[Senate Report 118-293]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 699
118th Congress} { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 118-293
======================================================================
EXTREME HEAT EMERGENCY ACT OF 2024
__________
R E P O R T
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES SENATE
TO ACCOMPANY
S. 4898
TO AMEND THE ROBERT T. STAFFORD DISASTER RELIEF
AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ACT TO INCLUDE EXTREME
HEAT IN THE DEFINITION OF A MAJOR DISASTER
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
December 16, 2024.--Ordered to be printed
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 2025
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COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
GARY C. PETERS, Michigan, Chairman
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware RAND PAUL, Kentucky
MAGGIE HASSAN, New Hampshire RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin
KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma
JACKY ROSEN, Nevada MITT ROMNEY, Utah
JON OSSOFF, Georgia RICK SCOTT, Florida
RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut JOSH HAWLEY, Missouri
ADAM SCHIFF, California ROGER MARSHALL, Kansas
David M. Weinberg, Staff Director
Alan S. Kahn, Chief Counsel
Christopher J. Mulkins, Director of Homeland Security
Naveed Jazayeri, Senior Professional Staff Member
William E. Henderson III, Minority Staff Director
Christina N. Salazar, Minority Chief Counsel
Andrew J. Hopkins, Minority Counsel
Megan M. Krynen, Minority Professional Staff Member
Laura W. Kilbride, Chief Clerk
Calendar No. 699
118th Congress} { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 118-293
======================================================================
EXTREME HEAT EMERGENCY ACT OF 2024
_______
December 16, 2024.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Peters, from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 4898]
The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs, to which was referred the bill (S. 4898) to amend the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
to include extreme heat in the definition of a major disaster,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an
amendment, in the nature of a substitute, and an amendment to
the title and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose and Summary..............................................1
II. Background and Need for the Legislation..........................1
III. Legislative History..............................................2
IV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Bill, as Reported.............3
V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................3
VI. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............3
I. Purpose and Summary
S. 4898, the Extreme Heat Emergency Act of 2024, amends the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(Stafford Act) to explicitly include extreme temperatures in
the non-exhaustive list of natural catastrophes eligible for
federal aid through a major disaster declaration.
II. Background and Need for the Legislation
In recent years, extreme heat events have increased in
frequency and intensity throughout the United States, resulting
in communities across the country experiencing record-breaking
temperatures. There were four times more extreme heat events
between 2019 and 2023 compared to 30 years ago.\1\ In 2023,
there were approximately 2,302 heat-related deaths compared to
1,722 in 2022 and 1,602 in 2021.\2\ Not only are these high
temperatures detrimental to human health, but they also
contribute to persistent drought conditions impacting
communities across the country. For example, in October 2024,
all but two states were experiencing drought conditions.\3\ In
response to more frequent and intense extreme heat events, in
August 2024, the National Integrated Heat Health Information
System and the Interagency Working Group on Extreme Heat
announced a National Heat Strategy. This strategy discusses the
effect of extreme heat on communities and an overarching
approach to addressing the problem.\4\
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\1\E&E News by Politico, Home Page (www.eenews.net/articles/why-
the-government-lets-extreme-heat-get-away-with-murder/) (accessed
November 12, 2024).
\2\Department of Health and Human Services, Home Page (www.hhs.gov/
climate-change-health-equity-environmental-justice/climate-change-
health-equity/climate-health-outlook/extreme-heat/index.html) (accessed
November 12, 2024).
\3\New York Times, Home Page (www.nytimes.com/2024/11/04/climate/
united-states-record-drought.html) (accessed November 12, 2024).
\4\National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Program
Office, Home Page (cpo.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/
National_Heat_Strategy-2024_2030.pdf?source=email) (accessed November
12, 2024).
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In addition to record-breaking heat, states continue to
experience record-breaking cold events.\5\ Extreme temperatures
can disproportionately affect certain occupational groups,
individuals with pre-existing conditions, and different
socioeconomic statuses.\6\ These different events also cause
prolonged strain and damage to critical infrastructure like
roads, bridges, and the power grid. As the effects of natural
hazards grow more devastating, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) is tasked with preparing for and responding to
them in an effective and efficient manner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\Forbes, Home Page (www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2024/01/18/
cold-snap-shatters-records-in-kansas-city-seattle-and-st-louis-heres-
where-else-cold-records-are-falling/) (accessed November 12, 2024).
