U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona is continuing to push for FEMA to recognize extreme heat as a major disaster.
Heat is by far the deadliest weather-related disaster in the U.S. Gallego is sponsoring a bill that would update the list of disasters FEMA responds to, so that it would include extreme heat alongside events like hurricanes or tornadoes.
Gallego has introduced similar legislation in past years when he was in the U.S. House.
FEMA officials have said extreme heat events could be considered for assistance in some exceptional cases under current rules. But some local officials in Arizona have called for more clarity from FEMA when it comes to what qualifies as a heat disaster.
This is one of several bills related to extreme heat Arizona Democrats have sponsored in Congress this year.
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