This bill would amend federal disaster relief law to officially classify extreme heat as a "major disaster," allowing communities experiencing dangerous heat waves to access federal emergency assistance and recovery funds. Currently, extreme heat is not included in the definition of major disasters under the Stafford Act, which means affected areas cannot request presidential disaster declarations or federal disaster aid for heat-related emergencies. The change would affect all states and local governments experiencing extreme heat events, enabling them to receive federal resources for emergency response, recovery, and assistance to affected residents. The bill does not specify new funding amounts or timelines, but instead modifies existing disaster relief mechanisms so that extreme heat qualifies for the same federal support already available for other natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes. This would allow governors to request federal disaster declarations when extreme heat threatens public health and safety in their states.
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