\6\World Health Organization, Heat and health (https://www.who.int/
news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-heat-and-health)(May 24,
2024). World Health Organization, Heat and health (https://www.who.int/
news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-heat-and-health)(May 24,
2024).
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S. 4898, the Extreme Heat Emergency Act of 2024, explicitly
lists extreme temperatures as eligible for a Major Disaster
Declaration, which can unlock response and recovery funding
from the federal government. Under current law, a major
disaster is defined as: any natural catastrophe (including any
hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal
wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide,
mudslide, snowstorm, or drought), or regardless of cause, any
fire, flood, or explosion. While extreme temperatures and any
other natural catastrophe are already eligible for Major
Disaster Declarations, the Extreme Heat Emergency Act codifies
in statute that extreme temperatures are eligible for this
disaster declaration, providing clarity to communities about
their ability to access FEMA funding and resources.
III. Legislative History
Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced S. 4898, the Extreme
Heat Emergency Act of 2024, on July 31, 2024. The bill was
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs.
The Committee considered S. 4898 at a business meeting on
September 25, 2024. At the business meeting, Senator Rosen
offered a substitute amendment to the bill, as well as a
modification to the substitute amendment. The Rosen substitute
amendment, as modified, changed ``extreme heat'' to ``extreme
temperatures''' in the language of the bill, as well as
prohibited additional funding from being appropriated to carry
out the bill in enactment. The Committee adopted the
modification to the Rosen substitute amendment and the Rosen
substitute amendment, as modified, by unanimous consent with
Senators Peters, Carper, Hassan, Rosen, Blumenthal, Butler,
Paul, Lankford, and Hawley present.
Senator Rosen also offered Rosen Amendment 2, which amended
the long title of the bill. The Committee adopted Rosen
amendment 2 by unanimous consent with Senators Peters, Carper,
Hassan, Rosen, Blumenthal, Butler, Paul, Lankford, and Hawley
present.
The bill, as amended by the Rosen substitute amendment, as
modified, and Rosen amendment 2, was reported favorably by roll
call vote of 6 yeas to 3 nays, with Senators Peters, Carper,
Hassan, Rosen, Blumenthal, and Butler voting in the
affirmative, and Senators Paul, Lankford, and Hawley voting in
the negative. Senators Sinema and Ossoff voted yea by proxy,
and Senators Johnson, Romney, Scott, and Marshall voted nay by
proxy, for the record only.
IV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Bill, as Reported
Section 1. Short title
This section designates the short title of the bill as the
``Extreme Heat Emergency Act of 2024.''
Section 2. Definition of major disaster
This section amends Section 102(2) of the Stafford Act by
inserting ``extreme temperature'' in the list of disasters
eligible for aid in a major disaster declaration.
Section 3. No additional funds
This section provides that no additional funds are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out the bill.
V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact
Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 11(b) of rule
XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee has
considered the regulatory impact of this bill and determined
that the bill will have no regulatory impact within the meaning
of the rules. The Committee agrees with the Congressional
Budget Office's statement that the bill contains no
intergovernmental or private sector mandates as defined in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs
on state, local, or tribal governments.
VI. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in brackets, new matter is
printed in italic, and existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
ROBERT T. STAFFORD DISASTER RELIEF AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE I--FINDINGS, DECLARATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS
* * * * * * *
Definitions
SEC. 102. AS USED IN THIS ACT--
(1) * * *
(2) Major disaster.-- ``Major disaster'' means any
natural catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado,
storm, high water, winddriven water, tidal wave,
tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide,
mudslide, snowstorm, extreme temperature, or drought),
or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion,
in any part of the United States, which in the
determination of the President causes damage of
sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major
disaster assistance under this Act to supplement the
efforts and available resources of States, local
governments, and disaster relief organizations in
alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering
caused thereby.
* * * * * * *
[all]