatures are not merely a nuisance, 
they can be deadly. I applaud President Biden's recent decision to 
address extreme heat.
  From protecting outdoor workers by establishing OSHA standards to 
expanding cooling centers and cooling assistance amidst heat waves, 
President Biden's commitment to the health and safety of the American 
population is vital to ensure that fewer lives will be lost to 
increasing temperatures.
  Earlier this year I was proud to introduce the SHADE Act, which 
aligns with the ambitious goals of President Biden's extreme heat 
initiatives and addresses the heat disparity experienced in 
disadvantaged communities. The SHADE Act would create a grant program 
to plant trees in formerly redlined districts and overburdened 
communities.
  Thanks to the research of Dr. Jeremy Hoffman, Dr. Vivek Shandas, and 
Nicholas Pendleton, we now know that historical discriminatory housing 
policies have long-lasting consequences, making formerly redlined 
neighborhoods hotter than non-redlined neighborhoods.

  Climate change is not a distant or slow moving threat. It is here 
now, and many Americans are battling the consequences of it alone. Too 
many are losing that battle.
  While efforts to combat climate change must be a priority, we must 
also mitigate the impacts we are already facing. We must ensure that 
all Americans can adapt and can survive in this new normal.

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